The smooth process of breastfeeding your baby depends not only on your wife, but also on your role as a breastfeeding father. So, what is a breastfeeding dad and what can you do about it? Let's see the answer in the following explanation.
Breast milk is the main food and the best nutrition for babies to support growth and development and increase their immune system. Breastfeeding can also strengthen the emotional bond between mother and baby.
However, it is not uncommon for wives to feel tired and depressed because of their new role. Therefore, the role of fathers as partners and parents is also needed to support the process of exclusive breastfeeding.
Various Steps to Becoming a Breastfeeding Father
Not only as a form of support for partners, carrying out the role of breastfeeding fathers can also make fathers feel more involved in the process of developing their children.
The following are some steps you can take to become a breastfeeding father:
1. Find information about breastfeeding
The first step to becoming a breastfeeding father is to learn many things related to the breastfeeding process. This is important so that breastfeeding fathers can help their wives in solving problems that they experience during the breastfeeding process.
Accompany your wife during regular check-ups with the doctor during breastfeeding. You can also look for some trusted references on the internet for information about breastfeeding.
If necessary, ask the nearest health facility for consultation sessions or special classes for breastfeeding fathers.
2. Give your partner full attention and support
Breastfeeding is not an easy job. Your wife may feel exhausted because of the amount of energy used and the reduced time to rest while caring for the baby.
Tell and show your wife that you care and will always be there for her. For example, when your wife tells her that she feels tired at night after taking care of the baby, listen to her story and give her a light massage to make her feel more relaxed.
3. Help the wife in taking care of the baby
There is nothing wrong for you to join in helping your wife in caring for the baby. With the breastfeeding information you already have, try to help your wife.
You can start with things that are fairly easy, such as holding your little one when they want to breastfeed, changing their diaper, to bathing them. Not only helping your wife, participating in caring for your baby will also help you build an inner bond with her.
4. Help the wife to finish the housework
In addition to helping your wife in taking care of your little one, you can also take the time to ease her duties by doing housework, such as sweeping, preparing breakfast, or washing dishes.
Even though it seems simple, this can mean a lot to the wife and make her happy, so that it has a good impact on the smooth process of breastfeeding your little one.
5. Understand your partner's decreased sexual arousal
Understand that the process of breastfeeding can make the wife's desire to have sex less. This is due to decreased production of the hormone estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in arousing sex drive, during breastfeeding.
In addition to affecting the desire to have sex, the reduced amount of the hormone estrogen also causes the vagina to become drier so that sexual intercourse becomes painful.
If you and your wife want to have sex during breastfeeding, there's nothing wrong with using a vaginal lubricant so that sexual activity can feel more comfortable.
You may feel afraid of making a mistake when you want to help your wife during the breastfeeding process. However, try to start with the thing that you think is easiest to do.
Without you knowing it, baby's growth and development can pass very quickly. Therefore, accompany your wife during the breastfeeding process and make pleasant memories with her and your little one.
If necessary, you can also consult a doctor to get more information about the role of breastfeeding fathers or the growth and development of your little one according to his age.
