How to Support a Breastfeeding Mother

What if instead of shouting fed is best! at a new mother struggling to nurse her newborn, we asked her how we could support her in reaching her breastfeeding goals? 

When I was pregnant with my first I had people telling me breastfeeding is too hard before I even had her! This was even after I was open about the fact that I wanted to breastfeed my baby. It got worse as I continued breastfeeding my little one. It was not helpful!  

Why do people do that? 

I'm sure if you are suggesting to someone to switch to formula you have good intentions. Nursing the baby every 2-3 hours is hard work and takes so much time! That mom has so much on her plate and worrying about her milk supply shouldn’t be one of them! She really deserves a break! 

What if instead we asked how we could take something else off her plate so she had time and energy to nurse?

-Offer to bring dinner once a week throughout the fourth trimester.

-Offer to come help with dishes, laundry, or other chores. 

-Offer to look up lactation consultants in the area that could give her some breastfeeding help.

-Make her a bunch of healthy and easy to eat one handed snacks so she can get her calories in while nursing.

-Offer to take care of the rest of the house so she can be skin to skin with her newborn for 24 full hours. 

-Buy her a huge water bottle so she can stay hydrated while she is nursing.

Or even better- ask HER how you can support her in reaching her breastfeeding goals. I’m sure she will have some ideas. 

If that mom wants to switch to formula for any reason- there is absolutely no shame in doing that. But don’t be the person that insinuates that she should stop breastfeeding. Believe me, she already knows that is an option.