Information for Dads, Partners and families
New mothers are often tired and overwhelmed. Breastfeeding assists the mother to recover from the birth, and the baby to have the healthiest start to life. Breastfeeding is natural, but is a learnt skill.
With the right support and information, most women do breastfeed successfully.
Information for partners
Partner's support is essential for successful breastfeeding. Partners can assist the mother, and bond with their baby, in a whole range of ways, including:
- take care of ‘other’ things, like get the bread and milk, put on a load of washing, bath the baby, take the baby for a walk or help with settling baby
- monitor how many visitors come, let people know when mother and baby need a rest
- take other children for a walk to give the mother and new baby some alone time
- support your partner's decision to breastfeed, and try to deflect any negative comments
- phone help lines such as 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or Australian Breastfeeding Association (1300 686 268) to seek advice, or make an appointment with the local health services
- tell the mother she is doing a great job.
Information for Grandparents
Many things have changed about the information that new mothers are given. There is more information available today than ever beforeabout what can help babies become healthy children and adults.
The importance of breastfeeding for the baby, the mother, the family and the community are considerable. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop diabetes, asthma, some childhood cancers and obesity.
How can Grandparents help?
- help with housework, bring the family a meal
- bath, walk, or settle the baby
- support the mother's decision to breastfeed
- find the latest recommendations about caring for and feeding babies
- call help lines or take the mother to appointments
- tell the new parents what a wonderful job they are doing
There are many variations of feeding patterns, growth and sleeping patterns in babies, and all of them can be normal for a healthy baby.
Important Points
- No infant formula can ever have the same ingredients as breastmilk.
- Breastmilk has ‘live’ factors in it that protect against illness.
- Breastfed babies are at lower risk of SIDS (cot death).
- Starting solids at around 6 months of age (with NO foods or other drinks before this) will make babies less likely to have many illnesses.
- Babies who are given food earlier than 6 months of age are NOT any more likely to sleep through the night.
- Breastmilk is approximately 87% water. Breastfed babies don’t require any water, even in hot weather, until around six months of age.
- Feeding 8 to 12 times a day is normal for breastfed babies.
- When babies have growth spurts (fussy days) they seem to feed constantly.
- Mothers are encouraged to eat a healthy, well balanced diet. There are no foods that breastfeeding women should avoid.
- Drinking more fluids or eating certain foods doesn’t change milk supply.
- It is recommended that breastfed babies don’t use dummies for the first six weeks.
- Substituting a breastfeed with a bottle on a regular basis can reduce the mothers milk supply.
Places for new Grandparents to get more information
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