Breastfeeding.......which book would you recommend??

[MrFranklyShankly]

Hi Ladies,

I'm currently pregnant with DC3, and after having a traumatic experience with breastfeeding with DC1, I didn't even bother trying with DC2, but would really love to give it a proper go this time....I live in an area where there isn't really that good of support if you run into any problems (which I did first time around) so was looking at some books on Amazon and was wondering which one would be the best for preparing you, answering questions re positioning and how to keep going when the going gets tough...

the 3 that I looked at were:

La Leche League..the womanly art of breastfeeding
Ina Mays Guide to Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding; How to Breastfeed your baby by Mary J Renfrew/Chole Fisher

So any advice would be great, thanks a mill

Frankly

All of those are great.

Gabrielle Palmer's 'The Politics of Breastfeeding' is great - very in depth, looks at history, other countries, biology etc. Is a huge book though, not a light read.

Also Susan Last's 'Breast Feeding: Stories to Inspire and Inform' -s very easy to read, just a collection of real life experiences.

Honestly, I love the breast/bottle feeding section of MN, always lots of great advice, bit of debate and tips.

In addition to the books suggested you might find it beneficial to speak to someone in a local breastfeeding support group before you have the baby, so you have a person to ask any questions that might be raised by the book or that you might have based on your own past experiences.

Once you have the baby I think you will probably be able to get support from breastfeeding advisors etc, but I'd imagine you should be able to speak to someone now.

La leche league have local groups accross the UK and give advice and assistance to expectant mothers: www.laleche.org.uk/pages/groups/groups.htm

There is also a national breastfeeding telephone line (UK gov funded) and the NCT also have telephone breastfeeding advisors available that you can consult.

I know you're looking for book recommendations, but thought the above might be useful too - sorry if I'm off topic.

Thanks ladies yeah i did look at that one tio needless i didnt realise MN had a breast/bottle section will look for it wuld be great to hve something like that....thanks for all that info eletho...i live in ireland and support groups are few and far between unfortunetly i hd tried to check out where they were but none r local to me and the ones that r far away are at awkward times! So will hve to DIY it! But im determined to give it a gd try this time...thanks again for the advice. Frankly

I love The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League - it's got great info to read when pregnant to prepare for a good start & covers much of the most common problems you may encounter as well as less common issues, has serious info but lots if lighthearted stuff & encouragement. And, most importantly when tired with newborn & older DCs, it's v easy to navigate & found out what you want. Easy to dib in & out of, rather than having to sit & read cover to cover (though you could do this too).

We struggled and ended up mix feeding though managed this for 15 months. This book was invaluable:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0091906962

Also the Kelly Mom website.

Sorry, on phone so hard to link but easy to find on google.

I loved the womanly art book. Havent read the others but the LL book covered all the problems and gave me a bit of confidence to find help.

Thanks ladies hve just purchased he la leche womanly art book...thanks for all the replies and web addresses will be using them all no doubt. F

Bit late maybe but I really liked 'the food of love'

I found the kellymom website the most useful resource - very helpful for reassurance and information regarding growth spurts and suchlike. It really helps to know what's "normal" when you're totally freaking out about your baby wanting to feed all the time/not sleeping/colic etc.

The DVD by dr jack Newman was great - or just google him and chek out his online vids!

I have those.

Also have both the book and DVD of what to expect when breast feeding and what if you can't, which I liked.

I second the recommendation of KellyMom

Is fab!!!

OP, whereabouts in Ireland do you live? I live in N. Ireland. I agree support isn't great, but I do think it's getting better.

I definitely agree with the recommendation for 'the food of love' by Kate Evans for keeping you going when it all feels tough. Such a lovely book!

I read "what to expect when you are breastfeeding.... And what if you can't" by Clare Byam Cook really good book I thought.

Just looked up this woman on mumsnet and amazon lots of people seem anti the advice but I found it quite practical. Good luck anyway!

Yes that's the one I linked to. Friend gave it to me when I was in depths of despair over bf when dd about a month and still not regained both weight and was mix feeding. Was full of great advice and one of the only books good on mix feeding. Many if the lactivist ones focus on milk drying up if you miss a feed and never getting back to bf if you use a bottle and what I now think are shocking scare tactics and untruths. This book gives a much more realistic look at how sometimes things don't work out as planned and how to make the best of the situation you have.

I would also recommend the 'food of love'. My baby is now 6 weeks and someone on here just recommended Kellymom as my baby tends to clutter feed in the evenings and it is really helpful.

i've got a fairly old one called "so that's what they're for". cant remember the author but its written in very simple terms and can also be quite funny. its very reassuring and lots of advice about what to do if you're struggling without advising bottle feeding.

Not sure if I am bit late. I only intended to bf for two weeks.

I stopped at 13 months - I cannot recommend the mn breast feeding pages and kellymom enough!!

I second the "What to expect when breastfeeding and what if you can't" book.

I remember dd being 3 days old and my milk coming in in the middle of the night. My old position no longer worked with the enormous melons that were my chest and luckily the book was by the side of the bed. Dh held the book open at the picture and I found a good position.

Hi, may be a stupid question, but I'm guessing that as these books will be full of diagrams, that there's no point buying them on my new kindle?