Review: "Mama Knows Breast"

In the early 80's when I was pregnant, my role models were the women I saw in Ina May Gaskin's book about midwifery at The Farm, a now world famous commune in Summertown, Tennessee. In those days, home births and breastfeeding were considered to be the radical options chosen by hippies living in tents and buses, so breast pumps and cover-ups weren't even a consideration during the two and half years I spent breastfeeding my son.

That could be the reason why many of the tips and insights mentioned in Andi Silverman's beginner's guide to breastfeeding, "Mama Knows Breast", were an education for me. Especially, Chapter 5: Breast feeding Etiquette. Silverman offers suggestions on "how to handle the need to feed" in airplanes, bookstores, buses, cars, movies, museums, the doctor's office and more, even the bathtub! When did breastfeeding in public fall from social grace?

These days, many of the women who come through my Prenatal Yoga classes, opt for home births and nearly all of them expect to breastfeed their babies so breast pumps and cover-ups have become the norm. I'm going to recommend  this book because it's comprehensive and up-to-date:

• Chapter 1: The Pros & Cons of Breastfeeding
• Chapter 2: Operating Instructions
• Chapter 3: Answering Your Questions
• Chapter 4: Tricks of the Trade
• Chapter 5: Breastfeeding Etiquette
• Chapter 6: How Your Spouse Can Help
• Chapter 7: Sex and Relaxation
• Chapter 8: Weaning Your Baby...and Yourself

Lists of reference books and websites are also provided along with comments by lots of other new mothers. The book is small enough to hold in one hand, as the cover picture shows, and the pages sturdy enough to withstand the clutching reflex of any hungry baby.

What I particularly like is her optimistic and easy-going attitude: try it and see what works best for you. It goes along with my major emphasis in Prenatal Yoga,"Relax and accept all advice graciously. Then do what feels right for you. We've been doing all of this for thousands of years!"

What I would have liked better is for the type to have been a little darker. But if it came down to light hearted versus dark ink, I'd choose the former.

"Mama Knows Breast" is illustrated by Cindy Luu and published by Quirk Books.

Note: This is not a paid review.

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