Photo: “Unfinished Work” by Bing Ramos, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved
The second most important factor in my breastfeeding success story is having a supportive husband.
It’s the hubby who’s my partner and my “shield” when other people question my decision to breastfeed. And convincing him that I wanted to breastfeed is probably the smartest thing I did to ensure that I WILL BREASTFEED MY KIDS!
I already knew that I wanted to breastfeed from the very start. I was fortunate enough that the pediatrician we chose happened to be a breastfeeding advocate.
But my breastfeeding advocate pedia, which being a great help, couldn’t be with me 24/7.
It was pretty easy letting my husband understand why I wanted to breastfeed. He knew from the start that it was the best way to nourish our child. All I needed to inform him about was my decision to breastfeed and he supported me, all the way! And then communicated OUR decision to anyone and everyone else!
I read all I can about it. And told him everything I’ve read about. And he listened.
I got an OB who just happened to be breastfeeding friendly. She recommended a Pedia who happened to be part of LATCH and hubby’s classmate in medicine, among others. He chose the Pedia.
And while it was NOT smooth sailing all the way (with people doubting my ability and the quality of my milk), he held on with me, doing his best to convince others that OUR choice was totally right.
It was the hubby who –
- didn’t question why I had to buy an expensive (for us) manual pump, then later an even more expensive electric pump. With my second baby, we bought another even more expensive (but more efficient) pump and he was even the one who sourced it!
- went out and bought me a breastfeeding pillow when I asked for it. During that time, it was pretty expensive and it was not as easy to find one!
- went out and bought breast pads for me whenever I ran out. Online stores were not a common sight then.
- defended me and breastfeeding when people started questioning my son’s lack of chubbiness. Of course, our pediatrician was a great help in reassuring us that it was ok.
- unquestioningly accepted that our conjugal bed is now a family bed…because breastfeeding is so much easier when we co-sleep.
- learned to prepare expressed breast milk for those times that I had to be away.
- went out to buy ice to preserve our precious stash of expressed breastmilk when Typhoon Millenyo (with our first baby) and Typhoon Frank (with our second baby) caused long blackouts in our area. It wasn’t easy to look for ice during those times, I tell ya!
- played with my kid when he was wide awake at 3am so that I can get more sleep.
Again, most importantly, he was the one to inform the other people that I’m breastfeeding whenever they look at me funny or they question it.
It doesn’t matter if other people won’t be convinced about my decision to breastfeed. The most important thing that matters is that I got my husband to be on the same boat as me when I decide to go on this journey of breastfeeding. After all, the child is OURS. And WE are trying to give our kid the best nutrition there is to be found.
Oh, and the most important factor? My own determination to make this work. All the support my husband could give would be for nothing if I gave up easily.
Apples and Dumplings: Communication and First Time Breastfeeders
Dainty Mom: Creating a Pro-Breastfeeding Culture in the Family
Truly Rich Mom: Truly Rich Tips (esp. for moms) – How to get others to support you in breastfeeding
Mec as Mom:Pre-Natal Pediatric Consultations Are Necessary
Onbreastfeeding: Say it, claim it, get support!
EthanMama: My Best Breastfeeding Support System — My Husband
TouringKitty: Communication through Breastfeeding
Escie’s World: Ready, Get Set, Go! for Breastfeeding
J and the Three Boys: I’m breastfeeding, and that’s that.
Nanaystrip: BreasTALK : Text, Retweet, Share your Knowledge and Experiences
PenpenEspie: A Shout out to My Breastfeeding
BuddiesProject Blog byKate: Talk and Make It Happen
NewbieWife: How I Taught the Family to “Breastfeed”
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom: Effective Communication Bucket List
Go Help Yourself: “6 persuasion tips for breastfeeding moms and advocates”
Mommy Kuwentos: How I recruited my top breastfeeding buddies
Handy Mommy
Tags: breastfeeding, mommy, musings
[...] Truly Rich Mom’s How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband http://penpenespie.multiply.com/journal Jen CC Tan’s I’m Breastfeeding, and [...]
[...] Truly Rich Mom’s How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband Raising Baby Lia’s A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies Jen CC Tan’s I’m [...]
[...] Truly Rich Mom’s How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband Raising Baby Lia’s A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies Jen CC Tan’s I’m [...]
Aren’t pro-breastfeeding hubbies just THE BEST?! hehe
I also don’t know how I could have gone through all the lows and highs of breastfeeding without my dearest husband 
Love your post Ethan Mama! 
Blessings!
one thing I loved about my hubby was he never offered to buy formula in the early days when I was still struggling… he did offer to buy a pacifier
but it’s really great no? you know you’ve communicated your wish when they’re on the same page as you
[...] breastfeeding: Say it, claim it, get support!</a> <a href=”http://www.ethanmama.com/2011/08/my-best-breastfeeding-support-system-my-husband/”>EthanMam…: My Best Breastfeeding Support System — My Husband </a> <a [...]
[...] breastfeeding: Say it, claim it, get support!</a> <a href=”http://www.ethanmama.com/2011/08/my-best-breastfeeding-support-system-my-husband/”>EthanMam…: My Best Breastfeeding Support System — My Husband </a> <a [...]
[...] EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband (Twitter: @ethanmama) [...]
[...] at http://www.ethanmama.com/2011/08/my-best-breastfeeding-support-system-my-husband/ [...]
Dumadali ang breastfeeding journey ng isang nanay kung may mga asawang suportado ang desisyong mag-breastfeed. Sumusuporta hindi lang salita, lalo na sa gawa!
Cheers sa ating mga asawa!
Masaya akong makasama ka sa Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (August).
[...] Others to Support You in Breastfeeding (Facebook and Twitter: @tinasrodriguez) EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband (Twitter: @ethanmama) Raising Baby Lia’s A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies Jen CC [...]
wow! your husband chose your pedia?! (oooh.. i think i know who this pedia is!) thank God for supportive husbands!
How wonderful your husband is! We all have great stories to tell because our hubbies are all so supportive!
Great post ethanmama! Yes, our pro-breastfeeding husbands are the best resources, especially during those times when we are also struggling to make it work, or explaining to people why we will not supplement. I didn’t have millenyo, or frank… But we had ondoy when I was breastfeeding my firstborn. Yes that was a challenge
but a story worth telling over and over again! Congratulations:)
I read somewhere that lack of spousal support is one of the biggest reasons for mothers stopping breastfeeding. It’s wonderful we’re blessed with husbands who fully support our decision to breastfeed!