Unlatched: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy – A Journalist's Historical Exploration of the Cultural and Political Forces Shaping Modern Motherhood

by Jennifer Grayson

Since the rise of artificial formula, we have turned a biological process into a never-ending A mother breastfeeding her three-year-old son on the cover of Time magazine sets off a firestorm. Facebook takes down photos of women nursing, citing the content as "offensive." The pope weighs in, urging mothers to nurse their children in church or elsewhere "without thinking twice." So how did we get here? What are the consequences of surrendering eons of human evolution for a mode of feeding so alien? Growing up, journalist Jennifer Grayson thought nothing of the fact that she was bottle-fed. But when she became a mother, Grayson considered the impact of missing out on this profound connection. Her book is a worldwide search for answers about the first, most fundamental experience of newborn life.From biblical times to eighteenth-century France, from modern-day Mongolia to inner-city Los Angeles—Unlatched uncovers astonishing cultural, corporate, political, and technological factors at the heart of our contemporary breastfeeding disconnection.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Sociology, Feminism

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Jennifer Grayson is a journalist and the author of UNLATCHED: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy (HarperCollins), which won the Society of Environmental Journalists Rachel Carson Environment Book Award and a Nautilus Book Award. She has been featured on more than three dozen media outlets, including MSNBC, NPR, WGN-TV, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, and the Huffington Post, where she penned the long-running “Innovation Earth” and “Eco Etiquette” columns.

Her new book, A CALL TO FARMS: Reconnecting to Nature, Food, and Community in a Modern World — for which she undertook a regenerative farmer training program in Central Oregon at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — was published by Countryman Press/W. W. Norton on July 9, 2024. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV comedy writer husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Cari]

I am choosing not to rate this book because I don't think it would be fair to the author, as I did not finish. However, I think it is important to note that the tone of this book was such that I could not finish. I was looking forward to reading this book for more of the history and science behind breastfeeding, but it was clear from the first chapter that the point of view would not be for me. The author claims that the reason women can't breastfeed is because we don't have support - using the example of a chimpanzee whose baby had to be bottle-fed, because there weren't other chimps around to show her what to do. I grumbled, because as a privileged, educated woman with plenty of access to support and research, I was terrible at breastfeeding, but OK. Let's move on to Chapter One. In Chapter One, the author looks back at a time when she was pregnant and she received a package of formula in the mail. Her first instinct is to hang on to it because it could come in handy. But then her husband tells her to look at the ingredients, and she is shocked, thinking, "I was fed this!" OMG. This is where I had to put it down. Yes, obviously, I am a breastfeeding advocate, and my children have benefited from my pumped milk. I have made this sacrifice because I wanted to give them that benefit. But for God's sake. My son had plenty of formula because I didn't make enough milk and I NEEDED TO FEED HIM.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for interesting historical & scientific content as well as overall thesis. 2 stars for the INSUFFERABLE tone she takes approximately every other chapter. Giving her the average - 3. She claims to be above the "mommy wars" - which I have not found to be that much of a thing outside of writers claiming to be above them - and ostensibly wants better policies to support women, yet somehow manages to take an incredibly judgmental and shocked tone pretty regularly throughout the book. I agree with her on most points and yet found myself irritated as hell.

For example, in one chapter, she compares our use of daycare now to a period of incredible loss of infant life in France when a huge number of infants were sent away from their parents to the countryside to be wet-nursed. Easy for her to say - she's a writer who nursed her children well into toddlerhood while working from home - not easy, sure, but a world different from what a lot of us do. Yes, the rest of us need better policies, but while we work for and wait for those to be enacted, perhaps she could tone it down a bit? After all, she was able to keep her intellectually-engaging career while also attachment parenting like crazy, but for many people that's just not possible.

All that being said, I think she delves into a large number of really interesting topics related to breastfeeding, from religious & historical perspectives to the business of formula to why it is that so many women believe their breasts aren't working right (not enough milk, etc.) while that just can't be true from a biological, evolutionary perspective (a small percentage, sure, but more than that and we'd have some problems as a species).

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

8 stars! LOVED this book! And SO grateful to win it through a Goodreads Giveaway before my first born arrives in 8 weeks!!
You can never argue with a non-fiction book that actually shows you statistics and studies clear as day. Any book like this I just have to share with friends and family and say, "SEE!??"

Provides wonderful examples of breast & formula. Comparisons with the USA feeding system to more than 5 other contries. Talks about how we have to work so hard to normalize brestfeeding today, and why we got to this. Why we see formula as a natural and easy first, or even second choice for our infants when it should be only considered in very special curcumstances. Even if you arn't a pro-brestfeeding until 2 advocate I feel that there is just so much information in this book that we should know! Take the information and do as you will, and do with knowledge!

