Best books for learning about breastfeeding?

[Zara1984]

Hi all

Have been helpfully advised by DMIL and my midwife that, if I'm going to read anything during my pregnancy, I should read up on breastfeeding. Obviously I understand (and they pointed out) that the theory is a bit different from practicality - the comparison was made to learning to ride a bike! I understand there's a bit of a knack to it, so I really want to prepare myself as much as I can.

But they did say that reading up all about breastfeeding beforehand would be helpful. Will be very lucky in that I will have 2.5 months of DMIL's full-time help after the birth (she bf'd all her kids for 6 months +).

Can anybody please point me in the direction of the best/most helpful books for me to read?

Thanks in advance! :)

I loved Ina May Gaskins guide to Breastfeeding. It was full of great advice and written in a supporting way.

I'm a Breastfeeding counsellor and it is one I recommend time and again.

I second Ina May Gaskin's Huide to Breastfeeding. Her guide to child birth is also excellent. "The Food of Love" by Kate Evans is an informative and amusing book. I've also enjoyed "The Politics of Breastfeeding" by that is very much breastfeeding propaganda not necessarily advice on how too.

NCT Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding is a good one for straightforward instructions. It's quite short as well so I found it easy to dip into in the middle of the night when I need to check I was getting the latch right.

Personally I like the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It covers pretty much everything you would need to know. Also like the approach of biological nurturing (you can google Dr Colson's website) and kellymom.com is a breastfeeders best friend.

I'd echo ina may and kellymom
Excellent

Another vote for ina may!

I vote for The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding as well, the latest edition is only a year or so old so really up-to-date and a very easy read.

Bestfeeding
The one by kate Evans
And mn

The Food of Love - accurate info, a doddle to read, great cartoons and best of all a sense of humour!

Thank you all so much!! Off to see if some of these are available on Kindle so I can start reading right now .

I like a book could something like "how to breast feed and what if you cant"... there is also a DVD that goes with it.

I remember when DD was about 2 days old and we were having a nightmare night (I had a home birth so no real BF help or midwifes on call to help with feeds etc) We sat and watched the DVD.
I watched it twice before birth too and it was good to SEE how a baby could / should latch.
The DVD mentions most of whats in the book, so perhaps that DVD and a couple of other books to read

I also have the womanly art of breastfeeding, and anoterh one called breast feeding i think.

Also mumsnet, and when the time comes go to breastfeeding cafes (can go before birth, especialy if want help expressing colostrum which you can then use instead of formula in those very early days)

Good Luck.. I think being prepared and determined are the keys, and when the time comes, it might be painful for a bit (which soon stops), and for many people (me included) it is much harder than you imagine

but so so so worth it (DD is now 7m and only ever had breastmilk.... just!)

I have Bestfeeding which I really like. I also look on Kellymom lots too.

Kellymom website. Loads of info for eg if you have big breasts.

The everything you need to know about breastfeeding and what if you can't is by Clare Byam-Cook who people on here slag off, but her book did convince me bf might be possible and to seek lots of help, whereas I found other books unrealistic.

I like bestfeeding as a first book to start with
I found the Ina May disappointing, loved her birth books though
I would avoid the what to expect when you're breastfeeding and what to do if you can't, it is not a good book at all and IMHO is anti successful breastfeeding.

Oh, I forgot to say, avoid Clare Byam-Cook's book, she doesn't know one end of a boob from the other.

Definitely look into going to a BF group though, you can go before your baby arrives and some groups will have books you can borrow. LLL or Baby Cafe have groups all over the place.

Don't get Clare Byam Cook. IMO her knowledge is extremely patchy and much of it potentially damaging.

I would second some of the other recommendations on here, but I would say the best possible thing you can do is get yourself down to some breastfeeding support groups before the baby is born (probably once you are on maternity leave). If you have issues, what you need more than anything is real life support, and if you have already met and talked to the people who run these groups, the thought of going down there in an emotional, possibly teary state (all those hormones! So many people get teary a few days in!) is far less daunting.

I failed BF my DS and I was determined to succeed with my DD. I read the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and it was excellent, especially for the first few days after birth. What it describes as the behaviour of a newborn baby in the first few days is spot on. I was on a ward with 3 other ladies, all had ELCS on the same day and all our babies where showing the same patterns, for example on the 2nd night, all of them just wanted to feed all night long. some of the other ladies were trying to pacify the babies, wondering why they couldn't be settled, midwifes faffing around offering to take the babies away to the mums could rest etc....but I just sat and fed and fed, like the book said. Not a peep from my DD! I still read it on and off and DD is now 20 months, the book is good for BF a toddler too.

You should also go the site kellymom.com and read up. It is a treasure trove of invaluable information for mothers who want to breastfeed.

It helped me to start breastfeeding my DS even though he was given formula for the first one week (I was in the ICU and very ill). I faced a lot of issues - tongue tied DS (=incorrect latch), inadequate supply etc.

However I got all the information I needed from this site and went on to bf my DS for 2.5 years.

Yes, bookmark this section too. I had major weightloss in DS at first and thought the breastfeeding was doomed

Fab support and information from here,esp from TikTok and he was BF until self weaned at 2. Support makes a HUGE difference