What do you think?
Rate this book
The Positive Breastfeeding Book
How often does my baby really need to feed?
How do I know my baby is getting enough?
Is it normal for my baby to wake at night?
When you’re expecting a new baby, suddenly everyone around you becomes an expert – particularly when it comes to how to feed them. It is easy to become overwhelmed by conflicting advice, myths and exaggerated stories.
The Positive Breastfeeding Book cuts through the anecdotes, giving you clear, no-judgement, non-preachy, evidence-based information to help you make the right decisions for you and your baby. It will help you understand how breastfeeding works, and supports you in developing strategies to make sure that whilst you’re looking after the baby, you’re getting taken care of too.
Jam-packed with everything you ever wanted to know about breastfeeding (and a whole lot you never knew you did!), it will take you through tips for planning for your baby’s arrival, coping with those early months, and knowing what to do and where to seek help if challenges come up. It will guide you through feeding in public, going back to work, and even rediscovering a glass of wine.
You’ll find plenty of real stories and guidance throughout from mothers and experts in supporting breastfeeding. There are handy chapters on formula and mixed feeding, which cut through advertising spiel and give you the facts you need to choose and use formula safely.
The Positive Breastfeeding Book doesn’t promise to make it easy, nor will it get up in the middle of the night for you, but it will empower you with the knowledge and encouragement you need to feed your baby with confidence.
How do I know my baby is getting enough?
Is it normal for my baby to wake at night?
When you’re expecting a new baby, suddenly everyone around you becomes an expert – particularly when it comes to how to feed them. It is easy to become overwhelmed by conflicting advice, myths and exaggerated stories.
The Positive Breastfeeding Book cuts through the anecdotes, giving you clear, no-judgement, non-preachy, evidence-based information to help you make the right decisions for you and your baby. It will help you understand how breastfeeding works, and supports you in developing strategies to make sure that whilst you’re looking after the baby, you’re getting taken care of too.
Jam-packed with everything you ever wanted to know about breastfeeding (and a whole lot you never knew you did!), it will take you through tips for planning for your baby’s arrival, coping with those early months, and knowing what to do and where to seek help if challenges come up. It will guide you through feeding in public, going back to work, and even rediscovering a glass of wine.
You’ll find plenty of real stories and guidance throughout from mothers and experts in supporting breastfeeding. There are handy chapters on formula and mixed feeding, which cut through advertising spiel and give you the facts you need to choose and use formula safely.
The Positive Breastfeeding Book doesn’t promise to make it easy, nor will it get up in the middle of the night for you, but it will empower you with the knowledge and encouragement you need to feed your baby with confidence.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
399 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2018
102 people are currently reading
165 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 12, 2021
Although it had some great information in there I found the book was much too long and I found that for actual practical advice I will still need to look elsewhere. I also found the research presented lacking in further scientific circumstances explaining why a study might show the results it did, as such the studies used felt a little biased in some areas. Furthermore I found it quite polarising, like it’s telling me everyone in my surroundings will be against me and personally that’s not the mindset I want going into my breastfeeding journey, but I recognise that might be because I’m from a different country where breastfeeding is more common and have therefore not had anyone in my surroundings experiencing what the book keeps bringing up. However, I finished it and there are good takeaways in amongst all the fluff, and it’s a source for other sources to use should they be needed.
November 2, 2018
I was excited to read this book, I’ve heard a lot about Amy Brown and nearly seen her speak a number of times, so I was desperate to finally find out what she had to say!
This book is called the positive breastfeeding book and positive it certainly was. It covered some emotive subjects, and it was always done sensitively, in many ways beautifully.
I’ve read a lot of breastfeeding and gentle parenting books and I really feel that this is a good one. It was well written, well researched and well structured. It read easily, it had some humour which I always like and it also voiced some strong parenting choices convincingly and gently.
I loved the phrase “If in doubt, get them out”, I will certainly be using that in the future!
You can tell that Brown really understands breastfeeding and breastfeeding mothers and what they need. She has approached this book not from the standpoint of ‘here is all the knowledge that I must impart’, but ‘what do breastfeeding mums need to know, what do they care about, how do they feel’. She is not an instructor on the journey, she is a friend on it.
