family health

I grudgingly give this book two stars for its basic information in providing essential breastfeeding information. However, other, less condescending manuals provide this as well. A word of advice for mother's with ambiguous feelings regarding breastfeeding, mothers unable to breastfeed for whatever reason: difficult birth, C-section, adoptive parents, whatever... breastfeeding is not the only option. A mother is not a failure if she chooses not to have a child or two attached to her breast for months or years at a time. I was very offended at the judgemental tone and felt like a failure for weeks until I opened my eyes to how happy and healthy my baby was while being fed, gasp and sin, formula. DO NOT BEAT yourself up if breastfeeding does not work out or if it is simply unappealing. At a time when emotions run hot and cold at the best of times, piling additional guilt and feelings of inadequacy is ridiculous. You can still be a good mother, a great one, with a ! ! bottle in one hand and cuddling your baby. Yes, breast milk IS better and breastfeeding is a sweet time with a precious baby, but it is not so much better that you should to make yourself physically, mentally and emotionally miserable if you choose not to. It was milkbone city when our stupid lab ate the book.

I was given this book before my son was born and it turned out to be a lifesaver for us! I had almost every problem in the book (flat nipples, late milk onset, low milk supply, breast infection and a brief seperation at 6 weeks because I needed surgery). With the practical step-by-step advice in this book, I was able to successfully establish a healthy nursing relationship with my son.

I also like the fact that it's not as dogmatic as "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding". We had to use a few supplemental bottles in the early weeks. This book taught me how to get my milk supply up so we could discontinue supplementing, while reassuring me that these supplements wouldn't kill him. He's been on breatmilk alone for 5 1/2 months! Now that he's 6 months and we're introducing solids, I am going back to it for advice on how to combine solids and nursing.

I would recommend this book to any pregnant or nursing mom I know. Read the first couple sections and take it to the hospital with you!

My husband and I wanted to breastfeed our first baby. One of our relative recommended this book and we bought and read it before my son was born. Emotionally and psychologically, it prepared us for the new experience.

During our 1st year of the breastfeeding, we continued to go back to the book for help. Our breastfeeding experience has been a blessing to our marriage and family. We are grateful.