How to Increase Chest Feeding Rates with Increased Support

 Written By: Elizabeth Payne; SLU Dietetic Intern

As someone who has been studying nutrition and dietetics for about 5 years now, something that has become increasingly apparent are the nutritional benefits of human milk to both the birthing person and the baby. Chestfeeding can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), type 2 diabetes, obesity, etc in the baby. For the birthing person it can lower the risk for certain cancers, postpartum depression, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Despite these benefits many birthing people do not feed their baby human milk. There are many reasons that factor into this; however, a reason that is gaining more attention is the lack of support.

It is proven that oftentimes the birthing people who stop chestfeeding before at least 6 months time are also the people who felt they needed more support. With this being said, how can we increase support towards chestfeeding in birthing people? The answer may be a lot more simple than we would think, targeting the partners of the birthing people. During the birthing process the majority if not all of the education on the importance of human milk is directed towards the birthing person. However, it can be valuable information that the partner should be aware of as well. Studies have shown that when the partner is more educated on the benefits of human milk in both the birthing person and the baby they will be more likely to support their partner.

Through some of the contacts I have made through my capstone project I have been given the opportunity to educate the partners of the birthing people about the importance of chestfeeding. The partners are invited each friday to an informational seminar in the NICU where they learn more about how human milk develops and adapts to fit the needs of the baby, the nutritional benefits of human milk, as well as some ways they can show their partner support. These efforts are made in hopes that the partners will be able to better appreciate and understand the importance of chestfeeding and will become more involved in the process. Some ways that they are told they can get involved is through cleaning pump parts, changing diapers in between feeds, and taking night shifts with the baby.

The importance of support is not exclusive to being there for your chestfeeding partner. This same trend can be seen across the whole dietetics field. It is also important to vocalize that support can be seen by far more people than just a partner. For example, a whole family making changes in their diet when one member has to change their habits due to a multitude of reasons or a friend learning how to help their friend count carbs and plan insulin dosages. As future registered dietitians, the more we can involve friends and family into our education the better the outcomes overall.