Will be sharing with my cousins and friends going to nursing school, and definetly purchasing for my girlfriend who is also expecting her first!

[Andrea Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a bias, so lets get my bias out of the way. I am friends with Jennifer Grayson. Our kids went to nursery school together. We both breastfed past the age of three. But that said, I am friends with a lot of writers, and married to one too. Let me tell you it is a real bummer when your friend asks you to read something and you don't like it, sometimes it's a struggle just to finish it! With this book I had the opposite problem. I could not devour the information in this book fast enough!

This book, tackles a very tricky topic, because the main readers of it are mothers and mother's can feel extremely put upon by the choices of other mothers. HOWEVER, this should not be a book for mothers! This is a book for anyone with a curious mind. My 75 year old father picked it up and could not stop talking about the scientific details he was learning. He kept looking up and declaring, did you know this! Can you believe this?!

I have a very emotional attachment to breastfeeding, but my dad certainly does not! And was among the people who tried to nudge me to stop nursing my daughter already.

This book is so endlessly fascinating. And it is just amazing to have found a frontier in science writing that is so controversial in our culture, and yet so under-studied in science. A subject about which so may people have an opinion, and so few facts to back up those opinions.

I found this book to be endlessly interesting, easy to read, and just very very important.

[DFH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this book, hence the four stars, but there are several frustrating aspects to it. Grayson is clearly very proud of her nursing journey (she should be) and it feels like she wants the whole world to experience what she experienced and believes they can. The histories and personal stories were fascinating, however the book felt like it was written by a neophyte--idealistic about breastfeeding, ignorant about what that means in context for the working poor/impoverished. As a nursing mother of twins I loved a lot of this, but found myself rolling my eyes more than not.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! A very good discussion of the social and cultural factors that influence infant feeding & care. She keeps it interesting on a personal level as well as very informative in general. Highly recommend this!

[Katherine Wilkins Bienkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think this was the best-written book I've read, but I want everybody to read it.

[Misti · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an extended breastfeeder (three years this coming weekend!) I found this book fascinating. I read a passed along ARC so I'm hoping some of the parenthetical side comments got mixed into the book or nixed, but other than that it was incredibly interesting. Honestly, this subject can't really be compounded into one book.

I know from experience that bucking cultural norms can be very difficult. And I can't say enough: breastfeed on demand.

Excellent read!

[Amanda Harman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a super fascinating read on breastfeeding, breastmilk, and the birth of formula.

[Sarah K · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book. i would have rated this higher because the subject matter was super interesting (and relevant to me since i am currently breastfeeding my 7 month old)...however, the author's tone was super preachy at times even though she acknowledged that breastfeeding is totally a 'mommy wars' issue. that was annoying and made some of her message less powerful. she seemed to criticize things normal people (moms) do to survive, such as pumping, daycare, going back to work, etc. not all careers make it possible to continue working AND staying home with your baby (even if you want to). i appreciated the science and history woven throughout the book, especially the discussion of who uses formula and some of the background/politics behind that. the tone was just too much at times. i still recommend the book, though, especially for moms (new and seasoned). i'm not sure this book convinced me of anything i didn't already believe about the importance of breastfeeding, but it did give me some new information and more concrete rationale as to why someone may choose not to breastfeed depending on certain situations.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see how a woman who has already completed her breastfeeding journey, or who has simply decided to never breastfeed, would be irritated by this book. The author sets out to educate the reader on breastfeeding and it’s benefits and if the reader’s journey is already done or decided than it will more than likely make them feel pretty guilty. However, as a mother who has decided to breastfeed on demand (for 14 months strong with no signs of stopping anytime soon at the time of this review) I found this book to be beyond empowering and inspirational.

Breastfeeding is HARD! It’s mentally and physically exhausting. Before reading this book I felt I was blindly wading through the task hoping it was worth it in the end but with no real data behind my convictions. Now I feel like I have the tools to continue to nurse for as long as she needs me to. The author does a great job at giving facts, figures, and cultural assessments to paint a picture of what breastfeeding truly is. This should absolutely be required reading for all mothers, mothers to be, and anyone who cares for them.

