The Partner’s Role in Breastfeeding

You may not have the necessary equipment, but that doesn’t mean you get to sit breastfeeding out. Breastfeeding may seem like a one woman job, but there’s actually a lot of behind-the-scenes tasks that you can take care of. So, what can you do to help ensure your baby reaps the benefits of the best start in life by breastfeeding? Here are some ideas to improve the father’s role in breastfeeding:

1. Support your partner – this is probably your single most important job when it comes to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding isn’t easy, in fact it can be a tough cookie to crack, and your partner is likely to need a lot of support from you to help her stay positive about breastfeeding. When faced with newborn weight loss, cracked nipples and lack of sleep, many new mums start to doubt themselves. Add to this unwanted comments from elderly relatives, strangers and friends, and it’s not wonder your partner is feeling frustrated. But with your help and support, you can help your partner realise her personal goal of breastfeeding. Be it two days, two weeks or two years – your support can help her along the way with your positivity.

2. Help your partner – during the early days especially, as she recovers from the birth, your partner will probably appreciate some help during breastfeeding. If the baby was born by cesarean, she may need you to lift the baby up and pass him to her for feeds. It could also mean getting professional help for your partner. Some women encounter breastfeeding hurdles along the way, be it mastitis, latch problems or sore nipples, and there is plenty of help available. However, some women don’t want to ask for help, and instead struggle on before giving up. You can help by finding the support your partner needs to solve her breastfeeding problems. Look for a lactation consultant, breastfeeding counselor or support group nearby that can offer assistance and diagnose any issues.

3. Words of encouragement – it’s surprising the difference a few words of encouragement can make in the workplace, and this is true for breastfeeding, too. Let your partner know that she’s doing a great job, that you’re in awe of her, and that she’s a great mother – even if you think she’s lost her mind! On a tough day, these few words could be all it takes to give her the strength to keep going.

4. Let her sleep – breastfeeding is a full-time job, and your partner is likely to be up a lot during the night feeding the baby. Try to help her catch up on her sleep by encouraging her to nap during the day, looking after the baby for a couple of hours, and doing a night shift. Of course you’ll still need to wake her for feeds, but at least she’ll be able to catch up on a couple of hours in the meantime. If your partner is expressing for bottle feeds, you could give these during the night to let your partner get a proper rest (though she may wake anyway because her breasts get too full).

5. Offer a butler service – a feed lasts around 45 minutes for the first few months, so make sure your partner has everything within arm’s reach during that time. The television remote, a magazine, her phone, a drink and some healthy snacks are all things she might want nearby. Breastfeeding is thirsty (and hungry) work, so make sure she has enough to eat and drink while she’s trapped under the baby. Make sure she knows that whatever she needs, you will get it for her.

Experienced breastfeeders, how did your partners help to support you to breastfeed? Are there any tips you would add to the above list?

Want to see some educational videos on breastfeeding? Good news! You can now download our Baby App for iPhone / iPad or Android, which has lots of useful movies and information on breastfeeding. Click Baby+ iOS or Baby+ Android to install the App, and prepare for the arrival of your little one(s).

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Help! I Have Sore Nipples

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally to all moms. Breastfeeding is a skill you need to learn, and it won’t always be easy. It may take you a while to get the hang of it, but once you know what you’re doing, breastfeeding will be second nature to both you and your baby.

Sore nipples are one of the most common complaints from new moms. Your nipples may be sore, cracked and bleeding. It’s not pleasant and it can leave you dreading the next feed, but don’t worry, you can get through this. This breastfeeding barrier can be overcome with a little bit of determination, some good information and help of breastfeeding support.

What causes cracked nipples

Just as you’ve been thrown in at the deep end with this whole parenting malarky, so too have your nipples. They weren’t gently eased into breastfeeding, instead they went from 0 to 60 without so much as a rest. Newborn babies have small tummies and breastfeed frequently to make sure they get enough food. This means your poor nipples are suddenly in constant use.

