Fathers/partners, family and friends

Breastfeeding can be challenging, and it can be tiring. Support from fathers/partners, family and friends can really help.

There are many things fathers/partners, family and friends can do to support mothers to breastfeed.

• Offer to help with other children – read them a story or play with them.
• Help around the house – do the dishes, or the grocery shopping. Hang out the washing , do some cleaning or make the school lunches.
• If a mother is finding breastfeeding hard going, encourage her to keep it up. Breastfeeding may not be easy for every mother at first, but it’s worth persevering!
• Reassure mothers that plenty of wet nappies is one of the signs that baby is getting enough milk.
• Bonding through breastfeeding with baby is really important for mothers.
• Other family members can enjoy bonding too. Cuddle and soothe baby. This will help a mother to breastfeed successfully because she is getting the rest she needs.
• And remember, fathers need to take time out to bond with baby too! Why not have a bath or shower with baby, burp him or her after a feed, and don’t forget to help with nappy changing!

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Information for Grandparents

View an Information for Grandparents leaflet from the West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust in the UK (PDF, 25 KB - www.wiltshirepct.nhs.uk).

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Page last reviewed: 31 July 2009