A baby’s brain begins to develop from the day they are born. From the day an infant is born to when they are 2 years old, the infant brain is capable of developing up to 80%. One of the factors that can increase the potential of this happening is exclusive breastfeeding. Read more to learn how fathers can help throughout Mama’s breastfeeding process!

When it comes to breastfeeding, it’s almost second nature for us to view the mother as the main person responsible for the act. Which isn’t the case at all, and propagates a pretty harmful stigma! Both father and mother should be equally responsible when it comes to playing a part in the feeding of their child.

Of course, the “feeding” in this case doesn’t mean the father is expected to lactate from his body to breastfeed his baby. Obviously, only the mother is capable of doing that—but that doesn’t mean the father has no part to play in the process at all. The role of showing care and affection to a newborn child is not solely the responsibility of one parent, and this is where the father can step in. That’s how families should be!

A husband’s role in breastfeeding can come in the form of support and assistance through the process of breastfeeding, whether it is morally or materially.

11 Ways on How Fathers Can Help During The Breastfeeding Process

1. Give Mama time to rest

Let Mama rest as much as she wants, and try to take over more to watch your baby. The last thing you want for a mother to feel even more stress after just having given birth. If your baby is crying, but not out of hunger and instead for attention, try comforting them and rocking them to sleep by holding them the right way. Babies sleep better when they are able to feel their father’s heartbeats and breathing.

2. Get up when Mama does

Wake up at the same time your wife does to be there for her when she has to breastfeed her child in the middle of the night. Babies get hungry every few hours, and need to be fed constantly. Being awake at the same time as the mother allows you to help her out if there is anything she needs while she is breastfeeding.

3. Communicate

Talk to Mama about things like parenting and breastfeeding. Through constant and empathetic conversation, you’re able to hear each other out and understand each other’s roles and responsibilities better, as well as figuring out what will work best for you as a family. 

4. Be a good listener

Be a safe space for Mama for her to confide her feelings in. Repressing her emotions will only stress a mother out further. For example, a mother may be feeling insecure with the physical changes that are taking place on her body due to breastfeeding. One of the things a father can do is constantly give Mama praises and boost her confidence in regards to what she is doing, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. Hype her up!

5. Help out with housework

Another way on how fathers can help Mama is by carrying out basic house chores such as sweeping the floor, doing the laundry or organising the house. Take some of the load off your wife’s back by helping out around the house! This will also help with her comfort, letting her rest more comfortably.

6. Comfort first

Make sure Mama can be at her most comfortable when and while breastfeeding. This can include preparing necessities such as a special pillow for breastfeeding, a comfortable place to rest, setting up aromatherapy in the room and many others.

7. Maintain a healthy diet 

Make Mama nutritious meals as often as possible! It’s very important to make sure her diet contains all the nutritions her body will require.

8. Help with inventory

Help with cleaning the breastfeeding pump and sorting out milk storage. This is rarely done by fathers, but will definitely help with making a mother’s life easier—she’ll be thankful for having a husband who takes such initiative!

9. Help with caring for other kids

This one’s self-explanatory enough. If you have other children, help out by doing things that Mama is usually in charge of. From daily meals to homework, there’s bound to be something.

10. Buy her mother care products

Get Mama something that will make breastfeeding a better experience for her. For example, Mama’s Choice products are safe for mothers to use when they are breastfeeding. From facial cleanser to shampoo and many more, we provide a good range of goodies to choose from. Plus, our products are not only made of all-natural ingredients, but are also completely safe to be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

11. Give Mama a massage

Making sure the pressure is just right! Massages can help with the increase of a hormone called oxytocin, which stimulates lactation.

Oxytocin massages to help with a mother’s lactation

The oxytocin massage is a back massage with the main goal of stimulating two hormones: oxytocin and prolactin. These two hormones play an important role when it comes to regulating the amount of milk a mother produces.

To tell the truth, the oxytocin massage is much more effective when done by the husband, at home. Keeping a daily habit of doing the massage will only help even more. This will help with a mother’s natural production of milk.

The oxytocin massage sounds complicated, but is actually pretty simple. It only has 5 steps, as shown below:

• The mother is seated, either facing a wall table or the back of a chair. A pillow should be used to support her front for more comfort.
• Starts massage the length of Mama’s back, from the back of her neck to her spine with thumbs in a circular motion for 1 minute.
• Do the same motion down the spine, all the down to the base of the back. Repeat the motion, but in the opposite direction back up.
• With clenched fists, massage the buttocks with gentle pressure. Repeat until tension is soothed and the mother feels comfortable.

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This oxytocin massage technique works a lot better when paired with a massage oil. Aside from yielding better effects (and smelling great and calming), the massage oil makes the massaging itself easier for the father as well in helping control the pressure applied.

The Mama’s Choice Relaxing Massage Oil is completely safe to be used during both pregnancy and breastfeeding. Made of lavender oil, grapefruit oil and orange oil, its ingredients are all-natural—you know what you’re getting! The massage oil can also be used for aromatherapy. Also, it’s not just for mothers and can be shared with other family members.

You can get our relaxing massage oil on Shopee and Lazada.

Mama's Choice Team

The Mama's Choice MY team is consisted of 4 beautiful mamas who are strong and dedicated in being the support system that many mamas need these days. <3