{"id":5031,"date":"2025-08-06T13:23:53","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T20:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=5031"},"modified":"2025-08-18T13:32:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:32:17","slug":"breastfeeding-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/breastfeeding-support\/","title":{"rendered":"It Really Does \u201cTake a Village to Raise a Child\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Anticipating a baby\u2019s arrival comes with planning \u2013 baby registries, birth classes, or even decorating a nursery. No matter how much planning happens before delivery, life for a parent changes dramatically once baby enters the world! How can your family thrive after a baby is born? One way is to recognize that breast milk is the best first food for an infant. However, getting breast milk to a baby isn\u2019t always easy, especially in the first 2 weeks of life as the <a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/self-care-while-breastfeeding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">birth parent is recovering from delivery<\/a> too. It\u2019s easy to think of breastfeeding being between a mom and a baby, but in truth it \u201ctakes a village\u201d to support any baby, especially when breastfeeding. If you\u2019re part of a baby\u2019s village, here are ways you can help the baby get breast milk and thrive.<\/p>\n<h3>How to support breastfeeding as a partner:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Do things without asking. Change the diaper. Get up when the baby is crying in the middle of the night to bring the baby to breastfeed. Bring water to mama; she is thirsty and making fluids for baby too!<\/li>\n<li>Use your extra hands to help position the baby for feeding at the breast. Bring pillows to place under the baby or mom\u2019s arms for ideal positioning.<\/li>\n<li>Offer to bottle feed if using expressed breast milk and then wash those bottles and pump parts after.<\/li>\n<li>Be in charge of giving Vitamin D drops to your baby every day! They\u2019re important and easy to forget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to support breastfeeding as a grandparent:<\/h3>\n<p>Having extra family members around with the birth of a new baby can be wonderful but can also be extra for birth parents to manage. Some ways that can always be of help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Entertain older siblings.<\/li>\n<li>Offer to take baby for a walk.<\/li>\n<li>Hold the sleeping baby (who doesn\u2019t want to be put down) so parents can take a nap.<\/li>\n<li>Cook meals or bring food and do the dishes.<\/li>\n<li>Provide<a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/tips-for-new-parents-from-pediatricians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> wisdom and experience when it\u2019s asked for<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Be supportive of baby feeding at the breast around other people.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t suggest formula just because it seems like \u201cbaby is eating all the time\u201d in the first few days of life. If parents are breastfeeding the baby, have them follow up closely with their pediatrician and lactation support to see if formula supplementation is medically necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to support breastfeeding as a friend:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Listen without judgement. Know that the postpartum period is exhausting and it\u2019s great to have a trusted friend to lend an ear.<\/li>\n<li>Understand if the new parents don\u2019t want to have visitors right away or need to change plans at the last minute.<\/li>\n<li>If stopping by for a visit, act like a partner or family member! Bring food, wash dishes, entertain those older siblings.<\/li>\n<li>If your older kids are friends, offer to host a playdate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to support breastfeeding as a coworker:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize returning to work after parental leave can be stressful \u00b7 Help your coworker when needed so they can find time to express breast milk\/pump. If they need to take time for this and don\u2019t join at lunch or coffee breaks, be understanding.<\/li>\n<li>Offer them snacks, to fill their water bottles at the cooler.<\/li>\n<li>Ask to see baby photos \u2013 what new parent doesn\u2019t love showing these? Looking at baby photos can help with pumping too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Every August, we celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month. We can all be breastfeeding allies by recognizing that families may look different, and breast milk feeding may not look the same for everyone either. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask a breastfeeding parent how you can support them in their journey.<\/p>\n<h4>Resources for Parents<\/h4>\n<h4>American Academy of Pediatrics<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/ages-stages\/baby\/breastfeeding\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Breastfeeding<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- relpost-thumb-wrapper --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\">\n<h3>Related posts:<\/h3>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/the-abc-and-ds-of-vitamins-for-babies\/\" class=\"relpost-block-single\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/iStock-864468916-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: 'Gotham Regular';  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\">The ABC and Ds of Vitamins for Babies<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/whats-okay-to-eat-while-breastfeeding-2\/\" class=\"relpost-block-single\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" aria-label=\"mother breastfeeding baby\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/breastfeeding_155369113-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: 'Gotham Regular';  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\">What\u2019s Okay to Eat While Breastfeeding<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/sibling-squabbles-turn-tussles-giggles\/\" class=\"relpost-block-single\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/siblingsquabbles-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: 'Gotham Regular';  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\">Sibling Squabbles? Turn the Tussles into Giggles!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/the-big-deal-about-breastfeeding-2\/\" class=\"relpost-block-single\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" aria-label=\"Mother breastfeeding baby\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Mother_Breastfeeding_132264445Web-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: 'Gotham Regular';  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\">The Big Deal About Breastfeeding<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/what-do-new-fathers-need-to-know\/\" class=\"relpost-block-single\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Proud-father-holding-his-newborn-baby-925126398-Web-1-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: 'Gotham Regular';  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\">What Do New Fathers Need to Know?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- close relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- close filter class --><\/div>\n<p><!-- close relpost-thumb-wrapper --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breastfeeding isn&#8217;t just between a mom and a baby, but in truth it \u201ctakes a village\u201d to support any baby, especially when breastfeeding. If you\u2019re part of a baby\u2019s village, here are ways you can help the baby get breast milk and thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5033,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[667],"tags":[716,275,366,427,161,634,192],"class_list":["post-5031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newborn-care","tag-4th-trimester","tag-breastfeeding","tag-breastfeeding-newborn","tag-breastmilk","tag-grandparents","tag-parenting-newborn","tag-siblings","ages-baby"],"metadata":{"_edit_last":["8"],"qode_animate-page-title":["no"],"qode_show-page-title-text":["no"],"qode_show-page-title-image":["no"],"qode_show-sidebar":["default"],"qode_hide-featured-image":["no"],"cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":[""],"ase_chapter_enable_timeline":["off"],"video_format_choose":["youtube"],"_wpb_vc_js_status":["false"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_ages":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["90"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["3"],"post_featured_author_bio":["Dr. Lindsay Frost&#039;s biography reads: I joined the pediatrics team at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento in 2018 to help kids thrive. During my medical training, I pursued a Masters degree in public health and health promotion. I enjoy being able to foster long-term relationships with patients and their families, providing care in both health and illness as children grow.  Some of my most relevant experiences as a pediatrician have come from my two children, who have \u201ctrained\u201d me first-hand on the challenges of parenthood. \nRead more at {{https:\/\/mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org\/ncal\/providers\/lindsayfrost}}"],"post_featured_author_bio_link":["https:\/\/mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org\/ncal\/providers\/lindsayfrost"],"post_featured_author_image":["https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lindsay-Frost.png"],"post_featured_author_role":["YES"],"_edit_lock":["1755551074:8"],"_thumbnail_id":["5033"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["breastfeeding support"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Breastfeeding isn't just between a mom and baby, they need lots of support especially when breastfeeding. Here are ways you can help!"],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["75"],"ase_map_component_start_point":["a:2:{s:3:\"lat\";d:29.76;s:3:\"lng\";d:-95.38;}"],"ase_mapbox_style":["openstreet"],"_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":["1755549137"],"wpfp_favorites":["24"],"_cmplz_scanned_post":["1"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5031"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5087,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5031\/revisions\/5087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}