The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition Reviews

• The best

  
  By A1H4XC14IJ2R13 on 2005-04-16
  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.
  
  

• Invaluable resource for breastfeeding moms

  
  By A27PWEVY0C967T on 2006-06-01
  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.
  
  

• Excellent Resource

  
  By A37GDUTBL9PJT1 on 2005-11-02
  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.
  
  

• I will breast feed anyway.....

  
  By A2MKLEVMTCYWVD on 2007-01-30
  This book may be helpful, but I was horrifically offended by the introduction and I would absolutely love to find a breast feeding book that doesn't slam the choice to bottle feed your child. Yes, it is important to tout the benefits of breast milk and encourage women to breast feed, but not at the expense of judgemental statements and misinformation.
  
  Would it be possible to write a guide to breast feeding without being completely condescending and judgemental to mothers who opt to bottle feed?
  
  There is not evidence to suggest that "artificially fed babies" (kind of a snippy tone in that phrase which I personally found offensive) have higher risk for SIDS. I did bottle feed my first child, but will be breastfeeding the second. I am hoping banning the in-laws from staying in our home for the first two weeks, attending some clasess and reading a bunch of books will help the next bout be succesfful.
  
  But, I find it truly offensive that the author suggests that my child was stroked less, held less, talked to less, bonded with less, will have the IQ of roadkill when he grows up, and then continues to informs me that I just propped up a bottle and let him feed himself. Color my feathers ruffled!
  
  I am going to continue on my quest for a breastfeeding book that simply provides some guidance, solid advice, tips, etc. WITHOUT slamming the evil bottle feeding mothers of the world.
  
  However, I simply don't think this book exists...
  
  

• indispensable

  
  By A30KWLIJOWAR0B on 2006-08-08
  this book was recommeneded to me by my doula, and it's been absolutely invaluable. an excellent reference.
  
  
• must have for breastfeeding moms
  By AWSFIUZJ0NJHL on 2005-04-05
  My husband and I had our first son 6 months ago. Breastfeeding is very difficult the first time around, and this book was a great help. It was recommended by our childbirth prep class instructor, and I'm so glad we took her tip. It is very straighforward and has great lists of problems and solutions that are easy to access. It is broken up into logical sections that, again, make it very easy to find information. Huggins is thorough and concise which was very relieving when I was rather desperate for help during those first few weeks.
  
  
• great gift for nursing mothers
  By AUCDCTA7W9CIQ on 2005-04-23
  I was given this book by a friend when I nursed my daughter and it was the only help I needed. The lactation consultant in the hospital never nursed her children, she was no help. I used this book so much and loved it, that everytime I've had a freind that was expecting and going to nurse I purchased another book for them. It has been a lifesaver for all of them as well. Very helpful wording and illustrations.
  
  
• Lots of good info
  By AG851JFHBDHKS on 2005-08-02
  Great book. Actually answered some questions (one in particular) for which I'd been unable to find answers elsewhere. Including at the Medela booth at a professional conference. Highly recommended, nonpartial, good book.
  
  
• This book was a God-send
  By AU0TIIMPV5WCE on 2006-01-14
  I got this book from my sister-in-law. I read it while pregnant to get the basic understanding of breastfeeding. It was my constant companion during the early weeks and even beyond. Whenever I had a question, the book had virtually all the answers!
  
  This book covers tips on healing sore/traumitized nipples, poor weight gain, poor latch, breastfeeding multiples, etc, the mechanics of breastfeeding..It pretty much covered every topic except working mothers. There is another book that I plan to purchase b/c of the usefulness of this book.
  
  Also, the book did NOT make me feel bad for feeding my baby formula on the few occasions I had to during the early weeks. Instead it supports all mothers on whatever decision she makes regarding feedings.
  
  The book is also very well-organized so that you're not fumbling with chapters to find the info you need.
  
  Without this book, I would've been discouraged against BF. The lactation consultant at the hospital wasn't too helpful although she did note that I had flat nipples. It was this book that guided me through breastfeeding.
  
  
  
• My most referred to baby book!
  By A227FHMUKXOZQI on 2006-03-20
  I highly recommend this book to all pregnant women and nursing moms. Like many women, I thought that nursing would simply come naturally... it would just happen. Then my husband and I had the opportunity to attend a training by Ms. Huggins during my pregnancy and decided to check it out. Boy were we glad we did!! Ms. Huggins had a wealth of information to share regarding nursing after birth, correct latching on, various nursing positions, diet, milk supply, soreness, infections, plugged ducts, and the list goes on. She includes all this information in her very accessibly written book. With both my children, it has very much been a "companion" which I refer to again and again. I especially like the thorough index which helps me to quickly locate topics at 3am!!
  
