The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning by Martha Sears, William Sears Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning
Book Review: The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know...
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is very thorough and explains many ins and outs of breastfeeding and how to make it work for even the mothers who want to or have to get out of the house or work. Yes, they suggest staying home because that is important for baby but tell you if you have to that you can still provide your milk and be attached when you are home.It covers premies and how important your milk is to your baby and to be prepared to stick to your guns when the doctors are telling you baby HAS to feed by bottle because breastfeeding is too tiring. Actually, the bottle feeding is more tiring for a premie, there are several research articles proving this. And they let you know that it is ok to get a breastfeeding helper to help you to succeed. Pumping and providing your milk is the one way that you can help your baby and be involved when you often feel so helpless.
The discussions on latch, positioning, problems and answering your babys needs, are very understandable and help you to not feel guilty for following your own instincts instead of some strict scheduling type of book.
The book even explains how, if you are sick or need a medication, you still won't need to stop breastfeeding, except in rare instances. Most medications are compatible with breastfeeding so don't worry about the small amount that might get into your milk, but always check with your healthcare professional who should check Dr. Thomas Hale's Medications and Mothers Milk. (More reliable than the PDR.)
I think this book is a lifesaver for someone just learning. Your life doesn't stop with breastfeeding it is a very special, more connected time with your child, not to mention the most normal food and nutrition to protect your childs health and development.
Book Review: good to read
Summary: 5 Stars
Check this book out too... "Primal Mothering in a Modern World"by Hygeia Halfmoon
Book Review: Yeah, The Authors are Opinionated, but...
Summary: 5 Stars
It ISN"T just their opinion that breastmilk is best for babies, so if they use some strong words to get mothers to breastfeed, and help them succeed, they are only being honest.A few of these reviews made me laugh. Several reviewers criticized the authors for saying, for example, that you should nurse whenever baby is hungry... resulting in them nursing 24/7 for days on end and not eating or sleeping. Surely, as adults, we can use a little common sense to interpret what we read. Yes, parents are allowed to eat and sleep too, and nature does not intend for babies to nurse 24/7 for weeks. (Though, if the complaining mother had tried a sling, or getting some help from her spouse or friends, she could have eaten while nursing...) If co-sleeping doesn't work in your family, put baby in a crib.
And as for the reviewer who said that the Sears told mothers to avoid treating illnesses so they could nurse ... I suspect she misunderstood. I don't have the book in front of me, but what I THINK they meant was that you don't HAVE to wean to treat most illnesses. The vast majority of medications are perfectly safe to use while nursing, (or have a safe alternative) yet many doctors will tell mothers that they have to wean, at least temporarily, if they are ill and need to take medication. The point is that the risk to the baby from traces of maternal medication in the milk is far, far smaller than the risk to the baby of being fed formula instead. (Even for a short while, and since few mothers are able to pump-and-dump for several weeks and then get baby back on the breast, even 'temporary' weaning very often ends up being permanent weaning.)
And comfort nursing does not teach bad habits...
Yes, the Sears do encourage new mothers to stay home with their babies, if possible. But if the mother can't, she can't, and the book does discuss the issues of employed mothers. (And, to respond to another reviewer, you really CAN get out of the house during the first year while nursing on demand, comfort nursing, and using cloth diapers.)
If you want a book that tells you that "breast is best, but formula is just as good, and if you just don't want to nurse, or you have some minor difficulties and want to quit, that's perfectly ok too," I'd recommend "What to Expect" or any of the other general parenting books. But if you want an honest, well-written text that promotes breastfeeding, doesn't mince words, and helps mothers to succeed, this is an excellent choice.
Book Review: I want to burn this book!
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is so unrealistic. When weaning is mentioned, they suggest you are weaning a toddler or preschooler. Cloth diapers seem to be the norm as is NOT working. This book is not for someone who wants to leave the house in the first year or go back to work. I wish I had never purchased this book and I plan to throw it out!!!Book Review: Duplicates The Baby Book - get that one instead
Summary: 1 Stars
Everything that is in this book is in The Baby Book by Sears. I really enjoyed The Pregnancy Book and The Baby Book. However, it is not necessary to purchase this book as it is duplicated in the latter volume. The other problem with this book is weaning is hardly addressed. There are only a couple of pages at the end referring to it, with minimal guidance. Ironically The Baby Book covered weaning in more detail.