Happy Father’s Day to all of you awesome dads out there! These two girls make me a happy father/husband every day!
Yep, I’m one proud and lucky guy, and I’m elated to be celebrating this day for the first time! Avery also turns 7 months old today; she’s past the half year mark!
I finally get to find out what my wife has been keeping me from in our front room for the past month. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you soon.
Besides having two beautiful girls in my life, I’m proud of the fact that Going Mom chooses to only breastfeed Avery and will never consider formula. I understand some situations where it’s not possible, but just giving up isn’t a good reason or fair to babies.
No doubt, breastfeeding, from what I’ve seen and heard, is no walk in the park and has many hurdles to get past, but it’s not impossible. Going Mom is one of many mothers who deal with the #boobissues on a daily basis, and I do my best to support her however I can.
In honor of Father’s Day, Medela shared with me that they have collaborated with Kuroji Patrick, one of Medela’s 2013 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence inductees, to create a list of tips for dads to get and stay involved with the breastfeeding journey.
We take pride in raising our daughter with the best nutrition from Mother Nature, and I hope this list will held dads support their partners and be an advocate for breastfeeding.
Daddies and Breastfeeding: Ways to Stay InvolvedBefore the Baby Comes
- Be supportive of your partner’s decision to breastfeed by understanding the benefits of breastmilk.
- Help your partner find information on what breastpump your insurance will cover. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to provide equipment and support with no co-pay, but the actual pump provided will vary from company to company.
- Join your partner in preparing for the experience of breastfeeding by taking a course that will provide you both with the information you’ll need to know.
- Seek out other fathers who have supported their partners while Breastfeeding to gain real world advice.
At the Hospital
- At the hospital, be an advocate for your partner. Make sure the staff knows that she wants to breastfeed and that formula should not be given to the baby without consent.
- Find the lactation consultant if mom is struggling. Many hospitals have one on staff, and early intervention and support from a professional is crucial, particularly for first-time moms.
- Ask the hospital staff about local breastfeeding support groups for after your family goes home. Peer encouragement is helpful, and it’s an excuse for mom and baby to get out of the house.
At Home
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In addition to making sure your partner has what she needs while she heals from childbirth, you can help the breastfeeding transition to home by making sure she is comfortable while nursing—by bringing her pillows, foot rest, water, etc.
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It doesn’t sound glamorous, but diaper changes are a great way for you to get involved in baby care. In addition to giving your partner a break, it’s a chance for you and your baby to start practicing conversation skills by making eye contact, cooing noises and engaging your baby with changing facial expressions.
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If your partner starts pumping, you’ll have a chance to bond with your baby over a bottle and give your partner a break. You can further help your partner by washing and sterilizing pump parts and bottles.
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Be your partner’s biggest cheerleader. Breastfeeding can be frustrating and difficult in the beginning, but you can provide moral support by acknowledging the difficulty of nursing and offering to find a professional to help, such as lactation consultant (which should be covered by your insurance). And remind your partner of why she wanted to breastfeed in the first place!
I have been utilizing tips like these since Avery’s birth and know I have a stronger bond with my daughter and wife as a result. The benefits of breastfeeding are powerful and I’d hope any parent would want only the best for their children.
Medela’s online education course, Breastfeeding University, costs a reasonable $25 and offers you priceless information, but they have agreed to allow me to offer 3 readers free access codes to the course! This would be perfect for the expecting couple to complete together or any couple looking to add to their breastfeeding knowledge database.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me about your experience or plans with breastfeeding. I will randomly select 3 commenters to receive access codes to use to take the course for free. Contest ends next Friday, June 20th.
This giveaway has ended, but don’t worry, I’ll have plenty of other opportunities to win great prizes in the future!
Thanks to everyone who read and commented on this post, it’s something I am deeply passionate about. The three winners are Maggie, Ashley, and Stacy. Congrats and I have sent an e-mail for your code!
Hope everyone has a great day! Treat the dad in your life extra nice today! 🙂
Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post and all views are strictly my own.
Hello! I breastfed with my first for a little over two years. Now I’m due with my second and plan to breastfeed him also. It’s not always easy so this university sounds like it would be great help!
Happy Father’s Day!
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RC,
I applaud your support of your wife breastfeeding your daughter. My wife has breastfed all six of our children and I’ve been her biggest cheerleader throughout it. It’s such a beautiful and natural act between mother and child. I would caution you, however, about being so dismissive of people who, for whatever reason, by choice or otherwise, do not breastfeed their babies. What works for your family may not be an option for others. At any rate, kudos on a nice blog entry in support of your wife and millions of women who breastfeed.
Carl
Thank you, Carl! As you can tell, we are extremely passionate about breastfeeding and grateful we are able to. I fully understand there many mothers out there who are unable to breastfeed for numerous reasons. Whether from an issue with them or with their baby, I know breastfeeding is not always an option. But for those that are able to breastfeed and just don’t seems unfair to the baby as nothing can replace the nutrition provided by mother’s milk. Thank you for the kudos, and right back at you and your wife for breastfeeding all six! That’s wonderful and I am sure they are all much better for it! And once more, thank you for reading and commenting!
Due with my first… would love to win.
I am currently pregnant with baby number 2. With my first son I tried to breastfeed, unfortunately I have a condition called IGT which means I lack most of the breast tissue/milk ducts to be able to produce much milk. However I was able to supplement with formula and still breastfeed til he was 5 months old. I loved this article because I could not have stuck with it as long as I did without the love and support of my husband! he held me while I cried my eyes out for the loss of my EBF dream and helped me in every way that he could. I would love to win this class so that it will help me be more educated this time around and more prepared for the birth of my current baby. <3
I’m expecting my first..this would be great!
This is such an important issue. Apparently, a supportive partner has more effect that encouragement from a midwife when it comes to helping mums to continue with breastfeeding.
I fully agree; the best thing us “milk producing” guys can do is support our partners! Thanks for the comment!