The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning

by William Sears, Martha Sears

A fully revised edition of the Dr. Sears guide to breastfeeding, a perennial favorite of parents for nearly two decades From pediatric experts Martha Sears, R.N., and William Sears, M.D., a comprehensive, reassuring, authoritative information How to get started breastfeeding, with illustrated tips for latching on Increasing your milk supply Breastfeeding when working away from home Pumps and other technology associated with breastfeeding Making sure your nursing baby gets optimum nutrition, including the most recent information about the importance of omega-3 fatty acids and "milk-oriented microbiota" Nutrition and fitness for moms Nighttime breastfeeding Breastfeeding and fertility Toddler nursing and weaning Special circumstances And much more... Breastfeeding contributes to nurturing a smarter and healthier baby, and a healthier and more intuitive mommy. Isn't that what every child needs, and every parent wants?

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Family, Self Help, Reference, Nutrition

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2000

About the author

Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his "little patients" call him, is the father of eight children as well as the author of over 30 books on childcare. Dr. Bill is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Bill received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto -- the largest children’s hospital in the world, where he served as associate ward chief of the newborn nursery and associate professor of pediatrics. Dr. Sears is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a fellow of the Royal College of Pediatricians (RCP).Dr. Bill is also a medical and parenting consultant for BabyTalk and Parenting magazines and the pediatrician on the website Parenting.com.

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The breastfeeding bible by Dr. William and Martha Sears has been revised and updated for 2018, and it's as wonderful as ever. This huge, thorough guide covers anything you could possibly want to know about breastfeeding with lots of helpful information from a husband-wife team who have been helping mothers breastfeed for decades and who also lived it themselves with all of their children.

Some of the many topics covered include:

why breastfeeding is so beneficial
the mechanics of breastfeeding
breastfeeding babies with all kinds of special needs (preemies, Downs Syndrome babies, etc.)
breastfeeding twins
nighttime feeding
weaning
nursing toddlers
medications during breastfeeding
how dads (and even grandparents) can help
returning to work and breastfeeding
pumping and the kinds of pumps available (including hand pumping)
common concerns
diet during breastfeeding and what foods/nutrients are important
troubleshooting common breastfeeding problems
sleeping arrangements for nursing mothers (including safe co-sleeping)
humorous breastfeeding bits like the types of nursers
breastfeeding an adopted baby (yes, it's possible) or re-lactating
and a lot more

The book is extremely thorough and well laid out, with many charts and illustrations. It will be released October 2018.

I love this book and wish it had been available when I had my first baby 20 years ago (the original was published in 2000). I had to learn so much on my own the hard way. Highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC of this book for review purposes.

[Grace Casanova-Artl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the actual practical advice and tips from this book. What I didn’t appreciate was the heteronormativity, anti-choice sentiment, random scripture at the end, etc. Being that this is a 2018 “updated” version, I would have hoped that the authors would realize that some breastfeeding families don’t include dads/husbands but instead include two moms or that not every mother has the luxury of staying home for years while dad goes out and works. Breastfeeding is challenging enough without having to navigate accessing information that isn’t accepting of all types of families.

[Mama · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably a great book for a 25 years old personal trainer that has a noneventful home birth and has over supply problems. If you're a 44 year old first time mother with lots of bleeding and an infant in the NICU for several days this book really doesn't have much to offer as to how to increase your milk supply. Just to be clear, if you don't need this book it has lots to offer.

[Clancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good tips and strategies for breastfeeding. It definitely had a “breast is best” instead of “fed is best” mentality, but overall I enjoyed learning from it!

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up as part of my birth/newborn prep. This was the most recent book on the topic that my library had. Reading the reviews on Goodreads, I wasn't sure how well reading it would go, but figured I would give it a try. There was a lot of helpful advice, including a few things I had not heard from other classes/resources I have attended/viewed. It was actually not as militant about breastfeeding as I expected, and several times reminded readers that what babies need most is a happy, healthy mother and talked about various ways to make that happen. The book also focuses on the father's role in breastfeeding and how best to provide support, which I thought was handled well.

But, there are several caveats about this book. First, it is very heteronormative, which may or may not work for you or your family. Second, though it covers returning to work after having baby and pumping, many parts of the book seem very geared toward the stay-at-home nursing mother, so again it may not fit every reader's need. Third, the book contains some fear-mongering about hormonal contraception, including playing up the "abortifacient" properties of oral contraception and pushing the narrative that breastfeeding when done "right" is a natural form of birth control (which may be true if you can stick to the tons of rules about doing it the "right" way, but for the majority of people that is not going to be case). Fourth, there is quite a bit of religion in the book, including random quotes from the Bible. So there was quite a bit that was off-putting for me and may make others want to steer clear.

