The Nursing Mother's Companion [Hardcover]

Kathleen Huggins (Author)

Book Description

Series: Nursing Mother's Companion | Publication Date: February 10, 2005

Breastfeeding may be natural, but it is not always instinctive. The 20th Anniversary Edition of this classic guide to breastfeeding, beloved by a generation of women, has been completely revised and updated to provide even more practical, reassuring advice and support for today's expectant and nursing mothers. Easy-reference survival guides help identify and resolve problems at each stage. An appendix on drug safety is a unique feature among breastfeeding books.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The real strength of this book is the accessibility of the information. A new mother can easily find answers to her questions and concerns within a few minutes. Also, it seems more 'mainstream' than some of the other books on the market, yet presents information on topics such as toddler nursing or co-sleeping in a non-threatening way. --Doula Magazine

This is an excellent book, particularly for first-time nursers. You know how they say the most important thing about nursing is relaxing? Well, it would be impossible to read this book and have an anxiety attack at the same time. The tone is very reassuring, the chapters well organized. The book is thorough-- and never gets on the breast-or-bust bandwagon. --Parenting

[Kathleen Huggins]'s reassuring, practical suggestions make this book an excellent informational companion. --Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Kathleen Huggins, R.N., M.S., is the co-author of The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning. A registered nurse, certified lactation consultant, and early childcare expert, Kathleen has over 25 years of experience working with pregnant women, new moms, and newborns. She is the owner of the maternity shop Simply Mama in San Luis Obispo, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; Fifth Revised Edition edition (February 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558323031
• ISBN-13: 978-1558323032
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,554,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 148 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, April 16, 2005

By 

Lisa A. Walter "mammamoo" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition (Paperback)

I have several breastfeeding books in my library (including The womanly Art of Breastfeeding) and this one is simply the best. This is the most practical and explicitly informative book of all of them. It is organized into age groups and the issues you may face at each stage of the nursing experience. The how to's are very clear in this book. The author also discusses the pros and cons of all brands and types of breast pumps available and how each one can apply to your personal needs in a pump. There is a guide in the back to medications that may be prescribed and how safe they are while nursing. This book doesn't just focus on the "best for baby" aspects of nursing, but really gives you the practical information a new mother needs and craves. I highly reccommend this book for all nursing mothers.

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, November 2, 2005

By 

Irene in Boston - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition (Paperback)

I found this book so helpful that I feel compelled to write my first ever review on Amazon. Before giving birth, I planned to breastfeed and took a seminar at my doctor's office. That combined with the info received in my birthing class made me feel like I had the info I needed to forge ahead. When I received this book as a gift, I wasn't sure how much I'd use it. In fact, it turned out to be a lifesaver. Like many others, I struggled in my first weeks of breastfeeding, and it was Lansinoh and this book that helped make me ultimately successful.

Aside from the easy-to-understand information regarding latching, engorgement, and pumping, this book answered one major question I had that was not answered elsewhere. I wanted to know how to introduce a bottle. Other books discussed breastfeeding and formula-bottle feeding separately, but not how bottle feeding with breast milk related to breastfeeding. This is the only book I found that not only answered the question, but did so thoroughly and to my satisfaction.

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable resource for breastfeeding moms, June 1, 2006

By 

Golden Retriever Lover (Cape Cod MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition (Paperback)

I am a nurse practitioner, but I admit I didn't know much about breastfeeding prior to my son's birth. I bought this book a few months before my due date and would flip through it periodically when I had a topic or question I wanted more information on...and this book always had an answer.
When my son was born via C-section, the book had tips on positioning for successful breastfeeding. He was also born "tongue-tied"...again the book addressed this issue. There is a section on breastfeeding an adopted baby or baby born to a surrogate which would be informative to women who this applies to. The book is well organized in a chronological order from the prenatal period to nursing an older child and eventual weaning. There is an in depth section on medications and herbal drugs and their safety during lactation. This book is just so helpful to me, and I can't imagine a better book on this topic out there.. I agree with the previous posters that this is the Nursing Mother's Bible.