Why breastfeeding is important

Father’s support is very important for successful breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding protects and contributes to your baby’s optimal health and well – being.

Breastfeeding:

• is free
• is portable and requires no mixing or heating
• makes for a smoother running baby (breast milk is easy to digest)
• boosts the immune system which guards against illness (just like rust proofing)
• makes for a quieter operation (less likely to be colicky)
• lets baby eat as much as he/she needs
• reduces the risk of crib death (SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

How dads can help

• To make enough breast milk, mum needs rest, sleep, and nutritional food.
• Your help is vital.
• Cooking (which also includes getting take-out from mum’s favourite restaurant), cleaning (yes, the vacuum), answering the phone, entertaining guests (or telling them to come back another time), shopping, doing the laundry and dishes, along with all the things you did before, are a few small things which will help keep the breast milk flowing.

Dads can help with breastfeeding by:

• Going to breastfeeding clinics with mum
• Feeding mum
• Bringing baby to mum
• Helping with positioning of baby at breast
• Checking baby’s latch (baby’s attachment to mum’s breast)
• Supporting mum and tell her she’s doing a great job
• Burping baby
• Changing baby when asked or whenever needed
• Holding baby after feedings to help settle to sleep
• Trying to help mum relax and get extra sleep

How often do babies breastfeed

• Babies need eight to 12 feedings in 24 hours (amounts and times are different for every baby).
• Growth spurts are typically at three weeks, six weeks, and three and six months.
• During a growth spurt, it is normal for a baby to feed more frequently for two to four days and then return to their usual routine.

Get help if your baby:

• Does not feed at least eight times in 24 hours
• Has fewer number of wet diapers than number of days old (for babies less than six days old)
• Has less than six wet nappies per day (for babies 6 days or older)
• Is very sleepy and hard to wake up to feed
• Has yellow skin and eyes and is not feeding well and/or if baby has less than one dirty diaper in 24 hours

How to burp your baby

• Burping is helpful to avoid build-up of gas.
• Dads can become pros at this in no time (some baby’s burp on their own). Place baby on your shoulder and pat gently but firmly on the back.
• This can be done easily sitting in your favourite chair or while strolling around the house.

Posted with permission from www.parentinginpeel.ca/