Help!-I've been asked for advice!

[Youngfrankenstein]

I'm saying this tongue-in-cheek because I am thrilled but I want to give the best advice I can!!!!

From my school friend on Facebook:

How far along are you now Amy? We've just got about three weeks now. CRAZY!! I'd love to know if you recommend any specific books on breast feeding. Any advice or tips would be most appreciated!

Squeeeee.

Okay, I'm calm. What are the best resources. I like to rec some books but also some "national" peds who's advice I like and some websites. I feel like I could point her to MDC if she ever had questions but I've heard a lot about kellymom too.

There is so much to tell and because we're not close friends, I don't know her "take" on the whole thing...

Help....

ETA: She'll be returning to work 12 weeks pp, so I'm not sure if I'd recommend LLL's book, some have commented that it's too "stay at homey".

[painefaria]

The womanly art of breastfeeding is great. I read it before I had DS and it kind of gave me the basics. I learned a lot from the lactation consultant in the Hospital. DP always attended the sessions and was able to help if I had issues when we got home.

[FullMetalMom]

Here's a neat link, 20 tips for working and breastfeeding moms, by Dr. Sears:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T025100.asp

[Red Pajama]

I've heard great things about So That's What They're For, although I've never read it before. I have read the Breastfeeding Book, which I think is by Martha Sears. It offered good advice.

Kellymom.com has been a great resource, as well as this site!

[jocelynr]

Nursing Mother, Working Mother is good for working moms. I agree that the Womanly Art is a great resource, even if you have to go back to work. Yes, LLL encourages moms to SAH if they can, but have really broadened their resources for those who can't. I got a lot of support from other working moms from my local LLL (evening meeting).

[meganmarie]

Agree with Jocelyn - I loved Working Mother, Nursing Mother by Gale Pryor. Hands down the most helpful book for me in returning to FT work and pumping and continuing to bf (I pumped 1 year + with both kids).

So I'd probably recommend that, plus any one of the "how-to" books - I think I used both the Womanly Art of BF and the Nursing Mother's Companion (Kathleen Huggins) - both are fine to have next to your rocking chair for reference.

For websites, absolutely kellymom and the LLL site (so she can find a local leader and call or go to a meeting if she's having any issues - tell her its like accessing a free LC!)

If she's a local friend, one of the best things you could do for her is offering to go with her to an LLL meeting. I was scared to go by myself, and was 3 months into nursing and had suffered a lot before I got the courage. They solved all my problems almost instantly and I felt like an a$$ for not having gone sooner despite everyone urging me to!

[Honey693]

Originally Posted by Red Pajama

I've heard great things about So That's What They're For, although I've never read it before.

I loved that book. It was funny too, which is a nice change from some of the dry breastfeeding is serious business books I've come across.

[sapphire_chan]

Also, let her know she's halfway through the hardest part.

ETA: Oh, wait, she's got 3 weeks left to go until the baby gets there, she hasn't been breastfeeding for 3 weeks.

Has anyone said kellymom yet?

[Youngfrankenstein]

Thanks! I think I'll check out the Dr. Sears book. I like the idea that it's by an MD (I don't know how mainstream my friend is). I will also check out So That's What They're For. I actually bought that for someone years ago but I never read it!

[cristeen]

My midwife highly recommends Sheila Kitzinger's Breastfeeding book. It's out of print, but I got a copy off Amazon for under $1. Rather than trying to describe everything, it is FULL of pictures. It could be considered a bit "obscene" by some people, I suppose, but it has step by step pictures of all sorts of BF related things - from hand-expression to swaddling to different holds.

Also - recommend that she call around and get acquainted with local LLL leaders or a lactation consultant now, so that she has that information if she needs it.

[sarahr]

I love kellymom. It has so many articles on almost any potential issue/problem.

[CEVmommy]

As a working mom, the best book I read was Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor. Absolutely recommend. Kellymom is also extremely helpful.

[rrs]

Originally Posted by sarahr

I love kellymom. It has so many articles on almost any potential issue/problem.

I was going to recommend Kellymom as well. Very helpful.

[tessie]

I didn't actually read any bf books prior to the birth but I did attend an excellent class/info session run by the local hospital. It was very helpful to talk to real people about bf. And have a practise with a doll and a knitted boob. Could you see if there are any held locally to her?

[songbh]

My favorite book to help mothers prepare to breastfeed is Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett. It takes an immensely complicated subject and breaks it down into seven simple, basic principles. It is easy to read, and each chapter contains a section at the end about what to do if things have gone wrong.

The website for this book looks quite good, too.

[KnitLady]

I love "So That's What They're For"! It is funny and yet it covers a lot of information.

I found "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" to be harder to read, not funny, and a bit overwhelming.