Troubleshooting

The breastfeeding answer book, revised edition. Mohrbacher N and Stock J. 2003. La Leche League International, Schaumburg, IL. 680 pp. 
     A basic guide for breastfeeding specialists.  Covers a multitude of issues and problems.  Excellent for doctors' offices.

Medications and mothers' milk. Hale T. 2006. Pharmasoft Medical Publishing, Amarillo, TX. 1075 pp. 
     Best guide to medications and their effects on the breastfeeding infant.  Paperback sized.  Buy one for your favorite pharmacist or doctor !

The effects of an over-active let-down reflex. Andrusiak F and Larose-Kuzenko M. 1987.  Lactation Consultant Series, Unit 13, Avery Publishing Group Inc, Wayne, NJ. 10 pp.
     A common reason and solution for babies who gain well but fuss at a leaking, spraying breast. 

Basic Breastfeeding 

Bestfeeding: getting breastfeeding right for you. Renfrew M, Fisher C, Arms S. 2004. Celestial Arts Press, Berkeley. 296 pp.
     Lots of black and white photos. A  great trio of authors.

The womanly art of breastfeeding, 7th revised edition. La Leche League International. 2004. La Leche League International, Schaumburg, IL. 463 pp.
     An excellent all-around book on breastfeeding. More warm fuzzy than textbook, but covers all the bases.

The latch and other keys to breastfeeding success.  Newman J and Pitman T.  2006.  Hale Publishing, Amarillo, TX.  219 pp.
    A left-brained approach to a right-brained behavior, but very helpful when you and your baby just can't get it together.

The nursing mother's companion, 5th revised edition. Huggins K. 2005.  Harvard Common Press, Boston. 336 pp.
     An excellent all-around book on breastfeeding. Covers all the bases.

A breastfeeding teaching tool using a sandwich analogy for latch-on. Wiessinger D. 1998. Journal of Human Lactation 14(1):51-56.
     An explanation of the mechanics of latch-on, with photos.  Being swept wonderfully away by new information on infant self-attachment, but good (though limited) background information.

The breastfeeding café.  Behrmann BL.  2005.  University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor.  311 pp.
    First-person breastfeeding stories of all kinds from American mothers.  Whatever your situation, you'll find it reflected in here.

Birth - the starting point for easy breastfeeding

Gentle birth, gentle mothering.  Buckley SJ.  2005.  One Moon Press, Brisbane, AU.  327 pp.
     The hormonal orchestration of normal birth is breath-takingly complex, and is most likely to occur at home.

Birth reborn. Odent M. 1994. Birth Works Press, Medford, NJ. 123 pp.
     Prepared, very low intervention childbirth.

Impact of birthing practices on breastfeeding: protecting the mother and baby continuum.  Kroeger K with Smith LJ.  2004.  Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, MA.  274 pp.
     A must-read for anyone who thinks birth and breastfeeding are two independent events.  How we birth matters!

Mothering the mother: how a doula can help you have a shorter, easier, and healthier birth. Klaus MH, Kennell JH, Klaus PH. 1993.  Perseus Books, Reading, MA. 168 pp.
     A doula is an age-old route to safe childbirth and comfortable early parenting.

Effects of delivery room routines on success of first breast-feed. Righard L and Alade MO. 1990. The Lancet 336: 1105-7.
     The unmedicated baby who isn't taken from his mother can manage his first breastfeeding without help from anyone.

Obstetric myths versus research realities: a guide to the medical literature.  Goer H.  1995.  Bergin & Garvey, Westport, CT.  385 pp.
     From due dates to gestational diabetes, epidurals to episiotomies, this book shines the bright light of published research into many dusty obstetric corners.  We can't wait for the update!

The thinking woman's guide to a better birth.  Goer H.  1999.  Penguin Putnam, Inc., NY.  367 pp.
     The popular version of "Obstetric Myths."  Definitely worth reading both!

Early Parenting

The baby book. Sears W and Sears M.  2003. Harper Thorsons. 784 pp.
     An up-to-date, baby-friendly, breastfeeding-friendly, live-it-ourselves Dr. Spock and wife.

Bonding: building the foundations of secure attachment and independence. Klaus MH, Kennell JH, Klaus PH. 1996. Perseus Press. 
     What happens as a family is born - the early minutes, days, weeks

Your amazing newborn: making the most of the first weeks of life. Klaus MH and Klaus PH. 2000.  Perseus Press.  113 pp.
     Your newborn is far from mindless!

The fussy baby: how to bring out the best in your high need child. Sears W. 1996.  Little, Brown and Company.  305 pp.
     Thoughts on living with a fussy baby.

Nighttime parenting: how to get your baby and child to sleep. Sears W. 1999. La Leche League International, Schaumburg, IL. 201 pp.
     Variations on an age-old theme.

Mothering your nursing toddler, 3rd edition. Bumgarner NJ. 2000. La Leche League International, Schaumburg, IL.
     Nursing beyond the first twelve months.

The nursing mother's guide to weaning. Huggins K and Ziedrich L. 1994. The Harvard Common Press, Boston. 196 pp.
     Thoughts on how and whether to wean at various ages.

Mothering multiples: breastfeeding and caring for twins or more. Gromada KK. 1999. La Leche League International. Schaumburg, IL. 353 pp.
     What it's like, how to cope. From someone who's been there.

How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk. Faber A and Mazlish E. 1980. Avon Books, NY. 242 pp.
     For a book on interpersonal relations, it doesn't get any better.  Cartoons, even!.

History and philosophy of breastfeeding and early parenting

Mother Nature.  Hrdy SB.  2000.  Ballantine Books, NY.  752 pp.
     Yes, it's thick, but it's a fascinating read on the biological forces affecting motherhood, from insects to mammals, including us.

The continuum concept: allowing human nature to work successfully. Liedloff J. 1977. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Reading, MA. 172 pp.
     A slightly flawed but classic book on parenting in a primitive culture. The description of an infant's experiences is worth the whole book.

Watch your language! Wiessinger D. 1996. Journal of Human Lactation 12(1): 1-4.
     Breastfeeding is the human norm, even if we don't usually talk that way.  A not-quite-perfect version of this is at another website.