CW: medical procedures, nudity (drawings), sexual content (references to)

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find this book to be very useful, and at one point it was actively harmful. As some background, I read the early chapters before having my baby. That didn't do me any good, but that was because it was difficult to really wrap my head around all the things to consider before I had my 'breastfeeding partner' there. I then read parts of the book again after giving birth, and referenced sections as issues came up for a little while.

As for the breastfeeding advice, some of it is fine, but it's the same advice I received in the hospital from nurses and lactation consultants. In fact, the nurses gave some better advice, plus they were right there helping me, repositioning Baby if need be, and so on. Frankly, a book is no substitute for a lactation consultant (and, ladies, with reformed healthcare, almost all insurance covers 100% of a few lactation consultations. My advice is to call your insurer and find out how many sessions you'll get covered, then use them).

And then I got mastitis... and this book advises that women self-treat the condition rather than go to a doctor. I wish I had not tried to self-treat. The pain from the infection was excruciating, and while I shook the fever quickly, I was lethargic for several days. I later found out that just about any OB or midwife will recommend that their patients contact them when they show symptoms of mastitis. So why these authors, healthcare professionals, don't recommend at least contacting your OB or midwife is beyond me. It certainly shook my faith in their expertise.

[Robin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful but my complaint is similar to other books about breastfeeding - they don't really offer constructive tips and guidance for working mothers. Dr. Sears and La Leche League both recommned that working mothers try to work part time or bring baby to work. I think it is great if you can make either of these options work but the truth is I do not know any women who have this luxury. Also, what about the women who feel very strongly about balancing their career and motherhood? Dr. Sears and La Leche League's advice is not very progressive and may offend some mothers (it was mildly offensive to me). I think Dr. Sears should update his chapter on working and breastfeeding to better represent the full time working moms. I do agree with Dr. Sears that babies need to be nursed (at the breast) as much as possible and I do my very best to make sure that happens. If we are to expect women to take the recommendations of the AAP (to breastfeed for at least 6mos-1 year) seriously, then we need to provide them with the appropriate encouragement and resources to do so - better literature about balancing time with the pump and time at the breast.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good summary of the technical details involved, but somehow it made me feel like I should feel guilty if I didn't want to nurse my child until 4, or I wanted to go back to work after all that school, and I felt that tone wasn't really warranted. But lots of good information & tips.

Addendum: I do keep referring back to it, so I'm upping my original rating. But it's still incredibly crunchy, granola-esque, and I say that as someone who walks around Northern California in Birkenstocks at the famer's market with her child.

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you plan to breastfeed, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book helped me through many nights of wanting to give up on nursing completely. Now, three breastfed babies later, I am a testiment for this book!

[Tahni Fortin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Personally, I felt this was extremely judgemental and helpful only if you prescribed to 'breast is best' and nursing well into toddlerhood. I took the book out from my library as it was recommended for advice on weaning. There is a tiny section on weaning which basically says offer, don't refuse & that's it.
The part about ensuring you still sexually satisfy your husband made angry. Yes, a mother's need to provide for her baby and sleep is definitely more important than the man-child described in the book who leaves his wife to deal with all night need and sleeps on the couch. After giving birth, most women are in no shape to concern themselves with that physically or emotionally.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

На мій погляд в книзі аж надто ідеалізується грудне вигодовування і демонізується штучне, що може створювати аж надто багато напруження у мам. З іншого боку, певно саме це напруження посприяло відстояти грудне вигодовування тоді, коли моло дуже довго не приходило напочатку. В іншому книга дуже інформативна і практична. Дала відповіді на всі мої питання про грудне вигодовування, з якими я зіштовхнулася в перші місяці материнства.

[Elizabeth Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great guide for new moms who need help and guidance on breastfeeding. Well written and gives great detail for how to breastfeed and any issues with it along with pictures to help. If you are a new parent and are on the fence about breastfeeding, do not read this book. It’s very holistic, very one sided. Although it’s written by a doctor and a nurse, they are pretty one sided with the “breast is best” method. But if you’re a holistic girlie, this one is for you!