This book was very carefully and positively written. Brown has worked very carefully with her language and her phrasing so that even when she is discussing difficult areas she does it sensitively and without leaving anyone ignored.
This book is long and I found the idea of reading it a little daunting. However, it was easy to read, it was very nicely structured and broken up so that it didn’t feel like an endless sea of words to get through. I also appreciated the layout of the order of the book that Brown has used, generally these sorts of books are laid out in ages and stages, whereas this was laid out as different areas to be aware of and I think it worked well, it felt more casual and like a dialogue with a friend rather than a specific ‘at this age, expect this…’
I loved the contacts sheet on the first page, the handy sheets for notes at the back, and the regular signposting to more support so that parents know they are not alone.
This book really stresses the importance of support for mothers who are breastfeeding, to the point that the very first page of the book is a list of where to get help and support, just so that mums can find that information easily in the haze of having a new baby to feed. I can’t agree with Brown more on this, support is crucial to women’s breastfeeding success and enjoyment, and unfortunately it is often lacking or sporadic across the UK. Brown regularly refers back to the importance of support; from professionals, friends and family, and society as a whole.
Although the book had a great feeling of support there wasn’t always a lot of practical information. I wouldn’t recommend this book as a how to guide for breastfeeding, it is more that is arming women and families with knowledge and confidence to seek out the right support for themselves.
Brown gives a heavy endorsement the breast crawl for brand new babies feeding, although personally I’m not a big fan of it. I could never manage it myself, although I tried, and when I have seen it done I think the attachment looks bloody awful. But I know that it is very popular at the moment and it is great that it encourages lots of skin to skin, taking time and allowing the baby to lead, and if it works for mums and it gets breastfeeding off to a good start then I am all for it, I just don’t feel comfortable with it.
I loved the real mother’s comments that were scattered through the book and maintain the human (as opposed to the professional) experience, and they show the great variety of experience. The real-life stories really showed some of the amazing journeys that women, babies and families can go through, they showed the overwhelming walls that can be overcome, they showed the personal value of breastfeeding, and I think that they all brought a tear to my eye. Damn those personal stories are so emotional!
There were also excerpts from many different health professionals and experts in different areas, which I didn’t always agree with, but they certainly gave the feeling that there is a large community to be accessed if you need it with your new baby which I think gives a sense of reassurance to new parents that they are not on their own at this important time in their lives.
This book is very well researched and referenced, and is a wonderfully supportive and informative companion to breastfeeding mothers. Many important areas are covered that are sometimes neglected in breastfeeding books, and the information was sound, such as in areas of baby sleep, attachment, carrying etc. These are areas that go hand in hand with breastfeeding but which are often separated out when they should be included. Other difficult areas such as premature or unwell babies were handled sensitively.
There has clearly been a lot of effort put in by Brown to give women something that they can use as an accomplice on their journey, this book is there to help them and keeps reiterating the point to them of their own success (this book never blames women for their outcomes, it is most often a matter of not having the right support).
As much as I had wanted to read Amy Brown’s book, when I saw how many pages there were I wondered how well I would be able to maintain enthusiasm having read so many breastfeeding books before. I am happy to say, that Brown has won me over, not only did I think the book was brilliantly written with excellent information, it made me feel emotional and full of love for all the mothers and babies in the world – all of them! It also reminded me how much I love breastfeeding and how glad I am that I had the experience with my own children, I look back now and they are some of the warmest memories I have.
I thought this book was excellent and I definitely recommend it for pregnant women and people interested in breastfeeding.
This book is called the positive breastfeeding book and positive it certainly was. It covered some emotive subjects, and it was always done sensitively, in many ways beautifully.
I’ve read a lot of breastfeeding and gentle parenting books and I really feel that this is a good one. It was well written, well researched and well structured. It read easily, it had some humour which I always like and it also voiced some strong parenting choices convincingly and gently.
I loved the phrase “If in doubt, get them out”, I will certainly be using that in the future!
You can tell that Brown really understands breastfeeding and breastfeeding mothers and what they need. She has approached this book not from the standpoint of ‘here is all the knowledge that I must impart’, but ‘what do breastfeeding mums need to know, what do they care about, how do they feel’. She is not an instructor on the journey, she is a friend on it.
This book was very carefully and positively written. Brown has worked very carefully with her language and her phrasing so that even when she is discussing difficult areas she does it sensitively and without leaving anyone ignored.
