A Father Breastfeeds His Baby

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Maxamillian and April Neubauer, a couple from Wisconsin, were excited to welcome their first daughter, Rosalía Lupita Valentina Neubauer, by caesarean section. But when April suffered a couple of seizures during labor due to pre-eclampsia, knocking her unconscious, Maxamillian says she knew her daughter needed it in a special way.

"With babies with a cesarean, it's very important to get them used to eating right away," Maxamillian told PEOPLE. “It's like 1:30 in the morning, April was sedated by drugs. So the [nurses] said we could use this nipple shield and mimic breastfeeding. This is probably the best way to do it, much more natural for the baby. I said, 'I am willing to do almost anything once. Let's do it!'"

The nurses at Door County Medical Center were ecstatic, says Maximillian, 29, noting that they said no other parent at the hospital had agreed to try the breastfeeding tactic. Anxious Maxamillian sat in a rocking chair in the hospital nursery while the nurses placed a small protective nipple, which he calls a "fake nipple," on Maxamillian's left nipple and held a syringe containing baby formula.

“Seeing that I'm not a breastfeeding expert, at first it was a little awkward. I am very happy to have a couple of nurses who knew what they were doing, "he tells PEOPLE. “I never thought in a million years that I would ever be breastfeeding a baby. The moment they pulled it out, it was difficult to hold back the tears. It was instant love, it's my baby. I was really happy to be there for her. It was magical."

About two hours later, April regained consciousness and was pleased to discover that Maxamillian had taken action on the matter.