Breast Is Best

by Penny Stanway

Doctors and healthcare professionals agree that breastfeeding is best for your baby, and the World Health Organization, the UK Department of Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all strongly recommend it. This bestselling breastfeeding guide, written by a highly experienced doctor who is an expert in the field, has now been completely revised and updated, with plenty of hard facts and practical down-to-earth tips. It explains the benefits of breastfeeding, how breastfeeding works, how to do it successfully, how to manage problems, how to look after yourself. Women instinctively know that breastfeeding is a very special way of nourishing, mothering, and enjoying their babies, yet many give up sooner than they wish. The good news is that with the right information and support nearly all woman can continue to breastfeed as long as they want and this is the perfect book to ensure that they can do just that.More than 250,000 copies sold of previous editions. Widely regarded as THE book on the subject. The debate surrounding breastfeeding is always current. Articulate, respected author who is a regular broadcaster in her field.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

Paperback

First published May 6, 1983

Reviews

[Lauren (Shakespeare & Whisky) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So have you heard about the latest outrage?

This time everyone is up in arms about an article that says that to call breastfeeding natural is unethical.

I breastfed my daughter until she was two and this book is the best book available for breastfeeding. Not only does it rely on scientific data to support statements but it is one of the few books on breastfeeding that doesn't delve into a lot of pseudoscientific claims attached to "natural parenting".

It is a practical, polemic- free guide to how to do it (with diagrams and solutions to common problems) and why breastfeeding is so important for your child.

A lot of my goodreads friends aren't parents yet so they haven't encountered to particular intensity with which every parenting choice is politicised and polarised.

This latest drama is based on a short article supposedly critiquing the use of "natural" when discussing breastfeeding.

Except that isn't really what the article is saying at all. In fact, as is so common with these absurd controversies, I don't think anyone reporting on the drama has even read the original source.

Here is the article. The author suggests that health promotion (I.e the people who market "breastfeeding") avoid using the term natural because it has developed unique connotations within the parenting sphere, specifically "natural parenting" is often the pseudonym antivaxxers adopt to promote the dangerous and unscientific practice of delaying or denying their children vaccinations.

Not that you would know that if you watched any of the news reports or read any of the blogs that discuss this latest outrage.

This is my problem with outrage culture. Click bait treatment of issues resulting in a click bait understanding of the world. I'm sick of it. I'm so fed up. Those of us on the progressive left make jokes about Trump's "alternate facts" as if we aren't all engaging in the same behaviour.

Anyway this is a book review so I'll address the actual book again. One of the most frustrating aspects of trying to raise a child is knowing which advice to trust. Breast is Best is absolutely excellent in this regard. It doesn't promise anything ridiculous, it doesn't threaten literal death to your child if you choose not to breastfeed. It is a calm, scientific and in depth look at why you should try to breastfeed and how to go about it once you make the decision to do so. If you are pregnant and looking for books on the topic, this is hands down the best book available on the topic.

Happy Reading everyone :)

[Jackie Hulford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The best book on natural motherhood. couldn't recommend it more highly. Every mum should read this.