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Alan Lee
Many common titles or jobs come to mind when you think of a father: "Mr. Fix-It, golfer, plumber, gardener, outdoor grilling, car maintenance...", but after the birth of our daughter, I obtained one title I never thought possible: breastfeeding advocate?!
Yes, that's me. After nearly no knowledge of breastfeeding, we had a child, and I was transformed into a breastfeeding advocate, finding myself in conversations with friends, family and coworkers asking questions like, "what is your plan to continue breastfeeding once you return to work?" and "if you need any help at all, there are support groups, and let me give you my wife's telephone number".
My breastfeeding education actually started as my wife was enrolled in lactation courses, leading up to the IBCLC exam. She would come home after class enthusiastically spewing breastfeeding facts and statistics. After a short time of discussion it seemed simple to me: breastfeeding works and we were going to do it.
What I didn't realize at first was the impact a support person (husband or family member) could have on length or even initiation of breastfeeding. For breastfeeding to really work well, a little support goes a long way. Those first few weeks were a blur, but my wife tells me that without my encouragement things would have been much tougher. After a short time, breastfeeding just became a normal part of parenting for us. I would often be the one who would be thawing out frozen breastmilk, or washing breastmilk containers. I didn't even think twice about carrying the Boppy through the airport on our cross-country trip one summer! To provide assistance to my wife with a blanket or comfortable seat while nursing in public is a plus, too: comfortable mommy + happy nursing baby = relaxed and peaceful family.
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Unfortunately, not supporting breastfeeding or even disapproving of it can create stress for both mother and baby and it inadvertently subjects the infant to an inferior first food. This can create other problems such as feeding intolerance, allergies, and other illnesses as well as the financial burden of buying formula.
I am a man who believes in statistics and research. Studies consistently prove that breastfeeding is clearly the best start you can give a child, far superior to anything artificially made. First hand experience doesn't hurt either, and the facts are indisputable: we have one healthy girl. No ear infections in her lifetime, no respiratory infections except for the common cold, one serious GI infection at 3 months of age, which the pediatrician warned that she could quickly become dehydrated and possibly require hospitalization. (Except that uninterrupted breastfeeding kept her perfectly hydrated, helped heal the cells of her GI tract and maintained her weight). She is happy, well bonded to her parents, and her and my wife's risks of other diseases are now lower. The financial savings of breastfeeding are worth mentioning, too, especially because my wife says I owe her a gift valued somewhere between $1200 and $1400. We'll have to report later on the benefit of higher IQ, once she gets accepted at the Ivy League schools, but we're sure she'll get there. (She's already showing promise with her finger painting and sidewalk chalk drawings.)
As we wind down on the breastfeeding experience, with my daughter now starting to self-wean, I have to say it was all worth it. If I can impact one father out there to get educated on the benefits of breastfeeding, and the risks of not breastfeeding, that would make my writing this article worthwhile as well. The opinion and support of a father influences a mother's feeding choice and the results will impact a lifetime. For all you fathers out there: make an informed choice, become a breastfeeding advocate, and enjoy fatherhood!
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Published by: SDCBC
Editors:
Kelly Barger, MD
Diana Lee, RD, IBCLC
Angela Tenenini, BS
Jo Ann Shaw, RD, IBCLC
Nancy Wight, MD, IBCLC
Designed by:
Jennifer Neal
Inquiries can be sent to:
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Children's Hospital
3020 Children's Way, MC 5073
San Diego, CA 92123-4282
sdcbc@breastfeeding.org
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