No bf support.

RSupry

is anyone else having an issue with their partner being unsupportive about breastfeeding? My husband is constantly complaining that bfing and even pumping is too time consuming. I couldn't bf my first due too supply issues and I'm having supply problems this time too but it's not quite as bad. Im struggling to overcome my issues and stick with it this time especially since this is my last baby. My LO is only three weeks and the supply issues are discouraging. But my husbands attitude is the most discouraging, he says he wants to be be supportive but he never actually is, whenever I sit down to pump if anything comes up he complains that I'm pumping instead of keeping our toddler wrangled. I feel like I can't even pump when he is home which isn't doing my supply any favors.

Sorry for the long post. I'm just getting really discouraged and more than once I've thought about giving up and just switching to just formula so I don't have to deal with him being so negative bc it's not like I don't have enough to deal with. But I really don't want to do that, I know he'll never understand why bfing is so important to me but I'll never understand why he feels the need to make it even more difficult.

cam12345

My partner is supportive but I think when having issues it is easy for propel to suggest just switching to formula, which isn't necessarily faster, if you can fight it out and have your supply come in it will be worth it! Also, stress probably isn't helping your husband needs to realise that his support is probably half the battle! In the end just do what you feel is right and don't let anyone make you feel guilty for whichever choice you make, in the the end it has to be be what is right for you

estefyp4

Sorry to hear you aren't really getting support from ur husband that stress alone can be messing with your milk supply...Breastfeeding can definitely be time consuming and add pumping to that and yeah your time is taken up by baby complete... If you're having problems with supply I recommend looking into lactation cookies or teas which I'm sure wouldn't hurt.. Also when you are pumping try to do it close to your baby..they say when you're pumping to think of a baby or look at pictures so that you feel like you're actually feeding them and your body naturally creates more milk (not exactly sure how that works but hey again it can't hurt) I would also recommend you try and talk to your husband & let him know exactly why it's so important for you to breastfeed and how his negativity is affecting you (focus on that fact that this is ur last baby) as well as ask him why he feels the way he does ..Good luck & I wish you the best and hope you continue to Bf as it is best for baby

kccusack

You need good support while bF because it can be very frustrating at times. Ask your husband to give you 25 minute periods so you can pump stress impacts supply and only makes it worse or

Coco118

Consider attending a local Le Leche League meeting. You'll get great support there and advice/help with the supply issues.

mrsalvidrez

I'm sorry your partner isn't being supportive. BFing is already hard enough as is so the stress of him not supporting you is definitely not needed! DH is supportive of me BFing but before I delivered he had heard from a lot of people that they would supplement formula for convenience. He would try to convince me to buy formula "just in case". I simply explained to him how passionate I was about BFing and why. (Now I know this can be a touchy subject and I want to say that I think every mom must do what works for her. There is no right or wrong. I am simply expressing why BFing is important to me.) I told him "if the formula commercial even says breast milk is the best option" why would i buy formula?! And then I just continued to say "you know what I'm going to try to BF and give him the best possible until I can't". The second LO came DH was totally onboard. BFing keeps me busy most the day I feel, and yes it is hugely inconvenient, but he loves that I am passionate about giving my LO the best I can.

mrsalvidrez

My whole point to that was maybe you could try re-explaining to your partner why breastfeeding is important and make him do some research on BFing vs formula feeding (when possible) and he should quickly realize why you are doing it!

RSupry

I've tried explaining it to him and suggested that he do some googling on the subject but he doesn't want to. He feels that since we were both formula fed as babies and our first child was too that breastfeeding isn't that important. And since I'm having supply issues he thinks it would be easier to just go with formula. I don't think he'll ever understand how important it is to me but I talked to him and he agreed to try not to be so negative.