Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Sweet Support Tips for Breastfeeding Mamas

This week’s topic is about Sweet Support.

I can’t emphasize enough how important support is when you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. I believe the most important person that needs to be supportive is your significant other. (For those that don’t have an SO helping, then a close family member or friend – whoever your “go-to” person is when you are struggling with something.)

To get the most support out of your significant other, here are my suggestions since these worked for us:

• Discuss the decision to breastfeed before baby comes.
• Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding, such as bonding, health and financial.
• Attend a breastfeeding class together.
• Watch breastfeeding videos together.
• Have them observe you feeding.
• Express the importance of them helping you to get comfortable, fetching things, and observing the latch until you get more used to it.
• Express the importance of them getting you help from a lactation consultant or a La Leche League member if you are struggling.

I didn’t have to convince my husband to go along with my choice to breastfeed, but I know some women don’t have that support. If your significant other is not on board with the decision to breastfeed, it will be easier to give up if you are struggling because they won’t necessary understand why so much effort needs to be put into it.

I took my hubby along to my breastfeeding class so that he could be my second set of eyes and ears. Surprisingly enough (to us) almost every woman there brought their SO with! We also watched some videos on our own (Netflix has some to rent or stream) to observe positions and latches.

In the beginning, my hubby helped a lot by handing Rissa to me after I got situated with pillows and the footstool. I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to get just right when she was so tiny. He also helped by bringing me snacks and water as needed. During growth spurts, I really needed his help to wait on me because Rissa cluster fed so much.

Last week I talked about a big breastfeeding obstacle and he helped by suggesting we call for help and bringing me my phone. He also tried to look up information for me. The biggest support though, was just being there. He listened to my struggle and reassured me that I was doing a good job and no matter what – I was being the best mom I could be.

I love my sweet support!