Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Most expectant fathers know that breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby. Breast milk contains the perfect blend of nutrients, and

breastfed babies enjoy a host of benefits — from a reduced risk for obesity and allergies to increased intelligence.

Plus, breastfeeding is free, requires no preparation or cleanup, and is a great way for a mother to bond with her baby. And breastfed babies’ poop smells a lot better than the stuff produced by formula-fed babies.

Even so, a lot of new fathers find their feelings about breastfeeding change after the baby comes. It’s not that dads don’t support breastfeeding and its benefits — it’s just that the whole experience makes them feel a little left out.

Coping with feelings of inadequacy,

“Breastfeeding continues the exclusive relationship the mother and infant experienced during pregnancy,” says Pamela Jordan, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Child Nursing at the University of Washington. (Jordan is one of the few researchers to explore the effects of breastfeeding on men.) For dads of breastfed babies, it’s common to feel some or all of the following:

•  Worry that you’ll have a harder time bonding and developing a relationship with your baby than your partner will
• A sense of inadequacy, thinking that nothing you do for your child could ever compare to your partner’s contribution
• Resentment of the baby who has physically “come between” you and your partner
• Belief that because women breastfeed, they have knowledge and skills that automatically make them better parents.

Conclusion- Breast feeding is an act which comprises a mom and her child , but a dad has a active part to play for the growth and development of their baby . So all dads out there , instead of taking breastfeeding as a mother’s act try helping your partner cope up with the child birth and upbringing of your children together.

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.