8 WAYS DADS CAN HELP FOR SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING
Hello friends! I am Brian Salmon, AKA The Birth Guy. I am also a Senior Columnist for Everything for Dads and expert in the field of birth. I was recently asked a question about breastfeeding and why babies don’t always go for it. Why sometimes pumping and bottle feeding are the only way some babies will even drink breast milk. I am a Doula, Birth Mentor, and Certified Lactation Counselor so I often work with new parents struggling with breastfeeding (if you are wondering why he asked me). There can be many reasons, so I will tell you how to do your best to not even get there!
Let’s just start at pregnancy. Unless the baby is pre-term or has other medical issues, the number one reason that many families have problems with breastfeeding starts with education. It is so important to get help from a credible source that teaches the benefits of breastfeeding, how it works with the body, some red flags, and how the father or partner’s support is so incredibly important. Gentlemen (and ladies if you are reading this), SUPPORT is the name of the game!
New mothers often feel so worried and anxiety bound that they are stopping the natural flow of breastfeeding by releasing stress hormones. Dad/partners job is to consistently remind her that she is doing an amazing job and making just what the baby needs. However, going in prepared makes it so much easier. Here are some things to know that will reduce stress:
1. Babies will generally not latch for about 1 hour and if you had drugs or an epidural, 2
hours. Skin to skin is a big thing at this phase. When baby is born they should immediately be on moms chest. This alone initiates up to 19 digestive enzymes newborns need! They need to relax, cry, crawl, sleep, familiarize, and then latch. If this doesn’t happen, it’s a little tougher, but don’t you worry, I will tell you some other things to do if you do not get this long skin to skin time. Also during this time do not let them towel off babies mid fore arm and hand. We want it to smell like amniotic fluid. Why you ask? Because those bumps that popped out around moms nipples are called montgomery glands and they secrete an oily liquid that smells like amniotic fluid. Get it? They smell their hand and the nipple. That must be where they can suck and swallow. It is so awesome,
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