Support matters. A randomized control study found that with partner support the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at six months was 67% higher compared to women who did not receive partner support. As we know support can take many forms and come from other family members or close friends too - so let’s be each other's “village”.
Ways to support the body-feeding person:
Make them food (and clean up)
Take older kids to the park
Cheer them on
Use family leave
Vote for policies that support paid leave
Give a gift certificate for breastfeeding education or a lactation consultant as a baby shower gift
Normalize breastfeeding in public
Wash their pump parts
Help with nighttime wakings
Send their favorite snacks
If they tell you breastfeeding is hard - believe & support them but don’t discourage their goals.
(Reference https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2008/0715/p225.html)
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