Mothers and Their Families

Women should be encouraged to discuss with others their desire and plans to breastfeed, whether such persons are clinicians, family and friends, employers, or child care providers. When a woman has decided she wants to breastfeed, discussing her plans with her clinician during prenatal care and again when she is in the hospital or birth center for childbirth will enable her clinician to give her the type of information and assistance she needs to be successful.¹ Her partner and the baby’s grandmothers also play critical support roles when it comes to breastfeeding, both with regard to assisting in decision making about how the baby is fed and in providing support for breastfeeding after the baby is born.^2,3

How Mothers and Their Families Can Support Breastfeeding

• • Give mothers the support they need to breastfeed their babies.
  • Develop programs to educate fathers and grandmothers about breastfeeding. [PDF-903.73KB]
  • Talk to doctors and nurses about breastfeeding plans, and ask how to get help with breastfeeding.
  • Ask about breastfeeding support when choosing a hospital.
  • Join with other community members to encourage local hospitals to become Baby-Friendly.