Can anyone recommend a good book on mix feeding?

[mears]

Just wondered if there was a decent book out there for women who want to mix feed, with tips and advice on how to keep breastfeeding.

I particularly am looking for information out there for women who feel exclusive breastfeeding is not for them, but who want their babies to have some breastmilk.

For those of you who do not know me, I totally believe that exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal, however there are women out there who do not wish to exclusively feed but want to mix breast and formula.

Is there any decent advice around?

Message withdrawn

mears, i don't know if there are any canadaian pubications that may help you?

I had DS1 over there and I was unusual in that I exclusively BF. Most mums, after about a month, started to give formula as the last feed at night. BUT, most mums were still BFing at 9 months - 1 year.

It seems in the UK there is an 'all or nothing' approach.

"It seems in the UK there is an 'all or nothing' approach"

What - do you mean in theory or in practice?

Because in practice the vast majority of bf babies in the UK are mixed fed by 4 weeks.

There is a general policy to inform bf mothers of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. Is this what you mean by 'an all or nothing' approach?

I think there is the belief from mothers, that once a bottle has been given, then breastfeeding is not an option.

What mothers usually say to midwives is that they want to change to bottle feeding. The midwife discusses the benefits of breastfeeding but goes with the mother's request. I rarely hear a mother say they want to give a bottle and try breastfeeding again later. Funnily enough it is an accepted thing for chinese and Indian women to do, yet British women seem to have this 'all or nothing' approach.

My feeling is that most women who encounter breastfeeding problems want to switch rather than continue and supplement. I am not sure whether that is because they pick that message up in the literature they are given. What information are midwives giving too?

"it is an accepted thing for chinese and Indian women to do"

Many of the African and West Indian mums round here choose to mixed feed from birth - and make it work for them!

"yet British women seem to have this 'all or nothing' approach"

Or is it that most British women simply don't wish to continue with breastfeeding - for cultural reasons among others?

Could be sabire.