The Nursing Mother's Companion [Paperback]

Kathleen Huggins (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Most books about breastfeeding are heavy on nursing's mystical rewards and light on actual technique. Huggins, a maternal nurse and professional lactation consultant, corrects the imbalance with a lucid, trouble-shooting guide, in which she points out that while nursing is unquestionably the healthiest, most natural way to feed babies, it is not always blissful for the mother. The author tackles various common and uncommon complaints about breastfeeding from inadequate milk supply, breast pain, engorgement and fussy babies to infections, allergies and breast-milk jaundice that could affect the child. In a chapter on nursing mothers who work outside of the home, Huggins offers an instructive review of breast pumps. Her reassuring, practical suggestions make this book an excellent informational companion.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

While excellent books on the benefits of nursing abound, the author of this detailed, thorough guide "set out . . . to provide mothers with a practical guide for easy reference throughout the nursing period." Indeed, her work does stand apart from others which tend to offer only general advice. Huggins, a nurse, covers every aspect of breastfeeding with specific step-by-step instructions to guide women to success in an area often fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. All stages are covered from the first week through weaning the older baby. There is an excellent appendix on the safety of drugs during nursing. Also included are sections addressing postpartum care and special needs of preemies and Caesarian births, all written in a reassuring style. Highly recommended. Debra Berlanstein, Tow son State Univ. Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; 4th edition (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558321527
• ISBN-13: 978-1558321526
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #264,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #50 in

  Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > Babies & Toddlers > Breastfeeding

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy reference for use throughout breastfeeding your child, October 24, 1997

By A Customer

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

This book is a wonderful tool to use if breastfeeding your child. It breaks down the breastfeeding experience into specific time periods (first week, first two weeks, first two months, months 2 to 6, etc.) and details problems and solutions specific to that time period. I found the solutions to be incredibly helpful- clogged ducts and latching-on difficulties were two problems I had with my first child, and the book's step by step method for correction was right on target. The author provides help in developing your child's diet as they start to eat solid food and continue nursing, and helps in the weaning process, all the while never making you feel guilty if you don't nurse until your child is four years old, but not making you feel guilty if you nurse that long either. The book is especially useful for first-time breastfeeding, although I did refer back to it a few times with my second child. Highly recommended.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource - good compliment to nursing class!, August 21, 1999

By	M. Gross "peg36" (West Orange, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

I am a first time mother, and took nursing classes while in the hospital after giving birth. They were a big help, but it was easy to forget specifics after going home. This book was a life saver! Especially when I had to face the questioning/criticism of my mother in law and other well meaning friends who told me not to nurse my baby every two hours, to let her sleep, etc. After 11 weeks of exclusively and very successfully nursing my daughter, I am happy to have had this book to refer to!! Because I followed the advice in this book, my milk came in right away, and has been plentiful since! The book also helped me deduce that my newborn's "colic" was possibly a reaction to cow's milk protein (which my pediatrician said was unlikely), as well as her awful facial rash (which my pediatrician labled excema). This book suggested eliminating dairy from my diet for 2 weeks, and then reintroducing it; sure enough the symtoms went away and then reappeared briefly until I eliminated dairy again. My baby has clear skin and does not cry for hours, and hasn't for weeks! I'm buying 2 copies of this book for pregnant friends!

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My middle-of-the-night companion, January 26, 2000

By	Kerri A Mack (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

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

After taking two breastfeeding classes through WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and two classes ofered through my hospital - I didn't want to hear another insight on breastfeeding - everything any instructor said always contradicted the other person...I really wasn't planning on reading anything on breastfeeding, because I didn't think there was anything to it...out of all of my childcare books, every reference seemed so clinical - and boring. When my son was born via emergency cesearean on the 4th of January, I was visited by a lactation consultant in my recovery room. Though we were progressing wonderfully and he was latching on fine - I was surprised with all of the questions I suddenly had...after all, I was planning on doing this for AT LEAST 9 months...she recommended this book, I ordered it from Amazon (and it arrived quickly in pristine condition!) and it really is great. I have questions every day and we are now on week 3 of nursing. If you are pregnant (or already have a child for that matter!) and think that you might need a breastfeeding book - get this one. The layout is great and all info. very relevant and helpful.