Supportive partners are a major factor in breastfeeding success! This week, New Beginnings highlights ways that breastfeeding benefits the whole family, how partners can be involved when their baby is nursing, and other relationship considerations.

What can partners do? So many important things to support breastfeeding and pumping and the postpartum experience. Here are some ideas:

• Prenatal: Join your partner on appointments to be a second set of ears, help with nutrition and hydration cravings, listen and support, read breastfeeding books, and/or attend prenatal classes or La Leche League meetings!
• During labor and delivery: Advocate for your birth plan and postpartum wishes, keep the birthing space peaceful, listen, and be a voice if needed
• After delivery: Provide encouragement towards the breastfeeding goals, ask what is needed, and continue advocating for the nursing relationship

More ideas for ways in which partners can support the nursing dyad can be found here.

Parents often wonder how they will continue to find time for just the two of them and the mental space to work on their relationship as a couple. Parenting roles and communication can be closely intertwined with this.

“Children learn about relationships by our example. If parents are to be role models for prioritizing a relationship with a partner someday, we might want to be good role models during the foundational years—showing them how it’s done! That’s the good news; taking time to focus on your spouse is actually good parenting. It is a comfort for children to observe parents working at a relationship with each other. They learn about compassion, empathy, communication skills, and warmth. They become aware that parents’ needs are a priority just as much as children’s needs. There is give and take in every family. It’s an important learning opportunity for children to observe that their mothers prioritize all of the relationships in a family.”

Communication is key! Talking to your partner before your baby arrives and throughout the phases of parenthood can be really critical to a truly equitable marriage, where everyone’s needs can be met to some extent. You can learn more about finding time to be a couple by reading the full blog.

On a La Leche League USA Facebook post from 2018, a parent asked the question, “How can my partner help at night while I am breastfeeding?” Hundreds of comments came in with the following ideas, sharing that a supportive partner can:

• bring the baby to the nursing parent
• burp baby and put them back to bed after nursing
• take a shift to stay up with a fussy baby, if nursing doesn’t solve the problem
• change nighttime diapers
• take the baby in the morning so the nursing parent can sleep for a bit–sleep shifts!
• bring snacks and refill water for the nursing spot

And so much more! Just read the many helpful comments at that link above.

One dad asked La Leche League USA, “How can I support my nursing wife?” Again, lots of ideas came from all over along with stories of partners’ encouragement.

For example, Rachel recounted some tangible ways her husband was able to support her nursing goals. “With my first, my husband paid close attention to the lactation consultant’s wisdom and advice in the hospital. He became a pro at nursing positions when I forgot them and was in pain and frustrated. In those early weeks, when it was hard to get a good latch, he helped me get our baby in the best, optimal position to nurse. He brought me ice water, lanolin cream, and just took care of everything else. I was so thankful for his support.” You can read  more stories about partners’ support making a difference in breastfeeding here.

Lindsay shared the ways her wife was able to support her through her nursing journey. “My wife was gently supportive, trying to give me room to nurse, while quietly reminding me of tips we learned in the childbirth class and hospital parenting class. When I would cry, I was convinced there was something wrong with me and that our new precious baby hated me. She was there to reassure me and tell me that I wasn’t doing anything wrong.… She supported me during [that] heartbreaking breastfeeding journey with our first child. She was my gentle reminder that I could do it when I didn’t think I could and my voice when I couldn’t speak through the tears.… She has been a strong ally, a cheerleader, and a proud partner. She has supported us through almost two years of nursing, never once complaining that I was taking time away from her and our other three young children, never once telling me that I shouldn’t still be nursing our daughter, never once doubting our journey. She has been there to support us every moment of every day and helped us to reach our goals.” Supporting your partner in lactation is a beautiful thing. Partners can help advocate for the nursing relationship, just like in this story (read more here).

There are so many more things to share on the topic of sharing parenting responsibilities and how this important support helps the nursing parent feel loved and gives the partner a new way to show love. We hope this blog post leaves you feeling encouraged about the many ways that spouses, fathers, and partners can get involved in their baby’s life without offering a bottle.

We’d love to hear your stories too! How did your partner support you while breastfeeding? How important was their support in reaching your nursing goals? Email your experiences to Kylie at [email protected]

More resources and stories:

• lllusa.org/%ef%bb%bfpartners-in-breastfeeding-mothers-tell-why-support-matters/
• lllusa.org/partners-in-parenting/
• llli.org/news/the-dad-of-a-breastfed-toddler/
• lllusa.org/encouragement-through-the-struggles-part-ii/
• lllusa.org/michaels-story-how-i-support-my-breastfeeding-partner/
• lllusa.org/la-leche-leagues-impact-on-my-life-a-fathers-perspective/
• facebook.com/share/p/14VvSkecusE/

Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always

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