Supporting our wives...

Recently while at work, I walked into to the reception area to see if I had an appointment come in. The ladies in the reception area were having a conversation and one suggested that I might want to leave because I might find the conversation inappropriate. Another promptly replied that the conversation is not going to bother him because his wife breast-feeds their baby. The first, promptly looked at me and said that she wished her husband was more supportive of that role.

This morning, I mentioned this conversation to my wife and she informed me that most breast-feeding women wished their husbands would get on board with this choice which has led me to this posting for the husbands/fathers. I know that not all will agree with my comments or this blog post but it is something that I feel needs to be said from a father's perspective about breast-feeding.

Breast-feeding is a natural part of life that is the most nurturing for the newborn child that creates an unbreakable bond between mother and child. With my first daughter, seeing that bond made me both happy for them but jealous at the same time. Yes, I was jealous of the time my daughter and wife were having together. As my daughter got a little older each day, I had to find a way to get involved and help build that bond with my daughter as well. She would fuss when I would hold her when she had the desire to nurse. I found a way to become involved by making a game of her getting to my wife. I would hold her in such a way that she could see my wife as I was placing her in "nummy position". She would laugh and giggle but she got what she needed. With my second daughter, it was different, I fly her to the "nummies" and again I have become involved with that bonding moment without breaking it.

Guys as I have said it is natural for a woman to breast feed. God created breasts for that very reason. That was the only source of nourishment for a child at that age from the beginning of time. God did not create a formula for women to give to children, God did when He created breasts for women. It is our role as men to be supportive of our wives in their decision to breast-feed our children. Not all people are going to agree with our wives decisions but we, as their husbands, need to be on board with this decision and be supportive to the end. I am not going to go in to statistics but it is the MOST healthy decision our wives will make for themselves and our children.

For the guys that are struggling with this decision, I hope you can find some comfort in this post. Any ladies that see this post and are breast feeding, keep it up and feel free to share this post with your husband. If he is struggling, I pray that he finds these words as comfort that it is perfectly normal for you to breast-feed and he jumps on board with both feet.

I welcome any comments or questions because I would truly love to be able to help those that are struggling. Both Catherine and I are here to help in any way that we can. God bless you ladies for your strong-willed desire to breast feed your child and do not let some of us hard-headed men stop you. For you supportive husband, I thank you because we need more men like you. If you are a guy that is struggling, reach out and pray to God. If your still not sure, reach out to La Leche League for some great FREE resources that can help you with this struggle. It is a great organization that can help men just as much as they help women.