THE NURSING MOTHER'S COMPANION, 4/ED (*)

This book is loaded with valuable information. Chapters deal with preparing your breasts before the baby is born, dealing with nursing problems including travel, and nursing under a variety of special conditions (a mother with diabetes, premature infants, multiple children, an adopted baby, etc.). The author, a registered nurse, has organized the book roughly chronologically, categorizing the first two months as a learning period, months two through six as a reward period, and concluding with nursing the older infant and toddler.Appendices are particularly informative. The first gives contact information for many resources, from support and education to nursing bras, pump rental and various accoutrements such as breast shields and lanolin. The second gives charts for determining the amount of milk infants of varying weights need. Appendix three, with its own index, is a gold mine -- a comprehensive overview of all manner of drugs, over-the-counter as well as prescription, with information concerning their safe use (or non-use) while nursing an infant.There is also a bibliography if you'd like to look into certain issues more carefully, and an index which is, as others have stated, rather inadequate.Don't let a poor index stop you from buying this extremely useful resource, though. If you intend to breastfeed, you will refer to this wonderful book many times -- and you will almost certainly find the answer you are looking for.

This book answered a couple of questions that went unanswered in the Sears Breastfeeding book and in the LLL "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", so I found it worth having.Worth noting: the author, Kathleen Huggins is the lady who patented the "My Brest Friend" nursing pillow - a great nursing tool!This book features "survival" sections which are highlighted for easy access and summarize the events of the child's and mother's breastfeeding needs at particular stages: "Survival Guide for the First Week", "Suvival Guide for the first 2 months", "Survival Guide for months 2-6" and "Survival Guide for the Later Months"None of my three breastfeeding books have all the answers, but I think that if you bought this book and the Sears book, you will have all the info you need.

This guide came very highly recommended, and I can see why. It is very easy to follow, and is filled with lots of information I (and my wife) didn't know. The author comes across in a very straightforward way that is not militant about breastfeeding, as some authors are. "If you don't breastfeed, you're guilty of child-abuse," some books say. Come on!One of the particularly useful sections of the book was the section on breastpumps. Many books on the market have outdated lists with obsolete models.If you're interested in breastfeeding your child, and want a book that explains things in an easy to understand way, this is the one for you.

After a rocky start, I was able to successfully breastfeed my first child for almost three years. I used only two books as a reference, this one and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It is a great trouble-shooting reference when the going is tough. I now buy these two books as shower gifts or recommend them as 'must-haves' to every new breastfeeding mother I meet.I now am breastfeeding my second child, and made sure that I had the newest edition at my fingertips. Am going to buy it again today to give to a pg family member.No, it won't have all the answers to all of your questions (there is no perfect book out there cuz I've looked!), however, between those two books, you'll get what you need for the basics.

I totally disagree with the person that put this book down and touted the Dr. Sears book. I too have both books....in the early stages of breastfeeding when you and your little one are still trying to figure out everything....the Sears book is useless. It doesn't help you trouble shoot any problems you might be having...nor does it tell you things you might run into or pitfalls you might expect. This book however was my right hand guide. Any question or problem I ever had I always found a viable answer or suggestion in this book. That helped me continue on because I could carry on knowing everything was ok or that I should consult somebody for help. I think I am a testament to how helpful this was since I am still breastfeeding my daughter happily at 14 months and just starting to wean. My origional goal was only 6 months. Buy this book it is extremely helpful. Breastfeeding is not an easy thing even if your baby takes to it correctly right away. You have to be determined to make it work before the baby gets here. If you just say you'll try it...you will fail at it or give up fast most times I think. Any kind of helpful resource is a push in the right direction for the good of your baby.