Fathers supporting breastfeeding

WITH most literature stressing the importance of the breastfeeding process for both a mother and her child, fathers are oftentimes left feeling like the third wheel with no role to play.

The need for more fathers to participate in the breastfeeding process was recently highlighted by the parish manager for the Manchester Health Services Stanhope Scott, at a breastfeeding forum held in the parish.

“Some men mistakenly believe that breastfeeding is strictly confined to women and babies. They see their role as that of a passive or neutral observer who has little influence over the process, but fathers actually have tremendous potential to either facilitate or undermine the success of breastfeeding,” Scott said.

While a man cannot physically breastfeed his child, his support and assistance are crucial factors in ensuring a satisfactory breastfeeding experience. And his contribution is not just limited to occasionally giving the baby a bottle with expressed milk.

According to Sister Pauline Lovendere from the University Hospital of the West Indies Breast Feeding Unit, the father’s role far exceeds this. She said a lack of support on the father’s part could create tensions that might make it difficult for the woman to breastfeed.

“We find that if they approve of the woman breastfeeding, it makes her very relaxed and makes her milk flow. Remember that breastfeeding deals with the oxytocin reflex which is the ‘let down reflex’. If the woman is tense or she is unhappy or tired, it can affect how her milk flows and these things affect breastfeeding,” she said.

She said when men are supportive of their partners exclusively breastfeeding their child, it helps the woman to become less tense.

“When I am conducting my sessions I let the man ask the questions and you find that if the man is comfortable, the woman is more comfortable,” she said.

Thirty-three-year-old Dwayne Williamson said he fully understands the importance of breast milk and was in full support of his wife breastfeeding his now four-year-old son.

“Breast milk is the best. It has the right temperature and the right nutrients and so forth, so there was no debate about it for us,” he said.

He said he made sure his wife was fed properly and had the right types of nutrients. In addition to this, he remembers placing cushions in her chair before she started breastfeeding, helped her to get comfortably settled and handed his son to her so he could be fed.

Tanya Clarke said she would express milk for her now two -year-old daughter and freeze it in bottles.

“Then in the night, my boyfriend would allow me to sleep while he slept downstairs with the baby and when she woke up, he would thaw the milk, warm it and feed her. That way we ensured that she was getting the breastmilk and we were both participating in the process. My boyfriend loved the fact that he could bond with our daughter in that way,” she said.

Aside from helping the woman feel comfortable, Sister Lovendere said men can ensure that their partners are well-rested and free from stress.

“He can help with the housework or the other things that might stress her like the other children or whatever, so that it frees her up a little bit more to be able to give,” she said.

She also explains that the father can assist the mother is expressing the milk and while the mother rests he can cup feed the baby. After this the father can burp him or her.

Breastfeeding has a number of advantages for both parents and child, one being the fact that it will help the family save money. It also ensures that both parents get equal amount of sleep at nights.

“Instead of spending to buy formula, all he does is to spend to feed his wife properly, which is what should be happening anyway,” explained Sister Lovendere.Other ways fathers can help with the breastfeeding process:

1. He can educate himself about breastfeeding. Instead of allowing the woman to go to clinics alone, the father can also attend these sessions so he can learn more about breastfeeding. By doing so, he can remind the mother about the things that were taught in case she forgets.

2. He can block interference. Most women get a number of visitors in the initial stages after giving birth, which at times makes them feel overwhelmed and tired and unable to feed the newborn in time. Some women also do not like to breastfeed in front of others and might resort to giving a bottle until their visitors have left. As such, the fathers can help to screen visitors so that the women can breastfeed without interruption.

3. He can help to make the mother comfortable. The father might not be able to feed the baby, but he can help to feed mom whatever she needs to get comfortable. He can help to prepare her nutritious meals and make sure she gets adequate amounts of liquid.