Breastfeeding
- Dad's Page
Dads play an
important role in supporting mothers who decide to breastfeed. Support
and encouragement are a ‘must’ so that baby and mum
can feel comfortable. Sometimes dads want to ask questions and
don’t always feel they can or don’t wish to upset
their wife/partner if they have decided they are going to breastfeed.
What you can do to
help
It’s
normal to feel like a bit of a spare part at first but there are plenty
of ways to get involved and play your part:
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Give
compliments - this really is vital to
keep your wife/partner happy and positive. It is important you tell her
how well she is doing and offer your support and love.
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Encourage your
partner
to eat and drink regularly so she feels more able to cope
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Listen and talk
honestly about how you feel
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Be involved with the
baby in other ways so that caring is shared.
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You can also help
with
housework and any other siblings
Do I really make a
difference?
Dads play a big part in
their partner’s decision to breastfeed, so if
you’re positive then your partner should feel more
comfortable and proud to breastfeed. A woman is more likely to choose
to breastfeed if she is sure her partner is positive about it.
I’m worried
that I’ll feel pushed out
It’s normal to
feel a bit left out when everything seems to be about the baby and your
partner’s doing all the feeding and this can take a little
while to get used to. Fathers can sometimes feel jealous or left out as
mother and baby form a very close relationship. But breastfeeding is
only one way of caring for your baby.
You can still be involved
by:
Once your partner is
breastfeeding successfully then she might be able to express some milk
so that you can feed your baby too. It’s really important not
to introduce formula milk to replace breastfeeding, as it will affect
the amount of milk your partner produces and there might not be enough
milk for your baby.
I feel uncomfortable
about my wife/partner breastfeeding in public
Many men worry about this
and by discussing this together you can agree how to handle it. Lots of
men change their minds once baby is born and are used to seeing
breastfeeding. There is usually little or no breast showing when baby
is feeding. Lots of places welcome breastfeeding now and provide
facilities for mothers to feed in private if they prefer.
Will breastfeeding
affect our sex life?
Tiredness may affect this
more. There are a few things you need to know below but there is no
reason why you can’t still enjoy sex whilst breastfeeding is
taking place:
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A women’s
vagina is a little drier during breastfeeding so using a lubricant gel
can help
-
Any breast
stimulation
can cause milk to flow so keep a towel handy
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Sometimes it is
better
if you have sex after the baby has had a feed
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Your partner/wife may
enjoy sex more and is more comfortable with her body as a result of
giving birth and breastfeeding
Do fathers need to know much about breastfeeding?
You may find it helpful to know how breastfeeding works and
what is normal behaviour for breastfed babies. Here are some useful
facts:
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Baby will be happier if he's fed as soon as he shows signs
of being hungry
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Breastfed babies usually feed frequently (at least 2 - 3
hourly) in the early weeks, especially during the evenings, but every
baby is individual
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Some babies are slow feeders at first, but they get
quicker as they get older
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The more the baby feeds, the more milk the mother makes
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Babies are usually less windy, and put on weight better,
if they finish feeding from the first breast before being offered the
second so that they get plenty of the fat-rich hindmilk
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A mother will enjoy feeding more if she is comfortable and
relaxed
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The baby needs to open his mouth really wide, have the
nipple in the top part of his mouth and have his chin against his
mother's breast to feed well, as he massages the milk out with his
tongue
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Nipple soreness or pain during feeding is generally a sign
that baby is not getting a large enough mouthful of breast.
Resources
NCT
Fathers
guide
Back to
breastfeeding
homepage
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