This book is long and I found the idea of reading it a little daunting. However, it was easy to read, it was very nicely structured and broken up so that it didn’t feel like an endless sea of words to get through. I also appreciated the layout of the order of the book that Brown has used, generally these sorts of books are laid out in ages and stages, whereas this was laid out as different areas to be aware of and I think it worked well, it felt more casual and like a dialogue with a friend rather than a specific ‘at this age, expect this…’
I loved the contacts sheet on the first page, the handy sheets for notes at the back, and the regular signposting to more support so that parents know they are not alone.
This book really stresses the importance of support for mothers who are breastfeeding, to the point that the very first page of the book is a list of where to get help and support, just so that mums can find that information easily in the haze of having a new baby to feed. I can’t agree with Brown more on this, support is crucial to women’s breastfeeding success and enjoyment, and unfortunately it is often lacking or sporadic across the UK. Brown regularly refers back to the importance of support; from professionals, friends and family, and society as a whole.
Although the book had a great feeling of support there wasn’t always a lot of practical information. I wouldn’t recommend this book as a how to guide for breastfeeding, it is more that is arming women and families with knowledge and confidence to seek out the right support for themselves.
Brown gives a heavy endorsement the breast crawl for brand new babies feeding, although personally I’m not a big fan of it. I could never manage it myself, although I tried, and when I have seen it done I think the attachment looks bloody awful. But I know that it is very popular at the moment and it is great that it encourages lots of skin to skin, taking time and allowing the baby to lead, and if it works for mums and it gets breastfeeding off to a good start then I am all for it, I just don’t feel comfortable with it.
I loved the real mother’s comments that were scattered through the book and maintain the human (as opposed to the professional) experience, and they show the great variety of experience. The real-life stories really showed some of the amazing journeys that women, babies and families can go through, they showed the overwhelming walls that can be overcome, they showed the personal value of breastfeeding, and I think that they all brought a tear to my eye. Damn those personal stories are so emotional!
There were also excerpts from many different health professionals and experts in different areas, which I didn’t always agree with, but they certainly gave the feeling that there is a large community to be accessed if you need it with your new baby which I think gives a sense of reassurance to new parents that they are not on their own at this important time in their lives.
This book is very well researched and referenced, and is a wonderfully supportive and informative companion to breastfeeding mothers. Many important areas are covered that are sometimes neglected in breastfeeding books, and the information was sound, such as in areas of baby sleep, attachment, carrying etc. These are areas that go hand in hand with breastfeeding but which are often separated out when they should be included. Other difficult areas such as premature or unwell babies were handled sensitively.
There has clearly been a lot of effort put in by Brown to give women something that they can use as an accomplice on their journey, this book is there to help them and keeps reiterating the point to them of their own success (this book never blames women for their outcomes, it is most often a matter of not having the right support).
As much as I had wanted to read Amy Brown’s book, when I saw how many pages there were I wondered how well I would be able to maintain enthusiasm having read so many breastfeeding books before. I am happy to say, that Brown has won me over, not only did I think the book was brilliantly written with excellent information, it made me feel emotional and full of love for all the mothers and babies in the world – all of them! It also reminded me how much I love breastfeeding and how glad I am that I had the experience with my own children, I look back now and they are some of the warmest memories I have.
I thought this book was excellent and I definitely recommend it for pregnant women and people interested in breastfeeding.
October 12, 2025
(2,5) ja nou best wel veel nuttige informatie maar wat een boel ruis!!!!! en als deze vrouw nog één keer begint over het eten van een plak cake word ik gek!!!!!!!
November 26, 2025
Covers everything - feeling very prepared and empowered with knowledge now!
February 3, 2024
Brilliant book written by an expert in the field (an actual one rather someone who thinks they are of which there appear to be many!)
Amy summarises all of the evidence in an accessible way to provide open and honest advice. I’ve found it invaluable in making sure my breastfeeding journey has been positive for our son and for me too!
Amy summarises all of the evidence in an accessible way to provide open and honest advice. I’ve found it invaluable in making sure my breastfeeding journey has been positive for our son and for me too!
