How Family Can Support You While Breastfeeding
As you are entering this new chapter of your life, you may feel like you cannot ask for help when it comes to breastfeeding. However, that is not the case! Aside from your care team, your family and friends can become a key and helpful component in your feeding journey. Your loved ones may want to become part of your team after baby arrives, but they are also just as needed before baby arrives as well. Invite your support system to a breastfeeding class, work with your partner and family to create a birth plan and breastfeeding goals (U.S Department of Agriculture), and perhaps take a tour of where you plan to give birth with your loved ones, as well. By preparing for baby’s arrival together, those around you can figure out early how to best support you and baby.
Yay! Baby is here! At the hospital, firstly focus on skin-to-skin contact with you and baby. Although many friends and family members will want to be holding baby ASAP, you must cultivate this contact with baby. As UNICEF states, skin-to-skin contact is extremely important because it has a host of benefits including helping to regulate baby’s heart rate, breathing, and other bodily fuctions but also peaks baby’s interest in feeding, and stimulates the release of hormones to support nursing and bonding. Have your friends and family review your feeding plan along with information regarding breastfeeding so you all together can recognize if you have any concerns or if you should seek support. This way, if you may not feel comfortable asking for help, your loved ones are there with the knowledge to get help for you.
Baby’s home! First and foremost, remember that it is your own choice to nurse your baby. Although there may be some people in your life that don’t understand your decision to breastfeed, you have a community of people ready to support and defend you! Additionally, the diapers may have begun to pile up and you may struggle to find all the time you would like to feed, burp, change, clothe, read, and play with baby. Don’t feel afraid to ask your partner or family member to help with baby. If not directly helping with baby, ask your loved ones to help around the house, prepare meals or run some errands for you. Make sure your “village of love” is also learning to recognize signs of hunger with baby. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, signs of hunger look like “fists moving to mouth, heads turning to look for the breast, sucking on hands or lip smacking”. Also, remember that as wonderful as it is to have a supportive community helping you, it’s ok to want one-on-one time with baby, and don’t feel scared to ask for that either!
As you embark on your nursing journey, we hope you will look to these tips for help and never refrain from asking your loved ones to aid in the process. If you or a loved one is looking for resources, information regarding breastfeeding or classes the Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington is here to help!
Quick tips for your partner:
Make sure you are learning about different breastfeeding pump parts and how to take care of them such as washing, sanitizing, and drying them
You can soothe, burp, and change the baby
Learn your baby’s hunger signs
Make your partner feel loved and appreciated during this time! Cook some of their favorite meals, get some ice for their water, and let them know you love them!
Quick tips for your littles:
Let them grab some snacks for you if you are seated and feeding the baby! They want to feel helpful to you!
Have your littles grab baby’s blanket or toy for you- your littles want to be included in the process just as much as your partner and family!
Allowing them to play gently with baby
Quick tips for your older kids:
Teach them how to look out for hunger signs with baby
Help them find ways they enjoy being involved whether that’s reading a book to baby, changing them, or washing pump parts
They can watch the baby while you cook dinner or rest!
Quick tips for your family members and friends:
Ask them to tidy up around the house or run errands for you and baby
Have them read about breastfeeding and attend some classes with you
Ask them to change or snuggle baby
Sources: https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/ways-your-friends-and-family-can-help, https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/babys-hunger-cues, https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/skin-to-skin-contact/#:~:text=There%20is%20a%20growing%20body,to%20life%20outside%20the%20womb