How you can help your partner with breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is something that you and your partner can do together as a team. Your knowledge, enthusiasm, and support can be vital in the first few weeks as your partner learns how to breastfeed. Your support (practical and emotional) can also help them to manage and overcome any difficulties they may experience while breastfeeding.

How you can help your partner with breastfeeding

There are many ways in which you can support your partner with breastfeeding, including:

• making sure healthy food and drinks (especially water) are readily available (offering to cut up your partner’s food into manageable pieces so they can eat while breastfeeding may also be helpful)
• making sure your partner has time to do things they need to do during the day like have a shower, rest, or have a nap
• limiting the number of visitors, you have in the first few weeks (this will allow you to have some peaceful uninterrupted time together to bond with your baby)
• looking after older siblings
• offering words of praise and encouragement
• keeping them company during feeds (this can be a good opportunity to take time to talk and listen to each other)
• looking for your baby’s feeding cues (your baby may suck their fists, root (open their mouth as though they are about to breastfeed) or turn their head from side-to-side when they are getting ready for a feed)
• knowing the different feeding positions so you are able to help your partner position and attach your baby effectively
• making the most of your parental leave at a time that suits you and your family (for more information about this, please visit: www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting/financial-help-children)
• being involved in caring for your baby in other ways (this may include dressing, bathing, or changing your baby’s nappy)
• doing daily chores (such as shopping, laundry, preparing meals, washing up, cleaning the kitchen, tidying, and vacuuming).