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Expert Q&A
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| By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant | ||
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My husband is against me breastfeeding. He hasn't given me a specific reason why. The most I can get out of him is that it makes him feel uncomfortable. I do not want this to be only my decision. How can I help him feel more comfortable?
While breastfeeding is the norm in most of the world, many people have never been around breastfeeding in our country. They have only seen bottle feeding and they are comfortable with that type of feeding. It is kind of foreign to them to consider breastfeeding, even though it is the most natural type of feeding.
Hopefully, you can help your husband to learn more about breastfeeding before the baby is born. You can encourage him to attend a class about breastfeeding with other couples, or a couples breastfeeding group. If he is not interested in that, you can find articles and books about breastfeeding and share the information about the health benefits to baby. You can share with him that there is a substantial financial savings of over one hundred dollars a month. Let him know that breastfeeding babies are healthier and smell sweeter.
He can feed the baby your milk from a bottle, too, if he wants to do part of the feeding, after breastfeeding is well established. Ask him if what his worries are. Communication is very important to your marriage, and this is something that should be discussed between the two of you before your little one arrives. If you have further questions, or if he does, be sure to write to us again. Or you can call your local La Leche League Leader to ask about couples groups in your area. She can offer other ideas if you would like.
Breastfeeding is more than a social decision. It is an important health decision.
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