James Van Der Beek’s support of breastfeeding makes him #partnergoals

We love to see partners supporting mothers in whatever what they choose to feed their baby, and research shows that the support is especially important when it comes to breastfeeding . Having a partner who supports breastfeeding can make a difference in whether a mom chooses to try it and when she stops. And when dads become breastfeeding cheerleaders, the whole family benefits.

Researchers have identified paternal emotional, practical and physical support as important factors to breastfeeding success and in enriching the parenting experience for both mom and dad. Dads feel more involved when they’re able to find ways to help with infant feeding, even if they can’t physically breastfeed themselves.

According to researchers , “the role transition from couple to family poses challenges to both parents. Sharing the experience of childbirth and supporting each other in the subsequent infant feeding practices is one of those challenges.”

Van Der Beek had definitely been involved not only in breastfeeding, but also in the childbirth experience. Shortly after Gwendolyn’s birth, he shared an Instagram picture of “Home-Birth Realness” that captured him doing shirtless skin-to-skin contact with his newborn daughter while her placenta was still attached, (and while 6-year-old big brother Joshua wandered by in a Spiderman outfit). It doesn’t get more real than that.

Of course, this isn’t Van Der Beek’s first baby rodeo.

Baby Gwendolyn and Joshua are joined by 7-year-old Olivia, 2-year-old Emilia and 4-year-old Annabel Leah. Their father recently posted a picture of himself wearing the baby while holding two of the kids’ little hands, and his caption perfectly sums up why he is #dadgoals.

“Just need to figure how to carry two more at the same time & I’m set,” he wrote.

We’re melting. ?