What to Expect When You're Breast-Feeding . . . and What If You Can't?

by Clare Byam-Cook

Book Overview

While some mothers take to breast-feeding like a duck to water, others just can't seem to get the hang of it. Clare Byam-Cook agrees that breast is best but she stresses that the most important thing is that your baby is fed - whether by the breast or bottle - and you, the mother, should feel comfortable with whatever you choose to do.

This comprehensive guide contains all the latest information on breast-feeding your baby successfully,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0091906962
• ISBN13: 9780091906962
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Vermilion
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Saved my breastfeeding

I completely disagree with the previous negative reviews here. As a mom who struggled with breastfeeding my baby for the first few months, this book was one of the main factors that kept me going. Breastfeeding is not just a natural, intuitive, pain-free endeavor, even if your baby is "latching on" properly...the other sources that make it seem like an all or nothing thing, or like you're an awful mother if you can't breastfeed exclusively for 2 years, are actually counterproductive in my view. If I hadn't found this book and other similar-minded professionals, I probably would have quit after the first week. Clare Byam-Cook is a well-respected lactation consultant in the UK, and in my opinion, the information in this book reflects reality a lot more than some of the LLL propaganda I've read. But yes, if you're a breastfeeding zealot and think it's the easiest thing in the world, don't bother with this book. But if you want to breastfeed and not have to beat yourself up for using a pacifier or expressed milk in a bottle or (gasp!) mixed feed with formula if needed, give this one a go.

Beyond the zealots

I beg to differ with the previous poor reviews of this book. Byam-Cook does not agree with the airy-fairy idealism of La Leche, and takes a more moderate view. There ARE cases where women can't breastfeed. There ARE situations when it is helpful to bottle feed with expressed milk. Byam-Cook is a strong advocate of breastfeeding, and has helped hundreds of families do so successfully (including mine). I recommend this book highly. That said, I think the book would be better if it had a great many more pictures and diagrams.