December 7, 2018
This book was really helpful and felt like you were having a long chat with a friend who knew lots about breastfeeding. It's really non judgemental which I liked. I am exclusively breastfeeding but was pleased to see chapters on how to prepare a bottle of formula or how to stop breastfeeding if that's what you want. I find some other books a bit judgemental and believe in happy mum happy baby so this really helped warm me to the author. My baby is only three months old so I haven't experienced some of the things like going back to work or starting solids yet but enjoyed reading up in advance. There are also lots of special chapters such as if your baby is born early or in special care or if you are in a same sex relationship. These didn't apply to me but I think are a really good touch for those they do apply to. It really does have so much stuff in it for everything you would ever want to know. I would fully recommend this book.
October 13, 2018
This book was really helpful, and really emphasised the responsive relationship part of breastfeeding that is such a key part of breastfeeding education. However, it kind of felt like it wasn't in the right order - it didn't go chronologically, telling you what to do and what to expect for each stage of your baby's life, but more by topic, so it felt like it went back and forth quite a bit. I also appreciated the chapters on niche circumstances, like nursing a premature baby or nursing in an emergency situation, but really that will apply to so few people and just adds length to an already quite chunky book.
So no flaws in the information itself, just perhaps a little long and disordered for me personally.
So no flaws in the information itself, just perhaps a little long and disordered for me personally.
November 23, 2024
Good information in here, but I personally found it way too long and often too specific so I skipped a lot.
February 17, 2021
Absolutely fantastic evidence and research-based book on such an important subject as BF. It explains all the difficulties you may encounter with feeding (poor latch, pain, tongue tie, premature baby, low supply etc) and how you can overcome all this if you are informed.
It also covers such topics as formula advertising, introducing solids, ending your BF journey, overcoming grief if you could not BF your baby and many more. I just wish I had read it before giving birth, as it would have made my first month journey much easier for sure.
Cannot recommend it enough to all mums who are considering BF or just want to make an informed decision on the best solution before the baby arrives.
It also covers such topics as formula advertising, introducing solids, ending your BF journey, overcoming grief if you could not BF your baby and many more. I just wish I had read it before giving birth, as it would have made my first month journey much easier for sure.
Cannot recommend it enough to all mums who are considering BF or just want to make an informed decision on the best solution before the baby arrives.
February 28, 2025
Although it looks long and daunting it was actually an easy read. I found the book an interesting and educational read.
I would recommend reading it before baby arrives, I read it when my baby was 2 weeks old and felt some information would have been good to consider beforehand.
However, I didn’t like how negative it was towards formula feeding. Appreciating it is a book advocating for exclusive breastfeeding I worried it could be triggering for anyone who may have felt like they failed at this in the past. And therefore would suggest you take the negative comments about formula with a pinch of salt.
I would recommend reading it before baby arrives, I read it when my baby was 2 weeks old and felt some information would have been good to consider beforehand.
However, I didn’t like how negative it was towards formula feeding. Appreciating it is a book advocating for exclusive breastfeeding I worried it could be triggering for anyone who may have felt like they failed at this in the past. And therefore would suggest you take the negative comments about formula with a pinch of salt.
January 29, 2019
Very comprehensive, inclusive and full of excellent resources. Includes chapters on feeding multiples, preemies, LGBTQ feeding and more.
I would recommend reading this while pregnant. I read it after having my baby and found that a good half of the book is about making the choice to breastfeed. As I had already made that choice these chapters were not as relevant as some of the later chapters exploring issues with feeding.
The book is very non-judgemental and supports those choosing to supplement with formula. It even includes chapters on how to end breastfeeding.
I would recommend reading this while pregnant. I read it after having my baby and found that a good half of the book is about making the choice to breastfeed. As I had already made that choice these chapters were not as relevant as some of the later chapters exploring issues with feeding.
The book is very non-judgemental and supports those choosing to supplement with formula. It even includes chapters on how to end breastfeeding.
October 28, 2018
A comprehensive book with everything you might need to know when breastfeeding your baby. Very evidence-based and beautifully written. It goes through ages and stages, how-tos and unusual circumstances and questions. This is really great for a new mum but will also answer questions for women who have been breastfeeding for a while or those in the medical profession/supporting roles who are looking to find out a bit more.
