Breast Intentions: How Women Sabotage Breastfeeding for Themselves and Others

by Allison Dixley

The first book by Allison Dixley, founder of the controversial website thealphaparent.com, Breast Intentions is a radical exploration of the deeper network of mothers’ psychosocial lives and the ways in which they are entwined with those of other mothers. Breast Intentions argues that maternal emotion is of pivotal importance to breastfeeding performance and investigates how mothers influence the breastfeeding journeys of both themselves and others.

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2014

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a number of issues with this - in the main, its unpleasant tone and dismissal of women, but also the silly mix of an attempt at academic credibility with some cringeworthy yoof language ("bring it on, mofo")
There's a great book to be written about the sorts of things that stop women from breastfeeding, but this isn't it. In fact, it may already have been written - "The Politics of Breastfeeding" sounds very dull but is a deeply-felt, thorough account of the external forces at work to influence mothers.

[Mateja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think women sabotaging their breastfeeding journey (or someone else's) is an important part of overall breastfeeding failure in our society. However - I didn't like the book. It lacks compassion towards those women and a lot of the time overemphaises their share in breastfeeding failure. It completly denies society's influence and I think this one is crucial most of the time. At one time in the book she even berates women who let themselves "be bullied" by child's pediatrician to use formula?? She just lost me there. And despite the 30 pages reference list I somehow got a feeling that it's all just her personal opinion, I felt she threw a bunch of references in just for the sake of quantity and a lot didn't prove much she's talking about in this book.

[Gabby Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as this book does cover important topics in regards to breastfeeding, such as guilt and influence from family and friends, I didn’t get on with the non-compassionate and sometimes sarcastic language of the author.
We all know that breast milk is the best thing for a baby, but if someone chooses to give their baby formula milk then we can’t force them to change their mind. We can only provide them with the information to make a decision. I think the language used in this book is enough to put additional pressure on breast/chest feeding women and people when the postnatal period can be stressful enough.

Although making some valid points regarding risks associated with formula feeding, this book didn’t even touch on other reasons for not wanting to or physically/mentally not being able to breastfeed, such as trauma, which I think is so important. It also didn’t cover much on informed decision making, informing women and people on the benefits of breastfeeding and potential benefits and risks of formula feeding. If we don’t provide women and people with all the information they need, how are they going to be able to make a decision, and feel confident that they have made the decision that is right for them.