7 Practical Ways to Support Breastfeeding Moms

Ask any mom who’s done it—breastfeeding is no small task. Apart from the time commitment required (a full year of breastfeeding equates to 1,800 hours on average), it’s physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding to sustain and nourish another human with your own body. For many mothers, though, every sacrifice required to breastfeed is worth it—and every little bit of support along the way is felt and appreciated. If you’re the friend, family member, or partner of a breastfeeding mother, here are some practical ways to support her nursing journey.

1. Get her what she needs
Breastfeeding can burn up to 700 calories per day and breast milk is made up of approximately 90% water. The point? Mama needs food and water. Once you make sure she’s got a full cup of ice water and her favorite snacks on hand, consider asking what else she mom might need to be comfortable while she nurses. Perhaps a pillow, her phone, a good playlist in the background, or some lip balm (IYKYK).

2. Wash bottles and pump parts
Let’s start with the facts: Pumping = breastfeeding. And pumping mamas know that one of the most time-consuming (and often annoying) parts about it is cleaning and sterilizing all of the pump pieces and bottles. Give mom a break from the endless feed-wash-sterilize cycle by taking care of the cleaning for her.

3. Do the burping
A feeding session isn’t finished once baby is done eating. Take the baton from mom and get it through the finish line by burping baby, offering a fresh diaper change, and refilling mom’s snack and water supply as needed.

4. Tend to other responsibilities
Unless online shopping counts (or you’ve got a good hands-free pump), breastfeeding typically isn’t a multitasking endeavor. Even so, those precious feeding hours stack up—right alongside the dishes, laundry, and other never-ending to-do’s. And though breastfeeding isn’t a task that can be easily delegated to someone else, cooking, cleaning, and running errands are. So by all means, scrub the toilet and fold the laundry. Mom says thank you. 

5. Take a night turn
If mom is pumping and has enough of a stash to skip a feeding, take a shift when baby wakes up hungry in the night. If not, you can still be helpful by getting baby when they wake up, changing their diaper, bringing them to mom, and ensuring mom has everything she needs (water, pillow, light). Cue another chance to take on burping duties, too! 

6. Ask her how it’s going
Breastfeeding isn’t just physically demanding, it can be a heavy mental load, too. Even if it seems like it’s going well, it never hurts to ask mom how it’s going. Some questions you might ask are, Do you feel like you’re getting the support you need? Is there anything that’s more difficult about breastfeeding than you anticipated? Is there anything you feel stressed or worried about?

7. Offer encouragement
Breastfeeding is all the things—beautiful, hard, energizing, exhausting—and a little bit of encouragement can go a long way. Tell mom she’s doing an amazing job. Let her know that her worth isn’t determined by whether her baby latches or how much milk she produces. Remind her that fed is best and that it’s okay if pumping or breastfeeding isn’t right for her. 

More Support
Though family and friends can provide support to breastfeeding moms in many ways, sometimes it’s helpful to have professional support as well. Our partners at The Lactation Network help connect families with insurance-covered resources to get the breastfeeding support they need—including specialized help from International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Learn more.