October 18, 2020
I’d give it 4.5 stars. At times this book made me feel overwhelmed, but I think it’s just because it goes deep into problem solving feeding issues. I definitely understand what breastfeeding looks like better now and have a sense of how to advocate for myself if something isn’t going well. The last three chapters were great and made me feel comforted in that whatever I choose to do or have to do, my baby will be fine as long as I love them. Definitely recommend to new moms!
August 25, 2022
A wonderful positive reassuring follow-up to reading “The Positive Birth Book”. My key takeaways “:
* Breastfeeding is not “free” as it takes up women’s time and women’s time matters!
* Take one feed at a time and praise yourself for every little success
* When they smile at you while taking your milk then everything is right in the world :)
* It’s ok for baby to use you as a dummy or to feed your baby to sleep… if it’s ok with you to do that
* Breastfeeding is not “free” as it takes up women’s time and women’s time matters!
* Take one feed at a time and praise yourself for every little success
* When they smile at you while taking your milk then everything is right in the world :)
* It’s ok for baby to use you as a dummy or to feed your baby to sleep… if it’s ok with you to do that
May 24, 2023
Absolutely incredible. I wish I'd had the time before my babies arrived to read this. I picked it up a few months into our breastfeeding journey. However, I still found this both helpful and interesting. It really does contain everything you need to know and is useful for whatever stage you're in with feeding your baby. My one wish would be that everyone could read this book, especially those closest to me and the twins, so that they could learn and understand why breastfeeding is so important.
January 17, 2019
When picking this up, I wondered how there could be so much to learn about breastfeeding. I think I fell into the common trap of believing that because it was natural, it'd be easy. Now I feel prepared for my little one to arrive and have even used my knowledge gleaned from the book to advise other Mums. An invaluable resource that has left me wanting to seek out even more knowledge!
January 19, 2024
Helpful, but maybe too helpful. It covers literally anything you can think of with a lot probably not useful for the majority of expectant/new mums. A lot of repetition though chapters, and some completely skipped as they just didn't apply. But for the general info, it was good and pretty in depth, but very long overall!
January 25, 2022
Probably the best parenting book I have read so far, at times it went into a bit of an overwhelming amount of information but overall it was reassuring to read of women having a much harder time of things getting great success.
November 29, 2022
كتاب جيد غطى معظم مشاكل الرضاعه
الجميل أن المولفه تكتب بعض التعليقات المضحكه فتكون اقرب لصديقه تنصح من كاتبه تملي عليك ما تفعل
ولكن يوجد الكثير من اعادة نفس الفكره
كتاب جيد للبدء برحلة الرضاعه خلال الحمل
الجميل أن المولفه تكتب بعض التعليقات المضحكه فتكون اقرب لصديقه تنصح من كاتبه تملي عليك ما تفعل
ولكن يوجد الكثير من اعادة نفس الفكره
كتاب جيد للبدء برحلة الرضاعه خلال الحمل
September 2, 2019
Fantastic book! I would have given 6 starts if I could.
March 26, 2020
As a first time breastfeeder, this book didn’t really teach me anything - there isn’t anything I can really “take away” and apply to my life. My nips are still sore and I’m still tired!
July 5, 2020
A must read for every mum-to-be or already a new mummy. Very useful information and gives confidence if ever in doubt!
May 21, 2021
A perfect read in the newborn weeks
A wonderful, wonderful book. I’ve been breastfeeding for almost 4 years and still learned so much from reading this book!
A wonderful, wonderful book. I’ve been breastfeeding for almost 4 years and still learned so much from reading this book!
December 6, 2021
Should be in the bounty packs.
January 11, 2022
Probably more useful to read during pregnancy / early on in bf.
July 3, 2023
Very informative with each chapters that can be read in isolation. This is a resource I'm sure I will be returning to time and again.
July 29, 2023
Great book, I just wished I’d read it when I was pregnant to prepare. Lots of helpful information!
January 30, 2024
This book was so helpful. It is probably the best breastfeeding book I've read
June 10, 2024
Very informative. Can be read in pregnancy or while already breastfeeding.
Real experiences written by real people spread throughout the book. Would recommend to anyone looking to breastfeed.
Real experiences written by real people spread throughout the book. Would recommend to anyone looking to breastfeed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2025
Great book, covers a wide range of topics and was really informative. I love how Amy writes, it's accessible, and funny too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews