When it comes to breastfeeding, new fathers may feel a bit left out. However, research has shown that when fathers encourage their breastfeeding significant others, their support can have a significant effect. A new father should be aware that by supporting and helping his baby’s mother, he is able to contribute a great deal when it comes to feeding his child.
New fathers can offer support to breastfeeding mothers in several different ways. New parents should make sure to talk about the importance of breastfeeding so that they are able to set goals and make decisions about the process together. This could also be a good time to make a new father aware of the different things he could do to help make breastfeeding easier.
Breastfeeding can be a very difficult and tiring thing for a new mother – especially right after delivery. A new father can make things easier by monitoring any potential visitors and making sure that mother and baby have plenty of privacy and are not disturbed while breastfeeding. He can also provide gentle reminders and encouragement to his significant other if she is finding breastfeeding to be difficult.
A new father can also help with positioning his child before and during feedings to that mother and baby are comfortable. After feedings he can burp his child and change diapers so as to make sure that his baby’s mother is able to take a break and relax. He can bring snacks and drinks or even give his significant other a massage. By providing little comforts and support, a new father can help to encourage a new mother through the breastfeeding process.
Skin to skin contact with his new baby can help a father to experience a similar closeness as mother and child get during breastfeeding. Parents may even consider offering their new baby some expressed breast milk in a bottle so that a new father can have the experience of feeding his child. Skin to skin and occasional bottle feedings can help a father to feel connected to his child and can also ensure that he does not feel left out of the breastfeeding experience between mother and child. It is also very helpful for a father to be aware that he is filling a very important and necessary role when he supports and encourages his significant other through the process of breastfeeding.