[Emily Agathos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Some of the other reviews are upset with the authors “insufferable” tone regarding breastfeeding as best. If you are formula feeding your baby because you can’t breastfeed or don’t want to, that is perfectly fine. The truth is breast milk will always be better for a baby than formula, it’s 100% natural and our bodies tailor our own “recipe” for our babies. As a new mom who is half breastfeeding/formula feeding, I’ve seen a lot of moms upset when breast milk/feeding is said to be “best”. Just because we are giving our babies formula and they will most likely be just fine health wise, doesn’t negate the fact that breast milk will always trump a man made powder. Are we upset about this because we feel guilty for giving our babies formula? We have no reason to feel guilty, but a fact is a fact regardless of opinion.
All of that aside, I think the author did an amazing job with her research to support her claims. I loved her anecdotes as well in regards to her breastfeeding journey. Overall, it was an amazing read.

[Katelyn Keeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Registered Nurse who works in a holistic birthing center, I loved this book. I feel like that statement alone can give you some insight as to whether you would find this book of use. It was informative, interesting, and well-written. While others may complain that it is plagued with the author’s point of view, I can only say to them, “duh.” It is not a double-blind study or CDC handout, it is a journalist’s exploration of a topic that she clearly has a predetermined belief system built upon. I am of the camp that tends to agree with her opinions and perspective so this book was perceived with a sort of confirmation-bias on my end. If you formula-fed your baby and are insecure about it, don’t read this book, I can only imagine that you would feel attacked (though I don’t think that is the author’s intention).

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss, Harper Paperbacks, and Jennifer Grayson for the advanced digital copy for an honest review. Wow! This book is part medical journey, history lesson, anthropological study, and mommy diary. Grayson touches on every possible aspects when it comes to breasts, breastfeeding, and the controversy that is behind this labor of love. Grayson is a master storyteller which parallels British natural childbirth activist Sheila Kitzinger. I am so very glad the author spent a nice portion of her text on Dr. William Sears. I am a proud mother of three long term breast fed, co-sleeping, attachment parenting 20 something kids.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so important. I will be recommending it to every pregnant woman I come across. I wish I had read it before my son was born; before I supplemented him with formula at our doctor’s suggestion when he was a day or two old (successfully returning to EBF weeks later, thankfully), before he developed multiple life-threatening allergies... Very interesting research on human oligosaccharides near the end of the book. Fascinating read overall. The prose is somewhat irritating but the information provided is of priceless value. Please read this book, especially if you’re on the fence about breastfeeding.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Unlatched in preparation to hold a Q&A with Jennifer Grayson for my blog. Beautifully written, I love how Grayson weaves her personal account of breastfeeding and motherhood throughout the book. I was in tears by the end, truly moved by her story.

I also learned so much and found myself fascinated by the history of breastfeeding in the U.S. and abroad, and was surprised by the original role of formula companies.

I highly recommend this book for mothers and parents, and anyone interested in anthropology, sociology, history, and American studies.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not even get past the first chapter of mommy shaming BS. I only picked this up because it was free. Judging her friends for their mothering choices and ignorantly commenting on a baby's body pushed me over the edge. I was breastfeeding my baby while reading and am proud of my self and baby but its tough stuff and I cannot get behind this book.

[Safiye Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a breastfeeding mum, I found this book incredibly powerful. Breastfeeding would be a whole lot easier if everyone took the time to really understand breastfeeding and this book brings together a great amount of research and anecdotal information to help. A must read for any new parent or parent to be.

[Tova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this accessible, easy to read and understand look at the history, science, and social support of breastfeeding around the world, filled with interviews with the scientists and anthropologists who study lactation.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scientific and historical analyses were fascinating. The complexity of formula development and marketing is also highly problematic. I had no idea WIC was developed to use up surplus government food product, essentially benefiting big dairy.

[Laura Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. The history of breastfeeding, its success based on cultural views of breasts, current and future medical research.... The author covers it all. I'll definitely read this again.

[Jen Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the history of breastfeeding. Very interesting comparison of cultures and the science part intrigued me as well!!! I would recommend this read. In a way, it left me with more questions than answers but I think that was the point.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. A definite must read for nursing mamas or mamas to be. Now to convince the powers that be that reading this should count towards my bf ceu's?

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting. Everything you could possibly want to know about breastfeeding. History, science, culture. Super quotable.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The author shares great information and insight for everyone interested in breastfeeding. You too will want to be a lactivist after reading this book.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very fascinating global history on breastfeeding.

[Caroline van der Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would be so into a book about breastfeeding, but I didn’t want to put it down! Very informative, interesting and well written.

[Christina Anderson Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening. A must-read for moms, and their support communities, wondering about the history and power of breastfeeding. Thank you, Jennifer Grayson, for educating this generation!!

[Beata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascynująca, świetnie napisana opowieść o ewolucji karmienia piersią. Obowiązkowa lektura dla każdego rodzica.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Her personal story interwoven kept me going although I did like the big letdown better for keeping facts and topics straight. Good book for every woman.