[Lauren Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the last bits about toddler nurslings and weaning. Dr Sears is a known supporter of (what USA calls "extended") breastfeeding according to the WHO's recommendations, so I looked to this book for the final chapter -- literally & figuratively -- of nursing. It has good advice, helpful illustrations, and solid writing & organization.

[Ellen Scheid · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were good parts to this book that were helpful, but I am already almost 7 months in and did not need to go back over the basics. I skimmed a bunch of it. Overall, it was not a bad guide. Some parts, like the super smoothie may prove to be very useful.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a little while to get through but I really felt like it was helpful to new mothers through every stage of development and every up and down of breastfeeding. I think it has given me a really good insight as a doula into what this relationship looks like between a mother and child.

[Vivian Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only time will tell if this proves useful, but it was certainly thorough and answered loads of the questions I had! I also feel keen to trust the authors since they have relevant personal (8 kids) and professional (pediatric nurse and doctor, lactation consultant) experience.

[دعاء الدريس · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب مبسط لشرح الرضاعة الطبيعية ينفع لكل أم مهتمة
غير معقد ويتبنى مفهوم الattachment parenting

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so helpful when I was getting ready for my third, who had so many issues nursing. Glad I did and I kept it for My fourth and then passed it on!

[DTM (Consignment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

valuable content

Read during night time feedings, the contents helped me make adjustments which were critical to improving my breastfeeding technique. Thankyou.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been so helpful to read when I was still pregnant.

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this recommended by a few people as the top breastfeeding book. I'm not super impressed by it. I think that there are two reasons for this. One, I'm passed the beginning of breastfeeding at the time I'm reading it. This would probably have been very useful before I started or in the beginning, but at 7 months, I either have already worked my way through the problems discussed or have learned the information presented else where when it comes to most of the chapters. This book only had 20 pages on nursing beyond the beginning, and half of that was on toddlers and weaning. Two, I don't like the tone and style of the book. Its like reading one long pamphlet or a textbook. I might have enjoyed learning the information more if it was presented in a less clinical fashion.

I did learn new things, especailly about identifying a clogged duct, which I had been curious if I was encountering. But, at the same time, I came away from this section more concerned that it might be happening to me, rather than feeling sure one way or the other. In my mind, by the end of a section in a really great book, I would feel certain one way or the other. There were other areas I felt more uneasy about upon finishing the section as well, but these were more because I had been going against the advice of the book and I wasn't sure if it was causing problems or not. These areas were things like still wearing breast pads and if my bra was too tight (because it didn't describe what too tight was, just not to do it).

This book also didn't top my list because it advised things I've been going directly against for 7 months, and I've been doing just fine. That's not to say that we couldn't encounter a problem tomorrow or that it may be different with my next child, but at this time, the information wasn't useful to me. For example, it said to switch nursing positions and it highly recommended side nursing and clutch hold. I've stuck with the same hold for 6 months now and it wasn't either of those. In fact, things became easier when we switched from the clutch hold. Other areas like this were co-sleeping and breast pads with no liners.

***Okay, I've raised my rating of this book. I thought I was through with it, but picked it back up and read some more of the later chapters. The chapter on night nursing, was actually really comforting for me because it made me good about allowing Natalie to nurse to sleep both at bed time and naps. The father chapter was also good, but we were too far into things for Mike to read it now. I also learned how to position ourselves for nursing in the car. I still didn't find the chapter on nursing nuances as I believe they called them very helpful. It didn't cover the problems we have (or had) or didn't really give much in terms of solutions.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this book because it was a lifesaver. With my first daughter I had a horrible lactation consultant. All I cared about was my daughter nursing and getting all the colostrum she could. I had a hard time getting her to stay on my nipples. Instead of helping me, the nurses offered me formula, which I refused. The lactation specialist spent little time with me and was clueless. I left the hospital determined, but I was a little scared because Lila had jaundice. My milk had not came in either and I didn't realize it took so long to drop. A newborn, jaundice and no milk! Oh my! I was a wreck. Two good friends of mine brought me some lunch and this book. I'm forever thankful for that act of kindness. This book stayed on my nightstand for the longest time. Once I relaxed, the milk came. I was so happy. I agree with Sears on a lot of things. Not nursing was never a option for me and this book was my guide. It helped me cure my mastitis, naturally pump, soothe sore breasts, to tell if something I ate did not sit well with my little one, and much, much more. When I had my second daughter, I thought I did not need this book. I was a pro, right? Once again, it stayed on my nightstand. I see that so many woman feel offended by this book and I don't get it. Many of the things he states are facts. Regardless of your lifestyle, the most important thing is for babies to nurse and be nurtured. Each person should modify nursing to their lifestyle and schedule. Of course his ideal thinking is for a mother to nurse whenever she can, especially during the first few months. I gave up my job and put education on hold to be home with my babies while they nursed. It was on the top of my priority list. To each their own though. There's not one right parenting or nursing style. I had a doctor once make me wait so she could pump. I gladly waited. Whatever you got to do, do. Sears knows his stuff and you know your bodies. If your mastitis gets out of hand, call a dr., but don't blame Sears. I highly reccomend this book. I nursed my first for almost two years and the second for a year and a half. No bottles, just boob. Yes, they slept in my room and I breastfed at night. I breastfed anywhere and everywhere. Thank goodness this book jumped in my lap. Any book that talks about the importance of nursing is a good book to me. A+++++