You and your baby are both new to this whole breastfeeding thing, and there is a learning curve involved in mastering the technique. There are a number of problems that can cause sore nipples including an improper latch, poor positioning and tongue tie.

Seeking help

Most women will experience tender nipples as they adjust to life as a breastfeeding mother. If your nipples are sore, cracked or bleeding, however, there’s probably a problem. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you need to stop breastfeeding, just that you might need a little support to get your breastfeeding journey off to a good start. Pop along to your local breastfeeding support group, make an appointment to see the lactation consultant at your local hospital, or call a breastfeeding support helpline for advice.

In the meantime, try the following tips to allow your nipples time to heal:

breastfeed from the affected side last – babies often feed from both breasts during one feed, but are often gentler with the second breast. If one nipple is suffering, offer your first feed from the other breast.
allow your baby to self-latch – instead of trying to latch your baby onto your breast, let him do some of the work. Recline in a comfortable position, and enjoy some skin-to-skin time with your baby on your tummy. Your baby may find his own way to the breast and even latch himself on.
experiment with different breastfeeding positions – you may find breastfeeding more comfortable in certain positions so experiment with how you hold your baby during feeds to see if this helps.
air your nipples – air plays an important role in helping your body to heal. Try to enjoy some bra-free time to expose your nipples to the air and encourage healing.
hand express – if you are unable to breastfeed from one side temporarily because of the pain, gently hand express to relieve engorgement and prevent mastitis.
apply breast milk or cream – there are creams you can buy to encourage healing, these can be applied between feeds. You could also try expressing a little bit of breast milk and applying that to your nipples to encourage healing.

Are you suffering from sore nipples, and if so, do you have any self-care tips to share with other moms?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

5 Things you Need to Know About Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk you make for your baby and it is incredibly beneficial for your baby. You may not have heard much about this ‘liquid gold’ during your pregnancy, but it’s pretty amazing stuff. Your baby will benefit from receiving colostrum, so if you’re struggling with breastfeeding or feel like giving up, learning more about this amazing substance may give you the boost you need to keep going. Here are five amazing things you need to know about colostrum:

You will produce it whether you breastfeed or not

Your body has been producing colostrum from as early as four months into the pregnancy. Whilst you’ve been busy growing your baby, your body has been busy preparing to nourish the baby after the birth. Some women leak colostrum from their nipples during pregnancy.

It’s packed full of antibodies

Colostrum is high in antibodies, allowing your baby to receive some extra immunity from you after the birth. It’s also high in protein, making it a great source of nutrition for your newborn baby. Colostrum is lower in fats and sugars than breast milk, making it easier to digest. Newborn babies don’t need as many fats or sugars in their diet during the first few days of life, so colostrum is perfectly tailored to your baby’s needs.

You might not know it’s there

Your breasts won’t feel full until your milk comes in, at this point you’ll feel more like Pamela Anderson than a new mom. Until then, however, your breasts are still producing and storing colostrum for your baby. You breasts may not feel engorged yet, but they are still full of colostrum to nourish your baby.

Your baby doesn’t need much

Your baby’s first feed may be as little as 2 ml of colostrum, but that’s plenty for his tiny tummy. By the end of day three, he may be having as much as 60 ml in one feed. Some mothers worry that they’re not producing enough milk for their babies, but don’t worry, you don’t need to produce much colostrum to be able to fill that little tummy. The more you feed during the early days, the better this will be for your milk supply when it does come in.

It won’t be there for long

Just a few days after the birth you will start producing breast milk. The suckling action of your baby at the breast during colostrum feeds will help to prepare your breasts for breast milk production. Most women find their milk comes in around day two or three, but around a quarter of women find it takes longer. You’ll probably know when your milk comes in, not least because the postman won’t know where to look when you answer the door. Your breasts may feel swollen, tender, engorged and tingly. You may leak milk between feeds as your body produces an excess of milk. You may also find that you feel particularly emotional around the time your milk comes in, many mothers report feeling ‘weepy’ (huge understatement).

Has your milk come in yet?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.