  So, although being great at nursing doesn't necessarily come naturally, The Nursing Mother's Companion gives valuable information so that you feel much more like a natural at it.
  
  
• This book is the ultimate guide for nursing mothers!
  By A3FNBK0RVZW5B2 on 2006-07-22
  A dear friend gifted this to me at a baby shower; she knew what she was doing. When I first began nursing my son I consulted this text on a daily basis. Ms. Huggins not only provides all the information you need to know, she doesn't balk at telling you what foods to avoid when some health professionals advise new mothers that they can eat whatever they like and that it will not affect the baby. Perhaps this was the most telling assistance for me when my son developed colic and I was looking for ways to help ease his pain. I am still able to nurse my son at ten months without ever having a sign of dwindling milk source. I know that others have either given up on nursing their children or have supplemented with formula; without the guidance from this book I might have fallen into one of those categories. To the author: thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I give this book to any pregnant friend who intends to nurse.
  
  
• A must for every breastfeeding Mom
  By AB9SJP9TX0WID on 2006-10-30
  This book was recommended to me at the hospital where I took my prenatal breastfeeding class. I have to say, I have used it repeatedly and it has been an absolute necessity. Kathleen does a great job walking her readers through the various stages of breastfeeding. Also, she gives great advice on "trouble shooting" (i.e. plugged ducts, etc.) that is very helpful and effective. The only reason I give the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I think it should include a section on weaning once you get your little one started on solids. I know that she sells a seperate book on weaning but after reading the reader reviews, I am not interested (sorry, I just won't breastfeed until my son is three or four years old!). Also, she specifically emphasizes that the American Association of Pediatricians does not recommend introducing solids until your baby is six months old. Well, I thought that for sure this had to be wrong because my pediatrician told me that some babies NEED to start on solids at about four months. Since I own the AAP's book, I decided to reference Kathleen's claim and found that the AAP says FOUR to six months. I think she should change this in her book to reflect the REAL recommendation of the AAP since many Moms may not have read this and may take her suggestion when it is not right or even safe for their baby (I find this omission in her book a little irresponsible). I did hold out for six months, but that is only because my son did not show any signs of needing to start solids before then. Other than those two little things, this book is really great!
  
  
• The only book about Nursing you need.
  By A1N9H017KK6YIS on 2005-07-01
  I found this book to be a wonderful reference for the complete nursing experience. As a first time mother, I wanted to nurse but wasn't very confident in my ablities. I read the book during pregnancy and refered to it many times as I nursed my son. This book explains all aspects of nursing and offers many solutions to common problems. I feel that the format of the book is very logical, making it easy to follow, learn, and reference.
  
  
• Excellent nursing book!
  By A3JBHXL1L0ZX7H on 2005-08-07
  I bought this book as I am expecting my second baby and had problems nursing the first. I went through at least half a dozen lactation consultants with my first before I got the info I needed to make breastfeeding successful, and this was after the first two weeks and after my baby was hospitalized due to dehydration. I wish I had this book then, as it covers everything I needed to know about poor latch/insufficient milk supply. I am learning so much as I read the book and feel so much more confident as I approach the birth of my second. This book covers every issue I think you could come across with breastfeeding.
  
  
• The Best Nursing Book You Can Buy
  By A2UB3RJAJOR7BF on 2005-08-10
  I discovered this book two months into breastfeeding, and wished I had found it sooner. Everything you possibly need to know about nursing is under one cover. Unlike most other breastfeeding books that only discuss nursing a newborn, this book contains information on nursing newborns through toddlers. Highly recommend this book for all nursing mothers.
  
  
• Nursing Mother Must!
  By A1XBCVSWFWQ08T on 2006-08-08
  For me, this is the "bible" of nursing. I use it almost daily and wished more parenting/ baby books were so staight forward and easy to use.
  
  
• No Advice on Weaning
  By A2LUSN8GVASJQU on 2008-05-30
  I bought this book before my son was born because I'd read that it is very important to have a good nursing manual. We thankfully received lots of support from the hospital and pediatrician, so the first time I really needed the advice in here was when I decided to wean him at seven months. Guess what? No information! This was basically another breastfeeding commercial and implied that if I weaned my child before 2 years, I was a horrible parent.
  
  Look, bottom line is it would be nice if this book could simply serve the function of giving you much needed information about breastfeeding. Part of the journey is ending the breastfeeding relationship, and I think it's a huge oversight that weaning isn't discussed in detail. We get advice from enough sources as it is. Everyone has an opinion; I don't think it's right for a reference material to have one too.
  
