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Breastfeeding Uncovered: Who really decides how we feed our babies?
Across the world mothers are urged to breastfeed, but in Western society many find this a difficult task. Those who stop can feel demoralized and unsure as to why such a desired, encouraged and biologically normal behavior can appear so challenging in reality. Breastfeeding Uncovered examines why this continues to happen, revealing how complex social and cultural messages work against new mothers, damaging the normal physiology of breastfeeding and making it seem unmanageable. Dr Brown removes the focus from the mother and instead urges society to rethink its attitude towards breastfeeding and mothering and instead to support, encourage and protect mothers to feed their babies. This book is for anyone who has ever struggled with breastfeeding, supported new mothers or just wondered what all the fuss is about. Most of all it is a must read for anyone who has ever thought a breastfeeding mother should cover up, or feed her baby elsewhere.
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2016
21 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Amy Brown
7 books14 followersProfessor Amy Brown is based in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences at Swansea University in the UK where she is Director of 'LIFT' - the centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation. With a background in psychology, she first became interested in the many barriers women face when breastfeeding after having her first baby. Three babies and a PhD later she has spent the last fifteen years exploring psychological, cultural and societal barriers to breastfeeding, with an emphasis on understanding how we can shift our perception of breastfeeding from an individual mothering issue, to a wider public health problem.
Professor Brown has published over 100 papers exploring the barriers women face in feeding their baby during the first year. In 2016 she published her first book Breastfeeding Uncovered, followed by Why Starting Solids Matters (2017), The Positive Breastfeeding Book (2018), Informed is Best (2019) and Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter (2019).
She is a regular blogger, aiming to change the way we think about breastfeeding, mothering and caring for our babies.
Professor Brown has published over 100 papers exploring the barriers women face in feeding their baby during the first year. In 2016 she published her first book Breastfeeding Uncovered, followed by Why Starting Solids Matters (2017), The Positive Breastfeeding Book (2018), Informed is Best (2019) and Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter (2019).
She is a regular blogger, aiming to change the way we think about breastfeeding, mothering and caring for our babies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2025
Thank you Amy for all of your work. This is such an important read… it’s insane that for most of human existence we have survived and nourished our babies thanks to our mammary glands.. only for this generational knowledge and trust in our bodies to get virtually wiped in the last 80 years…essentially due to greed of the industry, spread of misinformation and constant undermining of the female body. Amy outlines all of the barriers women/parents face in achieving their breastfeeding goals and what needs to be done about it. As Amy shows, breastfeeding is in the interests of everyone in society.. saving taxpayers millions, saving lives, less impact on the environment. The stats are sobering. I’m going to be keeping a copy on me at all times to whip out and quote when the need arises (just kidding… or am I?!!!)
November 24, 2016
A fascinating book - with unsurprising conclusions. Brown forms a convincing and honest argument and I’m certain it could be used to change the minds of many who “disagree” with breastfeeding. The economics of breastfeeding, information on sleep and psycho-social-cultural factors, and the section on breastfeeding in modern society were particularly informative and incredibly interesting sections to read. The structure of Breastfeeding Uncovered with its focus on Amy Brown’s 18 steps made it a relatively easy read- if there was a section of particular interest then you can find the step and read the relevant information. Definitely worth a read, I’ve learned a lot from this!
June 20, 2017
As a soon-to-be student midwife, this was incredibly eye opening and informative- a must read
November 17, 2021
As with everything which Amy writes, this book was brilliant. If I could give it more stars, I would have!
Essential reading for anyone working in the birth, postnatal or breastfeeding world. All Midwives and GPS should read it.
Amy has thoroughly researched every statement made in the book and backs it up with evidence and sound facts. I love her!
It's also great that this book isn't one-sided. Amy doesn't bash those parents who wish to formula feed their baby, she instead encourages support and education for all.
I would suggest that mothers and their wider families/support networks read it whilst pregnant, however I would suggest that some of the first chapters are quite 'deep' and might be off-putting initially. If you carry on reading however, the support networks are plainly highlighted, which can only benefit the struggling new breastfeeding mother who desperately needs help.
Thank you for writing this book Amy and all your other books. I would also suggest readers look at Amy's other relevant titles whilst pregnant in order to educate themselves as much as possible before baby arrives.
Essential reading for anyone working in the birth, postnatal or breastfeeding world. All Midwives and GPS should read it.
Amy has thoroughly researched every statement made in the book and backs it up with evidence and sound facts. I love her!
It's also great that this book isn't one-sided. Amy doesn't bash those parents who wish to formula feed their baby, she instead encourages support and education for all.
I would suggest that mothers and their wider families/support networks read it whilst pregnant, however I would suggest that some of the first chapters are quite 'deep' and might be off-putting initially. If you carry on reading however, the support networks are plainly highlighted, which can only benefit the struggling new breastfeeding mother who desperately needs help.
Thank you for writing this book Amy and all your other books. I would also suggest readers look at Amy's other relevant titles whilst pregnant in order to educate themselves as much as possible before baby arrives.
January 13, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very well written and the information was easy to digest. It was informative, witty and eye opening. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on politics - it was extremely thought provoking.
The way the author explores the potential barriers to breastfeeding is scientific, evidence based and doesn’t shy away from factual information, all the while remaining sensitive to women who might have grief and trauma surrounding their own breastfeeding journeys.
Highly recommend this book to everyone, even if you don’t have strong ties with the breastfeeding world it is incredibly captivating and may make you question your own biases and how you can overcome them.
The way the author explores the potential barriers to breastfeeding is scientific, evidence based and doesn’t shy away from factual information, all the while remaining sensitive to women who might have grief and trauma surrounding their own breastfeeding journeys.
