Project: Breastfeeding
Have you been on Facebook lately? Are you part of some of the parenting or breastfeeding groups? If you answer was “yes”, then chances are that you have heard of Hector and his Project BreastFeeding.
Hector is a new dad to baby Sophia – pretty much an ordinary dad, living an ordinary life – but with a newfound and very admirable passion/ mission. His wife had a few breastfeeding issues during their new baby’s first days and weeks. Hector did not just kick his feet up, turn on a football game and leave his wife to figure things out on her own. Nope – he did what a real man, great father and supportive husband would do – he helped his wife find answers and solutions to THEIR breastfeeding issues. He joined Facebook groups for breastfeeding moms, he asked questions and researched their concerns thoroughly.
Hector quickly realized that he was much of a Lone Ranger on the plains of this breastfeeding prairie. The men who support their wives to the extent that Hector does are UNFORTUNATELY few and far between. He has since then decided to start a grassroots movement to help normalize breastfeeding, involve the male partners and to demystify breastfeeding as a whole. He has turned his profession of photography into a tool to aid in his mission – taking pictures of breastfeeding moms surrounded by their loving and supportive partner and family. He even has pictures of men holding their babies with the words “If I could. I would”!
You can check out Hector’s Facebook page at Project BreastFeeding. It is Hector’s dream to travel the country and expand upon his photography portfolio of breastfeeding families. However, such a venture requires funding, kindly follow Hector’s Facebook page and consider donating to his cause on this GoFundMe website.
Personally, i love to hear stories of men like Hector. I am inspired and encouraged when families, especially spouses rally around the breastfeeding mother to help her get a good healthy start onto the breastfeeding journey. Feeding, nurturing and caring for a baby is not just the mother’s job. It was (hopefully) a joint decision to create a new life, and therefore should be a joint venture to ensure the baby gets the best possible start – whatever the parents view as “the best possible start”.
Personally, I am blessed with a supportive husband. Someone who backs me up when our decision to breastfeed is being challenged or questioned. He stands behind me and supports me in any way necessary. Because of my husband’s support and encouragement I have been able to breastfeed for a cumulative 60 months, divided among our three boys.
I am excited to follow Hector and his “Project: Breastfeeding”. Hopefully he is able to rally enough support to create a voice and help change some of the stigma behind nursing in public and create more awareness about the health benefits of breastfeeding, for both mother and child. Perhaps even more dads will join forces with him in support of their breastfeeding partners. If nothing else, his wife is lucky to have such a great support network within her own four walls.
My husband was so helpful when I had issues come up and was always searching for tips and answers to our questions.