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THE COMPLETE BOOK
OF BREASTFEEDING
Marvin S. Eiger, M.D. and Sally Wendkos Olds
Workman Publishing, Bantam Books, 3rd edition 1999
After breastfeeding my own three daughters, I wrote the first edition of this book, in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, in 1972. Since then it has sold about 2 million copies and gone on to become a classic. The completely updated and revised Third Edition was published in 1999. I am currently working with Connecticut pediatrician Laura M. Marks to revise the book for a fourth edition, due to be published September 2009. I love it when moms come up to me and tell me that they’re following a family tradition by using the new edition of the same book that their own mothers used when nursing them.
Nursing is easy; there is nothing complicated about it. However, breastfeeding is a learned skill. While some mothers and babies intuitively know what to do, most need some help. I learned so much while researching this book that I wish I had known while I was nursing my own children, and I’m happy to pass this knowledge on so other families will get good answers to their questions. (Two families who did get answers are those of my own daughters, who between them have nursed five babies.)
My pediatrician consultants and I help new mothers put into practice the newest policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends nothing but breast milk for the first six months of a baby’s life, with continued nursing for at least the first year. We spotlight the latest research on the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby.
Mostly, the book offers practical help that families need. It answers common questions; talks about pregnancy and birth and the ideal beginning for breastfeeding; gives information about the mother’s diet, exercise, weight and use of drugs; tells how to prevent and treat common nursing-related problems; considers the needs of the mother who works outside the home and offers advice about expressing and storing breast milk. It helps moms deal with HMOs and health insurance plans and offers guidelines to help a pregnant woman choose her birth setting and her health care providers. An extensive Resource Appendix lists agencies and individuals to turn to for further advice and gives contact information, including email and website addresses.
An entire chapter is devoted to sexuality during lactation and its ramifications for the mother and her partner, with special attention on the adult relationship. Another complete chapter speaks to the father, emphasizing the important role that he plays in supporting the mother and showing how he can still be deeply involved in his child’s care and life.
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING touches upon virtually every aspect of modern-day breastfeeding to help the nursing family make the most of the experience.
