Customer Reviews

Nursing Mother, Working Mother: The Essential Guide for Breastfeeding and Staying Close to Your Baby After You Return to Work

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There was never any doubt in my mind that I would be a dedicated breastfeeding mom from the very beginning. When it was time for me to return to work, I dreaded the separation from my baby. I was concerned that my son wouldn't take to the bottle, that I wouldn't express enough during the day, that he'd start to prefer formula...my list of worries went on. I had actually been pumping at work for nearly a month when I bought this book. I thought it would give me some additional tips on making the most of the experience. I really fell in love with it! Every time I'd pick it up, I'd feel like the authors were giving me a big pat on the back for being so committed to giving my son the best. It stressed that even though you're back at work, and regardless of the reasons you returned (whether you had to work for financial reasons, were dedicated to your career, etc.), by continuing to nurse you have a firm and lasting connection with your baby. And I found that as time went on, and I had times when I wasn't as enthusiastic about pumping, if I read a bit of this book, it brought back those good feelings and reaffirmed that I was doing the right thing. It's excellent for motivation and confidence in working mothers.

I recommend this book to women I know who are going back to work and want to continue breastfeeding. It makes a seeming daunting experience seem a bit less impossible. When I read it, I wasn't sure if I could believe some of what Ms Pryor wrote (for instance, I was none too sure about the reassurance that if your baby didn't drink much expressed breast milk from a bottle during the day, he/she would make up for it by nursing more at night--yeah right, that was going to be just great if I were working all day. But, in fact, it has turned out absolutely fine and I love the time my son and I have together). I would sum up by saying that nursing and working is at times difficult, but it is well worth trying to pull it off. I only wish that the author had addressed a wider range of workplace experiences, because I think that if women who read this book recognized their own situations, they would be less likely to doubt what the author says. Because I assure you that all the advice she writes is absolutely do-able, accurate, true and IT WORKS!

I was disappointed by this book. Much of it was devoted to convincing you to breastfeed, and what I wanted was practical how to advice! Also, I found much of the advice too time consuming and a bit unrealistic for the typical working mom. I have nursed and worked a full time job for the past 4 months, and my pumping schedule doesn't come close to those shown in the book! Overall, I would have preferred more "real life" stories and more examples of different ways to combat common problems that you may encounter while working and breastfeeding.

All this being said, of the nursing/working books out there, this is probably the best one.

i wish i'd read this book when i had my first baby, then maybe i wouldn't have had to supplement w/ formula! what i like the best is when the author says that continuing to breastfeed is one of the best things a working mother can do for her child, because it sustains the mother-infant bond despite times spent apart. the book is so reassuring and encouraging that i feel less guilty about having to work outside the home. this book has all the details you need to know to successfully breastfeed even while working. having read this book, i feel motivated to advocate breastfeeding to every mother i know. the author goes beyond giving tips for breastfeeding while working to write about the importance of bonding w/ your baby, being well-rested, and other aspects of being a mother.

The section that explains the benefits of convinced me to keep nursing my baby until she was 6 months old which was remarkable because I had always thought I would try it for a few weeks and then switch to formula. But when I read about how it affects the baby's brain development and immune system, I just couldn't quit. So, the tips on pumping and freezing milk as well as how to get extras were invaluable. I wish I had discovered the book earlier so I could have stored up more. It's a good quick and to the point book which is always good for parents who are so short on time ! I get this for all of my friends who ask me about nursing.

I don't spend much time reading and this book provided me with a ton of info in an easy to read, consise manner. The plan that Gale lays out for nursing moms to prepare for going back to work is absolutely the best. I know lots of nursing moms that returned to work and were constantly worried that they weren't pumping enough to feed their baby for the next day. I followed Gales guidelines and generally had 2 weeks to a month of milk in the freezer ready to go. I never worried about having to supplement with formula - even if I was out of town for a week on work. I believe it is the main reason I was able to nurse both my children for 14 months before they were fully weaned and work full time+ at a very stressful job. The book also provided lots of other good info to think about as well as resources (lacation rooms, what type of day care you want, interview questions, PT work schedules). I did not feel like Gale was a huge proponnet of co-sleeping. She did provide it as an option and provided info about why you might want to do it. But as with all her suggestions or thoughts I felt they were presented in a matter of fact manner and left it up to me to decide without adding a component of guilt - we all know that we put enough of that on ourselves already!

My main problem with Nursing Mother, Working Mother, is that there weren't enough trouble shooting suggestions when things are not working out -which is precisely when you need a book like that. For instance, what do you do when you do not pump as much as the book indicates you should? Some of the "typical" suggestions are also unrealistic. In a table for a "typical working mom's day", the author includes 2 pumping sessions and 2 visits to the daycare to breastfeed. This would be great, but I doubt it is a feasible solution for most mothers. As a working mom facing problems with breastfeeding & pumping I really didn't find the title very useful.

I bought this book to aid me in returning to work
after being out on maternity leave for 4 months.
When I read the suggested schedule for a 4 month old, I was shocked.
the schedule has you nursing or pumping a tremendous number of times including 3 times during the night
and at 8:15am and 5:30pm as well as twice druing the work day.
Only a superhuman with a very understanding boss who lives very close to work and needs almost no sleep
coud pull this off.
This book made me feel that nursing while working was almost impossible without
giving up on sleep and not being very productive at work.
Now that I am back at work, I find that working and nursing
can be accomplished on a much easier schedule than the book shows.
Working mothers need support not unrealistic goals.

As I was looking at returning to work, I needed some reassurance about continuing to breastfeed. This book not only provided encouragement, but also offered great information on encouraging let-down, getting your employer to provide a clean, private place to pump, as well as information on the working-mom's ever-present threat, mastitis.

When you purchase your breast pump, get this book as well. Also, if you know of any moms-to-be that will be returning to work, consider this book as a shower gift, coupled with breast lotion and other mommy-related items.

This is a marvellous book. It has all the necessary facts about breastfeeding in an accessible format so can be used as a general breastfeeding guide, even though it is a slimmer volume than generalised breastfeeding books.

I liked the emphasis on attachment parenting, and how it shows that there is a solution for someone who likes the ideas of attachment parenting and yet has to go back to work. Often the literature is divided into books that assume you really want to work, and breastfeeding and attachment parenting books that assume the mother can afford to be at home. It shows that it is possible to breastfeed long-term while working, and gives good advice on how to do it. I have been back at work 1.5 months and I found the way Gale Pryor outlined how to prepare to go back to work very helpful.

I am going to buy several copies now, to give to friends and to add to my midwife's library for expectant mothers.