The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know about Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning

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.

I wish I had purchased this book before my child was born! I had read several books and articles on breastfeeding, attended classes, and talked with lactation consultants but this book provided the best advice. My child was delivered by cesarean section at 37 weeks and was not particularly interested in breastfeeding. My initial attempts were difficult but with the help of a friend I was able to breastfeed successfully. However, once I went back to work I began to have difficulty keeping my milk production up and this book provided some very good advice. I like the fact that they explain things fully and include experiences from their lives and others. Again, I wished I had read this book before my child was born because I think I would have had an easier time getting started. I recomend this book to any mother who is considering breastfeeding her child.

The first few weeks of breast feeding were the hardest of my life! I wanted to sleep! I wanted my nipples not to KILL! (I had a baby who sucked Hard from minutes after birth.) This book kept me going. The scientifically proven benefits run the gammut--no stinky poops, a 10 pts higher IQ, a baby less likely to have allergies, a baby less likely to be sick (baby gets mom's antibodies) and more. After about four wks, I was fine. My baby's 10 wks now and he's never had a bottle. I thought I'd never feed in public, and now I do it everyday. (It's amazing how all your preconceptions disappear!) Great tips on what to do about discomfort. My fav. was let nipples air dry and they harden. As soon as I got this book I read and read and read. Thank you William and Martha. I can't believe they have EIGHT kids.

I purchased this book because "What To Expect" didn't answer alot of my questions regarding breastfeeding and my own OB/GYN, while supportive of the idea, simply didn't know. Dr. Sears and his wife have nursed eight children, so their book comes not only from medical knowledge but also from personal experience. The book discusses nutritional information (both what to eat and what your baby is getting from your breastmilk), 'how-to's (..latch baby on, ..continue working and nursing, ..get daddy involved), pros and cons of nursing, weaning, and formula, tips on just about everything, and most of all, offers information so that you and your partner can make intelligent, loving choices for your child. I recommend this book for every woman who is pregnant, whether you're planning to nurse or not.

This is an incredible book. I read three breastfeeding books in anticipation of nursing my child. This one is by far the best of the bunch. It is informative, supportive, easy to read, and contains all the information you could ever want. It also is written in a style that is incredibly supportive of a new mom (as I was). It can be used as a reference book, but it is interesting enough that it is a great cover to cover read (I read it while nursing!) And -- if one has problems with nursing in the beginning (as I did), it gives you the support and encouragement needed to keep trying. Another friend of mine to whom I sent the book said that without it, she would have quit. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.