The politics of breastfeeding- wow!

[Moulesfrites]

Have just finished this book after it was recommended to me on here and would like to sing its praises. It has so many fascinating facts, analogies and stories in it - the more I learn about breast feeding, the more amazed I am by it and by nature and our bodies. I was amazed at how breastfeeding is connected to such huge range of issues- social history, global development, the economy and the environment, the position of women - so fascinating.

That is all.

Am just finishing it now, fascinating.

A really amazing, and very disturbing, book.

I know- it's incredible. I keep foisting my copy upon people to read, but the two people I'd really like to read it -a friend who's a doctor and another who is a midwife- just aren't keen. Such a shame- I think they just think, 'oh, there goes coldcomfortHeart banging on about bf again... yawn'

It's marvellous. I missed the chance to hear G. Palmer giving a talk on it and kick myself now- hadn't read it or even heard of it at the time.

It's a world-view changing book and about much much more than just feeding a baby.

It's a fantastic book - really opened my eyes to issues I had never previously considered. I wish more people would read it - I think the problem is that it preaches to the choir, so to speak, in that the majority of readers are breastfeeding women.

Agree with all of the above (except the yawn at coldcomfortfarm, of course ).

I'm half way through the 80's version, so haven't got to the formula marketing bit yet. I agree some parts are really interesting but there is a lot more in there than I thought there would be, but maybe that's the scientist in me not agreeing with some of her reasoning. However, that is mainly on the more non BF parts

I know, I would love my mil to read it, especially when she describes the origins of four hour feeding routines and the damage they do to middle supplies - I was fascinated by the fact that when clocks were introduced to the colonies, the native women experienced problems breast feeding fdr the first time as it was suggested they fed by the clock...

Milk supplies I mean!

I have a copy, I will start mine soon :)

I think it's a fabulous book. Made DH read it, and given a couple of copies to his GP friends. Also set it as required reading on the course I teach on, so we now have a few copies in our university library. Slowly, more people are becoming aware of it. I think it politicised my thinking on infant feeding more than I could ever imagine possible before reading it.

I have it, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Looking forward to it, though.

I'm half way through it, and really enjoying it, but agree with penguinarmy that there are a few bits. I get the impression that some areas she has left out details for some reason. (I think in the AIDS and breastfeeding section - she's ultra diligent about facts and figures, then all of a sudden it goes a bit anecdotal, which makes me less impressed than I thought I would be)

I do think more people should read it though.