I love my DP!

[LoveChild421]

I just have to say I love my dp!!! My mom keeps saying stuff about how our son might "need some formula" since I am going back to school in the fall- I keep trying to tell her, no mom I will have plenty pumped, don't worry about it, besides he eats cereal too. So finally my dp had enough and when she was over today and she suggested "trying him on some formula"

he said "just give him cereal if he needs something extra- I don't want my son having any of that nasty formula!!!"

I just love how he really "gets" how important breastfeeding is and insists on only breastmilk for our son- so often I hear about friends husbands who aren't ok with them breastfeeding or what not- it is so nice to have a man who really understands and is a "lactavist" too!

[velcromom]

That is excellent, you are really lucky! My dh goes along with what I decide because he trusts me to research what the best choice is but he is not inherently crunchy himself.. I wish he was a little more so, but since he doesn't criticize my ways I can't really complain.

I hate to hear of moms having conflict with their partners over nursing issues, it's nice to know there are dads out there who get it. Now we just need them to start passing on this knowledge to other dads... right, can you just see a group of men sitting around drinking beer chatting about breastfeeding? :LOL

[Jadzia]

My DH is also very pro-breastfeeding and is very proud and supportive of my nursing our son. I have become much more of a lactivist in recent months and I tell him things that bother me and he totally gets why it makes me angry.

The other day I was complaining about women who FF without even trying to BF and how it makes me so sad for the babies and really gets me upset. DH said he agreed with me, but he says he tries not to be judgmental since he is a man and he doesn't think it is his place to expect women to nurse. He says he has seen all the challenges I have gone through with nursing and he says he would feel like a hypocrite as a man if he became more of a lactivist.

I thought it was an interesting point. I guess I could see his point of view. I always knew I wanted to breastfeed and that it was "best" but I think I only really became militant about it was after the birth of my son and I fought so hard to nurse him. (I had to overcome many obstacles as I was hospitalized post-partum for serious complications after my c/s).

I think he sort of equates it with being pro-choice: that as a man he should not have as much of a "say" in how a woman feeds a baby than he does. And while I agree that no woman should be "forced" to breastfeed against her will, I think we need men to be more active in the movement. I think more women would breastfeed if men not only supported and encouraged it, but expected it from a woman raising their child. I hope to raise my DS to value breastfeeding enough that he will know the importance of marrying woman willling to bF my grand-child.

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by velcromom

Now we just need them to start passing on this knowledge to other dads... right, can you just see a group of men sitting around drinking beer chatting about breastfeeding? :LOL

:LOL it's funny you mention that! He is always telling me about how he talks to his co-workers who have or will have kids soon about breastfeeding, homebirth, non-vax, no-circ! I am so proud of him

[lilsishomemade]

My husband is not very crunchy himself, just kinda lets me be He surprised me on the BF issue, though, he's very much in support of BF. It's because he grew up on a small ranch, and said that if a calf didn't get the chance to nurse, it's health was oftentimes very bad. He feels it's the same way with humans, and just never thought any different!! He does actually talk to his friends about it when they have kids, and always talks about how it's the best thing, etc!!

[mom2jolakeil]

That's so cool your dh is supportive. Even standing up to your mom - woo hoo!! My dh just avoids my mom like the plague (she barely tolerates him, I didn't marry the geeky MUCH older guy they wanted me to )

My dh is supportive till about 18months to 2yrs. Beyond that, well let's just say he would rather take the military stance of "don't ask, don't tell". We get into it quite a bit over extended breastfeeding. Of course, his mom told me he was the most difficult to wean (by 6 months - poor dh ). He knows I'm bfing Ilana and if it came down to it, I believe he WOULD support me. He was more adament than me that Ilana not get formula when she was born (low blood sugar - long story). He was standing up to the nurse more than me. I gave in only because I could see CPS being called if I didn't

[mommyto3girls]

My dh has become very supportive of bfing and baby wearing also. He is an elementary school principal so he works with almost all women. In the last 2 years he has had 14 teachers in his school have babies. Our gift to all of them was a sling and for all of those returning to work he let them know that he would adjust their art, music, and gym to accomidate them pumping. Didn't ask if they were planning on bfing or pumping, just told them flat out as though he expected them to do it!

[shelbean91]

You can totally do it without formula, but of course you know that. Ds2 was born in may 04 and I returned to school in aug 04, when he was 3 mos old. He's never had a drop of formula. I was in school from 9-5 monday, with a long enough lunch break I could drive home. I was in school from 12-5 on Wed and 12-3 on t/th for interning. Just tell your mom of how many people you know who have done this- maybe she'll lay off.