Highly recommend this book to everyone, even if you don’t have strong ties with the breastfeeding world it is incredibly captivating and may make you question your own biases and how you can overcome them.
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April 18, 2025I hesitate to leave a star rating for this - I'm not the target audience. I was hoping for more of a guide to breastfeeding as a first time mam to be.
It's like an academic/opinion piece on what's wrong with public health policies and views towards breastfeeding in UK/Ireland. It's unnecessarily verbose and could absolutely be 1/3rd of the length.
I think it's likely because I'm not the target audience though so I did not finish and won't give a rating.
It's like an academic/opinion piece on what's wrong with public health policies and views towards breastfeeding in UK/Ireland. It's unnecessarily verbose and could absolutely be 1/3rd of the length.
I think it's likely because I'm not the target audience though so I did not finish and won't give a rating.
November 4, 2019
I would recommend this book to any mother-to-be who is preparing to breastfeed - it covers the topic of possible obstacles on this journey in great detail and some of them are easy to avoid, you just need good information in advance.
April 10, 2024
Amy Brown is really compassionate, while being informative.
September 30, 2025
This book is EXCELLENT, I am so glad I have read it even though it can be a shocking read at times it’s information people really need to know. Thank you for your time writing it Amy!
December 8, 2021
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I thoroughly enjoyed and devoured this book, it's absolutely packed with clear, informative reasonings and reflections on the "breastfeeding issue" without judgement. Discussing everything from birth, to the sexualisation of breasts this books really explores and explains how western society, and history impacts and influences our attitudes towards breastfeeding and our breastfeeding journeys. This is about so much more than how one mother feeds her child, it is cultural, political, and above all else something we must absolutely seek to change. This isn't a breastfeeding book for breastfeeders, nor is it seeking to convert those who formula feed, this is a book for everyone who wants to understand the societal constructs that sabotage those who want to breastfeed, why we have the worst breastfeeding rates in Britain, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
The book includes case studies, research, plus a chapter on the COVID-19 pandemic. A truly interesting read, a real rallying cry to better support families.
I thoroughly enjoyed and devoured this book, it's absolutely packed with clear, informative reasonings and reflections on the "breastfeeding issue" without judgement. Discussing everything from birth, to the sexualisation of breasts this books really explores and explains how western society, and history impacts and influences our attitudes towards breastfeeding and our breastfeeding journeys. This is about so much more than how one mother feeds her child, it is cultural, political, and above all else something we must absolutely seek to change. This isn't a breastfeeding book for breastfeeders, nor is it seeking to convert those who formula feed, this is a book for everyone who wants to understand the societal constructs that sabotage those who want to breastfeed, why we have the worst breastfeeding rates in Britain, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
The book includes case studies, research, plus a chapter on the COVID-19 pandemic. A truly interesting read, a real rallying cry to better support families.
May 28, 2018
It's taken me a long time to read this, not because it was a hard read, or I didn't enjoy it. It had more to do with the fact that I just dipped into it from time to time. Which is a bit of a shame really, it was both interesting and engaging.
In many ways, this follows on from the ground covered by The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts Are Bad for Business. I read that some years ago now and in this book, I could see some of those themes were continued. This time, it was more to do with supporting women to breastfeed and why that might go wrong.
Much of the information in this book is common sense when you stop and think about it. Sadly though, when it comes to the highly emotive topic of feeding babies, stopping and thinking about it is the last thing that happens.
In this book, Amy Brown lays out an 18 step plan for helping more women to breastfeed. For anyone who is involved in supporting women with babies, or has a baby themselves or within their family, then this is a handy checklist. Am I doing anything, consciously or otherwise that might be damaging the breastfeeding partnership?
The main downside of this book is that I suspect for the most part it is preaching to the converted. Who is going to be interested in reading a book called Breastfeeding Uncovered? For the most part, I suspect that it will be people who already have a vested interest in the topic, either as breastfeeding women, or peer supporters. (Both categories that I fall, or have fallen, into.) It is a shame that books like this don't attract a wider audience. Particularly when you consider that the overriding message of this book is that if we wish to help more women to breastfeed and remove much of the guilt and angst that surrounds being unable to do so, then a shift in the society as a whole is necessary.
Overall this was an interesting and thought-provoking read, whilst still being accessible and easy to read.
In many ways, this follows on from the ground covered by The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts Are Bad for Business. I read that some years ago now and in this book, I could see some of those themes were continued. This time, it was more to do with supporting women to breastfeed and why that might go wrong.
Much of the information in this book is common sense when you stop and think about it. Sadly though, when it comes to the highly emotive topic of feeding babies, stopping and thinking about it is the last thing that happens.
In this book, Amy Brown lays out an 18 step plan for helping more women to breastfeed. For anyone who is involved in supporting women with babies, or has a baby themselves or within their family, then this is a handy checklist. Am I doing anything, consciously or otherwise that might be damaging the breastfeeding partnership?
The main downside of this book is that I suspect for the most part it is preaching to the converted. Who is going to be interested in reading a book called Breastfeeding Uncovered? For the most part, I suspect that it will be people who already have a vested interest in the topic, either as breastfeeding women, or peer supporters. (Both categories that I fall, or have fallen, into.) It is a shame that books like this don't attract a wider audience. Particularly when you consider that the overriding message of this book is that if we wish to help more women to breastfeed and remove much of the guilt and angst that surrounds being unable to do so, then a shift in the society as a whole is necessary.
Overall this was an interesting and thought-provoking read, whilst still being accessible and easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews