Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts

by Fiona Giles

While countless breastfeeding guides crowd bookshelves, not one of them speaks to women with anything approaching bestselling author Fiona Giles's level of intimacy and vitality. In Fresh Milk, through a provocative collection of stories, memories, and personal accounts, Giles uncovers the myths and truths of the lactating breast.
From the young mother grappling with the bewildering trappings of maternity wear to the woman who finds herself surprisingly aroused by new sensations, and the modern dad who learns the ins and outs of breastfeeding, the portraits in Giles's eye-opening book offer a funny, wise, and comforting resource for women -- and even their friends and partners who have had, or expect, intimate experiences with the pleasures and pain of lactation.
By turns poignant and informative, sexy and witty, empathic and empowering, Fresh Milk delivers everything we wanted to know about breastfeeding that our mothers never told us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Fiona Giles is an Australian scholar and feminist, currently teaching in the Deptartment of Media Studies and Communication at Sydney University. She is also a freelance writer recently published in The Bulletin; Meanjin; Australian Way; Australian Author; and HQ. She has regular media appearances on 'Beauty and the Beast' for Foxtel and Channel 10.

Fiona is the author of Chick For A Day, Dick For A Day, Melanie , From The Verandah and Too Far Everywhere: The Romantic Heroine in 19th Century Australia

She lives in Sydney with her partner and two sons.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very upbeat and open collection of stories about nursing and lactation. Not at all glurgey - just straightforward pieces covering sexuality & lactation, weaning, breastfeeding, not breastfeeding, inducing lactation for adopted children, lactation porn, and more, well-written and not too long, interspersed with interesting answers from Giles's survey of nursing mothers. Not celebratory but with a great deal of joy about lactation.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I was hoping to. The author has intentionally included more fringe type stories (which have clearly disturbed a few reviewers here lol) to "broaden the space" in which breastfeeding is found acceptable and worthy of discussion etc...
This is definitely NOT a how-to guide, for new moms to consider and troubleshoot breastfeeding. This is a sociological, feminist, collection of stories that celebrate breastfeeding in many many forms.
If you're not quite ready to "broaden the space" but still want to read stories, I'd recommend 'Unbuttoned' edited by Dana Sullivan

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at breastfeeding in culture and experience. This is not your typical "how to" book and goes past comfort levels for some individuals. Pornography is discussed. Also, some information is outdated (with regard to laws and existing milk banks) as it was published in 2003. Unique to this book is an international look at nursing instead of just an American viewpoint. It was nice to read while nursing but I wouldn't suggest it to all.

[Anesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I loved this book! The humor I found in it got me through some very tough nursing sessions. Granted, I found a few areas a little disturbing. But overall, I may not have made it through those early days without it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books. Fantastic stories you might hear at La Leche League, but no where else.

[Íris ÓH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greip mig ekki - las hálfa bókina

[Michelle Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a compilation of stories from around the globe. It looked at "the other side" of breastfeeding that a lot of people don't talk about. I really enjoyed it at times but decided to skip the stories that I found disturbing. But it helps to give a different perspective just when you think you know everything or why someone might choose to do something then you hear their side (like men lactating, weaning at five and half years old etc.) worth reading...most of it

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the quote from Sheila Kitzinger on the front cover of the Australian edition says it all "All the things that the other books about breastfeeding don't say." From male lactation to wet nursing, cooking with breastmilk to lactaction in pornography - this book takes you on a wild ride very different to your standard how-to book.

[Xaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of writings about breasts, especially as they pertain to breastfeeding. I enjoyed this book. One or two of the writings are even written by males. One is the story of man's breastfeeding experience with his daughter.

Once I started reading this, I didn't want to put it down.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

still in the middle, but it's an edited collection of essays and submitted anecdotes on breastfeeding, so it's possible for a busy person (e.g., mother of a nursing baby) to pop in and out of it and read a bit here and there

[Amber Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book. But for the purposes I was reading it… (Study), I thought it reached beyond what I needed. There was a large focus on fetish and intimacy. While I acknowledge that this is interesting, I wanted to learn more about attitudes on breastfeeding for both men and women.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! Yuck!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book to give to my cousin when she was pregnant. It was kind of creepy-she couldn't even get through it!!!

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd book and maybe one that is better left till one is done breastfeeding.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the range of stories in the book. Some I could get behind, others were far beyond what I'd be interested in. The sharing alone is worth the read.

[Jen Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays and stories about breastfeeding.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 'fresh' perspective on breastfeeding. The author discusses things that most people see as taboo.

[Keri Murcray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone requested this through interlibrary loan and it intrigued me so I read it this afternoon. A very interesting look at breastfeeding in a variety of ways...definitely thought-provoking.

[Kimber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned the most amazing things about breastfeeding and breastmilk. Fascinating.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun stories about the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding. Written much like Bonk and Stiff.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting read for those in the breastfeeding years! A compilation of unique experiences.