How we support people is just as important as THAT we support them. What does support look like to you? How does your partner or those close to you offer breastfeeding support that you find meaningful? This dad shares how he learned to truly support his wife after assuming that she would breastfeed and then discovering she wasnt so sure about it. From the post: t think the next thing I said went something like this: I messed up. I assumed we were on the same page about this. I think you should breastfeed. Here is what I thought I should have said: I messed up. Im not sure why, but I assumed we were on the same page about the topic of breastfeeding, which then led me to believe that we were on the same page about you breastfeeding. What I didnt take into account is that breastfeeding is more than just a pamphlet I read while I was bored at your last OB appointment. I can imagine that there is a lot of anxiety around it. But see the problem with either one of those replies? I assumed again. Heres what I REALLY should have said: I messed up, and I made assumptions. Im ready to listen. We got there eventually (to me listening). It took a while of me explaining the benefits of breast milk (she already knew them), praising the other women in my life who had successfully breastfed (she had heard it before), and quoting every time in our relationship when she had mentioned the benefits of nursing (she remembered those too) before she was able to communicate to me, mostly with her eyes, that I was not the one whose input was missing from this conversation. My wife is a very patient woman. Eventually I just shut up and listened. Heres what I heard. She was nervous, but she was also a little grossed out by the idea -- which made her feel guilty. She was worried she couldnt do it, and she was feeling a ton of pressure that she had to or she would permanently hurt the baby. And she didnt want to disappoint me, because she really wanted to be a good mom Read the rest here: huffingtonpost/john-kinnear/the-wrong-way-to-support-your-wifes-breastfeeding_b_5663442.html
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:40:53 +0000
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