Breastfeeding is physiological and all you need is a mother and a baby, however being part of a supportive community is very important, for their
wellbeing and for successful breastfeeding.
Your partner has a fundamental role in this: his task is to act as a 'shield' for the mother-baby dyad from the outside world... often relatives and friends, in their eagerness to get to know the new arrival, do not realise that they are a 'disturbing' element because they would like to turn up at any time, without knowing that you and your baby need time and space to get to know each other and to remarry (and that is your right!).
So new dads have the delicate task of giving instructions on how to manage and limit visits and phone calls, and they can (indeed, it is desirable!) also share the care of the baby.
A newborn baby can cry for many reasons, not just hunger. Once you have checked that feeding is not what is required at that particular moment, you can comfort the baby by holding him skin-to-skin, rocking him, walking with him in your arms, bathing him, changing his nappy, talking to him. All things that even a partner can do!
You as a mother can anticipate to friends and family that you want to breastfeed and warn them that you will need encouragement, appreciation, moral support and practical help, especially in the first weeks.
Every situation is different and only you can know what is right for you; it is important that you listen to your needs and preferences.
Every new mother needs a lot of energy, but each one organises herself in her own way:
some mothers manage to organise themselves to have practical help with daily household chores (shopping, preparing food, washing dishes and doing laundry, cleaning around the house, looking after any other children).
others stock up on food in the freezer in the last period of pregnancy.
Once at home, you can also turn to other figures for help:
- Specially trained health workers (paediatricians, midwives, nurses)
- Breastfeeding clinics in consultancies or hospitals, where available
- Family counselling centres
- Professional lactation consultants - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
- Lactation consultants from the Lega per l'Allattamento Materno (La Leche League Italia) or other associations in the area
- Peer support volunteers.