has anyone got any suggestions for a good guide to breastfeeding?

[laksa]

Hi ladies,

I want to get a book on breastfeeding as I hope to do so when my first baby is born in sept but have heard so many stories from friends that it is difficult that I am starting to get nervous that I will end up failing. I don't know anyone except my mum who successfully breast fed for more than 6 weeks (but she found it to be a very natural easy process and doesn't really remember practical stuff)

Please could someone recommend a good comprehensive book that will guide me through any problems.

xx

checxk out the unicef babyfriendly website - bf leaflets in manu languages - great info.

worth going to an NCT class or contacting La Leche. Breastfeeding can be tricky to start off with but if you perserve it's fantastic. You're definitely doing the right thing by reading up about it before you give birth.

thanks guys, am booked on an nct class course at the end of july but think it is an antenatal course which probably won't devote more than a couple of hours to breastfeeding? Will also check out the unicef site. Am just a bit worried that I will have nobody to turn to if things go wrong in the early days.

Midwives can be helpful but depends how knowledegable you are. the NCT breastfeeding helpline was a godsend for me in the early days. Also la leche have groups and they are specific to BF.

sorry meant "depends how knowledgeable they are"

On our NCT antenatal course we had a whole evening on bf done by the local NCT bf counsellor. We were given details of all the local drop-in clinics and her phone no as well as lots of leaflets about bf. Useful info and definitely worth going to a drop-in session if there is one near you when your baby arrives - great for reassurance even if things are going okay.

mumsnet!

definitely conveys the highs and the lows.

lol, mumsnet does seem to be a most excellent resource!

Good to know about the NCT support.

Think I am having a minor panic as ppl keep telling me horror stories...not just about breastfeeding. My filter system is normally in good working order but the breast feeding thing has managed to panic me a bit. Will try to chill until my nct classes

xx

I found 'What to expect when you're breastfeeding and what if you can't' by Clare Byam-Cook really helpful-- very straightforward. There is also a good book published by the NCT but it is a bit more evangelical in tone.