What to Expect When You're Breastfeeding...And What If You Can't?

"Just a quick review. I am soooo glad that I ignored the negative reviews of this book. We bought the book and the DVD by Clare Byam-Cook and it really helped. My wife was having a lot of trouble breast feeding and we had no support from the midwives, this book and the dvd changed all that. My wife is now able to breast feed quite well but still using bottle feeding. It is a very morale boosting book, with most other books and NHS literature giving women guilty feelings for not being able to breast feed.

Buy it!!"
~ Written on 2008-06-26

"DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! I was wandering round Mothercare and thought this might be useful. I had had difficulties right from the beginning with latching sore nipples etc etc., but about 8 weeks in and with nipple shields all was well. However, I was wondering if I had enough milk and followed her advice for finding out if I did. Within in a day I was defrosting frozen milk (surplus you notice). LUCKILY, I came across a superb website whilst waiting for good advice response from an email sent to our breastfeeding co-ordinator. A very comprehensive website which includes lots of advice on milk supply and what are not signs of poor supply (i.e. what I thought!) By the following day I was back to expressing surplus. He was weighed the next day and had put on 9oz! I don't think there was anything wrong with my supply - one day didn't make 9oz!

Many readers here have found this book helpful. There may well be areas that are, however it probably depends which section you read and as you can see I would have been using formula top ups as would any woman following this advice as it is inaccurate as you will find out from any expert on breastfeeding and/or websites. I had got through the difficulties and this book set me back! I fully understand that breastfeeding is not easy and had I read this book earlier I would have had more problems! Her whole premise of breast milk supply is wrong, physiology, mechanisms and latching. (e.g. breasts do not empty) If you still think that she is right then it means that every other medical person in the country and beyond that deals with breastfeeding is wrong! Just because people pay for her services does not mean that she is right! As far as I aware all the organisations set up to support breastfeeding do not support this author, there is little to no evidence for much of what she says but there is to the contrary!

Get advice from breastfeeding counsellors/co-ordinators/organisations and websites. Free, helpful and accurate. I would not still be exclusively or even partly breastfeeding had it not been for the hospital breastfeeding co-ordinator. I was going to sell this book on Amazon! However I would not wish anyone to go through the worry I did and feel it would be morally wrong! I am giving it to the co-ordinator to use in training as what not to do. If anyone puts a positive review after this then all I can say is that you did not read the sections I did! DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

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~ Written on 2008-04-03

"This is the ONLY book I have needed so far, to feed, wind and settle my now 3 month old baby. Both my baby and I would most certainly be unhappy, stressed out and miserable if it weren't for the advice Clare gives. I was given this book by my tenant who has also recently had a baby, and I was at first reluctant to open ANY book. However, I have read it from cover to cover at least 5 times, either mid-feed in desperation to know what to do next, or during a 'break' from caring for my pumpkin, and I am about to buy another 3 copies to give to friends who are expecting. I am CERTAIN that every mother and baby would benefit from this book. It is an excellent and invaluable support whether you find breastfeeding a tough challenge or a wonderful pleasure. I experience both!"
~ Written on 2008-01-14

"I breastfed my 2 babies for a year each and used Clare's book as my main reference guide. I found the advice invaluable, particularly in the first few days, and recommend it to all my friends. "
~ Written on 2008-01-09

"Breastfeeding is always a hot topic and as most Mom's will point out is the best you can give to your child. But sometimes without the proper physical and moral support a Mom + Baby cant make it work... no matter how hard we tried! From reading this book i clearly identified several things i did wrong... but no regrets I breastfeed and bottlefeed my baby and for sure I now understand what went wrong. Thanks to this book I can now clearly id how to correct my babies latching and how to continue the journey with no desperation. This book is a must have to all new moms or those moms that ever had problems bf."
~ Written on 2007-11-08