Complete Idiot's Guide To Breastfeeding - book recommendations

[2labs]

My first baby isn't due till August, but it takes repetition and many hours for information to filter permanently into my brain so I'm looking now for a book on breastfeeding that takes me from the basics - how to start, how to carry on, what problems I might have and how to overcome them, myths, etc...

I've been picking up great snippets from MN and realizing that some of the advice I will get from HVs and midwives and some popular books might be wrong, but it's only snippets here and there and I want a detailed how-to guide that I can sit down with and absorb. Was wondering if there is any all-in-one guide that experienced bfing MNers generally approve of.

I don't think there will be a book out there which will please everyone. Have you looked at the kellymom.com website? The ABM/NCT/LLL ones all have useful info but I find the kellymom the best.

Good luck.

I'd go to the NCT, they don't tend to be as pushy as La Leche for example, but they are very supportive and will have literature about breastfeeding. You might also have to call on one of their breastfeeding counsellors to guide you through the rough times.

Their website is \link{http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com\here}

Ive got one \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1910&threadid=167899&stamp=060426215627\Here!}
for sale if you would like it. Plus some other stuff

In addition to the one I have just "pushily" pointed out Ive got for sale I had another one (already sold to another MN) that was good

NCT Breastfeeding for beginners by C. Dale I think

I found the combination of the two really worked. Both clearly laid out and to the point. I found more detailed books swamped me with science!!! (Science is not my strong point!)

didn't a midwife friend of Mears recently have a book published? I think her surname is Trotter.

i read quite a few and while most were quite similar and quite helpful on the basics (latching, tummy to mummy, engorgement, mastitis etc) i didn't find any that helped on the problems i actually encountered.

the one i found the best was LLL "the womanly art of breastfeeding" - purely because it was so huge that it had room to cover loads of stuff. but it is longer than the bible, so it's not for everyone! and while i felt good for having read so much, it still didn't help with most of my day to day niggles.

tbh - if you have little niggles that you want to get a second opinion on, mumsnet is the best. and if you have something urgent, then phone your mw, hv or a breastfeeding counsellor.

Sharon Trotter's one is good. Nice and short and written in a v friendly style :)

I would recommend "What to expect when you are breasfeeding" written by Clare Byam-Cooke - a well-known BF councellor - fantastic - she is the reason I persevered through 6 hellish weeks of BF to finally stop 7 months later!

I had a fabulous book called "best feeding - how to breast feed your baby" written by Arms, Renfrew and someone else. I have learnt it to the 3rd friend at the moment so can't check up on the names. Full of pictures and written by BF counsellors so really helpful and accurate. Can't recommend it highly enough

I read everything going 2labs,but found the best thing of allv was having a b/f counsellor actually watch me feed and talk to me in person (I had a few problems to begin with,which resolved themselves)
For a fab. read on b/feeding in a wider context (ie not merely a 'how to b/feed' guide) i would recomment 'The Politics of Breasfeeding' Gabrielle Palmer.

Changed my life.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations - I'll check out all of those. Hadn't heard of breastfeeding counsellors before but glad to know they exist in case I need more help. Ta!

Call me picky.....and it's no one's fault that the whole terminology of breastfeeding support is so confusing, but I want to do a bit of educating here :)

None of Fisher, Renfrew and Arms are breastfeeding counsellors.The first one is a midwife, the second is a professor of midwifery and Arms is a photgrapher!! Bestfeeding is indeed a great book, and a classic.

Clare Byam Cook is not a breastfeeding counsellor, though she calls herself one, because anyone can (it's not a protected term, like 'doctor')....it's all a bit irritating to 'real' breastfeeding counsellors when she does this, as she is in private practice and charges quite a lot of money (which I don't object to - everyone has to make a living) and we do it all for free.

Also, while accepting you found the book helpful, Coolmama, it's got a lot of misinformation in it, but if it helped you, that's fine :)

2labs..in case you don't already know,tiktok is a national treasure and really knows her stuff.
We are very lucky indeed that she chooses to post on MN.
Take note of her name and keep your eyes peeled!

As a mum rather than an expert, can I just second Tiktok's opinion of Bestfeeding - a really helpful book. I was fortunate enough to help from Chloe Fisher in person when I was having terrible trouble convincing my dd to breastfeed and I can say that both she and her colleague Sally Inch are wonderful people and really know their stuff!

moonie, my boots are a bit muddy. Can you come round and lick 'em???

even more at being a national treasure.

I love you tiktok.
You know that.

Tiktok - sorry for being misleading - I was not aware Clare is not a BF counsellor per se - I was lucky enough to see her and she was the only one who worked out that the first 6 weeks of BF had been hellish for DS and I because he had suffered some compression due to a ventouse delivery and so was unable to latch on properly -on her recommendation, I took DS to see an osteopath and two sessions later my DS was a different baby! - I only flipped through the book after I had seen her and it all made sense to me - I was unaware of any misinformation - sorry!

Have made a note to stalk tiktok.

This is all really helpful. I can see I am going to be wearing my fingers to stumps on here once junior arrives.

Sorry to get that wrong tiktok - it's because my copy is elsewhere, honest ! I do remember it as a fantastic, practical book which was great for troubleshooting. Whatever problem DD threw at me, the book had the answer.

Have you thought of writing tiktok? I always find your advice to the point and helpful as well

Can I make a suggestion? books are great and I have a shelf full - but when the baby comes its nice to surround yourself with other breastfeeding mothers - perhaps you can see if there is a local breastfeeding support group - normally these have a counseller and then there are supportive helpers who have all breastfed. Its lovely because when the baby comes you have no time to read books. If you have a group close by then you can go while your still pregnant - speak to woman feeding now and get their account of it, it will prepare you really well. Plus when you walk in with your new baby you will already know some faces - which is really nice.

Debs

Have to say I found Clare Byam Cook's book really confusing and unhelpful but as soon as I picked up the NCT book of breastfeeding I felt like I had found my own personal counsellor ! It just goes to show different books suit different people

Wd echo Debs's post about going to a group and getting to know other mums, BF or not! Going to a group which positively encourages BF is fab. We have a BF cafe near in S london which has a fabby fantastic counsellor who pops in. She sorts us out when needed and it's great to be in suh a positive environment.

I found the books invaluable as well though for middle of the night when you can't call on someone! Agree though about BF groups - I am BF dd (aged 13 months) and have joined LLL as I have only 1 friend still BF a child bigger than 12 weeks and can't go to BF cafe as not on the days I don't work.