Sharing the feeding routine – expressing milk
One way of helping your partner is to give her a rest from feeding. If she can express some of her breast milk, then you can take over or take it in turns with night-time feeds, which can make a huge difference to her stress levels and sleep needs. It also gives you some special bonding time with your baby as you hold them close.
However, some women find expressing milk difficult or painful so this isn't always an option. In any case, it's best to wait until your baby is six to eight weeks old before trying to feed expressed milk. Your baby needs time to get used to feeding from the breast first and introducing a bottle too early could be confusing for the baby.
Even when your baby does start, it may take a while for them to get used to it, so don’t take it personally if they demand that mum feeds them for a while first!
Other ways to support your partner
If expressing breast milk isn’t an option or it’s too early to do so, there is plenty you can still do to show love, care and support for your partner. Breastfeeding is thirsty business, so get your partner a glass of water while she’s got her arms full. You can also help by burping the baby afterwards – but be ready for the possibility that baby will bring back up a bit of milk!
It’s also important that you try and help out with everyday tasks at home such as shopping, cooking and cleaning. This will give your partner time to rest and keep her energy levels up – breastfeeding can be hard work!