Supporting breastfeeding starts with the family: why fathers matter

My baby had to eat every two hours, and as the mother is not in the best state of health, I woke the baby up every two hours and, with the help of the breast pump, I fed the baby from the milk collected so that her mother could sleep.

While extended family members provide valuable support, the active presence of a father makes a meaningful difference to the health and well-being of both mother and baby.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that breastfeeding begin within the first hour after birth, that infants receive only breast milk for the first six months, and that breastfeeding continue alongside appropriate complementary foods until two years of age or beyond.