[Dara Harvey · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a new mom, I took this book as "expert" advice. It recommends no bottle feeding - it even says using a bottle will "sabotage" your nursing efforts. So I avoided the bottle like the plague.

But not every baby nurses by the book. I was baffled when my son cried every night for 2 weeks. Despite nursing round the clock, he was never satisfied. I searched this book for answers, finding none. At our 2-week doctor checkup, Baby was half a pound below his birth weight. As a new mom, I didn't have a clue what was wrong. With the help of our pediatrician and a lactation specialist, we discovered that Baby was a lazy nurser: he appeared to be nursing but he was just lulling himself to sleep and getting almost nothing to eat. Against this book's advice, we began supplementing with a bottle and in just 2 days, Baby gained all his weight back AND slept at night. That first night, as he went to sleep with a full stomach, I thought the baby monitor had broken because it was so quiet in the house. Into the garbage went my copy of this book.

Now, having talked with other moms, I am amazed how common "lazy nursing" is. But this book does not even mention it. If I hadn't read this book, I would not have been afraid to use a bottle. I would have spared my baby, husband and myself much unneeded stress, and my baby would not have been hungry for no reason at all during his first 2 weeks of life. For a book entitled "Everything you need to know about nursing from birth through weaning," I do not recommend it to anyone because not only was it not helpful, it was actively harmful.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that all expectant and breastfeeding mothers should have in their library.

Why only four stars if it is a "must have?" It's not the easiest read out there concerning breastfeeding. It took me awhile to get through simply because of the sheer volume of information presented in the book. HOWEVER, because of that sheer volume and the inclusion of absolutely everything that could go right or wrong, mothers need to have this book on hand in case they have a question or problem and no lactation consultant or other breastfeeding mother is available!

MUST READ!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this book from cover to cover, just skimmed around and used the index to find help for things I was wondering about. It's a pretty good book and has some helpful ideas. I bought it years ago, with my first child, whom I was having trouble nursing, after reading the author's columns in Baby Talk magazine and finding those helpful. The lacatation consultant I saw was tremendously helpful, more so than this book. However, I think it is a good reference to have on hand and refer to.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am surprised that I was able to pick up this book and read it cover to cover. I thought I'd just pick and choose a few chapters to read, but it was actually good enough to read the whole way through. I read this in preparation for my first little one to be born. I also took a class on breastfeeding around the same time. I haven't been able to put it into practice yet, but I feel as prepared as possible to breastfeed. It gave me a lot of confidence that anyone can breastfeed if they put their mind to it.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book after I had purchased The Baby Book from Dr. Sears. It helped me with my latch on issues and well as suggested other methods for those we working on breastfeeding. I am so confident with this book I loaned it to a friend. She had always found breastfeeding painful but for 2 children going on 3 she was still going to do it. I suggested this book for her because I believe noone should breastfeed in pain. She must have liked it cause I never got it back.

[Franziska · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed like a pretty comprehensive book on everything you might want to know about breast feeding. But beware, this book will definitely suggest that is pretty much just one right thing to do: breast feed. Being a little uncomfortable with the idea of breast feeding, I found this book at times more guilt-tripping and discouraging than helping me feel excited and ready...but then, I don't know if any book could get me excited about this.

[Erika]

Source: Molly Booth
Response: I can’t help but feeling like their “child-centered” method is a little too child-centered. I don’t think I have the personality to live so flexibly. However, it was good for me to hear from that end of the spectrum so that when I get frustrated that Rolland isn’t following the plans I have for him and us, I can relax a little, remembering that there are many very different ways to take care of a baby and they all seem to work in the end.