Being sidelined by baby's father

[Caroline3033]

I have a six week old baby boy. My partner does everything. I've given up breastfeeding because every time the baby struggles to latch on, he takes over with a bottle. He doesn't seem to trust me to do anything. He's starting a new job soon but until then we are both at home. I've just backed off as I don't want to fight with him. I don't have the energy for it. My milk's drying up and I feel useless and sad and guilty at the same time.

Tell him! Say you don't feel you are being enough time with baby so will be doing more. If you want to BF then take baby to a quiet, dark room and do it away from your partner. That way he can't scoop in at the first chance of trouble.

How you feed you baby is up to you, not him! You need to stand up for yourself here, take the baby back and say ‘no thanks, I’m breastfeeding’. Did he belittle you before the baby?

Find a breastfeeding cafe and go for advice, without him. Why do you allow him to take baby for a bottle? Tell him how much you want to try and go into another room, he can offer bottle afterwards. Are you struggling physically and/or emotionally generally?

Be clear there will be no more bottles, that’s not his choice to make

No, I think he's genuinely trying to help, he just doesn't quite understand. The trouble is we both tend to avoid confrontation. I have made myself clear now and he has backed off a bit, and he will be back at work soon so I will have more time alone with the baby, which is great.