  
• Would recommend to all Moms
  By A2Q51S2CM6YP4I on 2006-01-18
  I used this book as my bible when I was nursing my first child and the process went off without a hitch. I was able to feel more confident about my decision to nurse. I now give this book at all baby showers I attend, and recommend it to all mothers who are even thinking about nursing. Now that I am nursing my second child, I still refer to the section on medication that is OK while nursing.
  
  
• a must have for nursing moms
  By A1OF2E371DQAGW on 2006-02-20
  This is the most helpful book I own for nursing information. I refered to it over and over in those first few months. And I still find it helpful after 5 months!
  
  
• Comprehensive and thorough book on breastfeeding
  By A3DD65Z622EIT0 on 2006-03-25
  I am breastfeeding exclusively with only the help of this book and the advice of lactation consultants from when I was in the hospital. Important concepts and tips are reinforced throughout the book and various breastfeeding issues are addressed with lists of practical solutions.
  
  
• Best book for breastfeeding - get this book!
  By A11HD9IBIAGQ2V on 2006-04-23
  This is one of the many breastfeeding books I have read, and it is by far the very best! I am a first-time mom, and was very new to this whole breast feeding thing. This book was great - it gave me all the information and confidence I needed in a very factual manner. I also bought the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. While that is also a good book, I found it very preachy and a little dated (I was already committed to breastfeeding, and didn't need to be constantly told why it was best).
  This book is full of practical suggestions and really does guide you through breastfeeding and any problems that may come up. It has some nice illustrations too.
  One of the best parts is the guide to medications at the back. I have found that to be invaluable, and still use it to look up various medications and herbal remedies.
  Really I can't tell you how great this book is!!
  
  
• Exceptional Guide for Nursing Mothers
  By A5OQ7SB2P9GTX on 2006-08-27
  A thorough, knowledgeable, and compassionate approach to breastfeeding support. Helps new mothers prepare for the emotional and physical experience of breastfeeding a baby. Technical explanations and suggestions are clear and effective: e.g., positions for holding a nursing baby, baby's latch on the breast, nipple soreness, plugged ducts, introducing solids with older baby. My lactation consultant recommended, The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman. Newman's book was great for technical information, but for everyday guidance, I liked The Nursing Mother's Companion better.
  
  It is an incredibly satisfying, amazing, and joyful thing to nurse your baby and see her or him grow and thrive on your breastmilk. However, it requires a strong committment and can be difficult at times, especially for the first 10 weeks. A guidebook like this one will help enormously. So will a supportive partner, social contacts with other nursing mothers, the La Leche League support groups, and a professional lactation consultant. You can do it! Enjoy your beautiful, breastfed baby!
  
  
• Very useful
  By ADTSYGC3VFJ44 on 2006-03-14
  I really enojoyed this book. I kept it nearby during the first year of my first child. It has lots of helpful advice and is a great goto book.
  
  
• Very helpful, easy-to-read book!
  By A1MHTZJ6850O6M on 2006-07-04
  This book is very helpful, especially in the first few weeks when everything is so chaotic! It is broken down into chapters that include a "survival guide" for the first week and the most common problems that arise and that was a tremendous help! I've already recommended this book to three of my friends who are expecting and planning on breastfeeding! What a great resource.
  
  
• The absolute BEST book on nursing--by far!
  By A187EI943J6JYZ on 2006-07-30
  I enthusiastically recommend this book! During my pregnancy I planned on nursing my daughter (who is now 7 weeks old), but I didn't really educate myself about it. I just went at it, trusting my instincts. We have run into some problems along the way and I have been very discouraged at times. I own several books on the topic, but none of them have such pertinent information about the problems we were having. I bought this book a few days ago and have not put it down since! It has information about so many different issues that a new mom may face--from buying nursing bras (who knew it could be so difficult to get a good fit?!) to reflux to survival guides for babies of different ages. Best of all, it's written in a format that is easy to use and understand. Kudos to Kathleen Huggins for creating what I consider a MUST-HAVE for all new & expectant mothers who are thinking about breast-feeding!
  
  
  
• Well worth the purchase!
  By AH9AV9JG88U17 on 2006-08-01
  This is a great breastfeeding book. Lots of information and presented in a format that makes sense (based on the age of the baby) and is helpful for knowing what to do and what to expect. Didn't get much chance to read the book before the baby and it was easy to find what I needed when only having a few minutes to look for something between feedings!
  
  
• Actual useful advice!
  By A341DIDRK1F5CN on 2006-09-29
  This book was by far the most useful nursing book I read (the others were the Sears book, the LLL book, and BF made simple). When I had a specific problem, this book actually gave a list of different things to do to try to resolve the problem - exactly what I wanted! -and there's always an accompanying discussion if you want know more. I would say this book is also the most clinical of the books, and I consider that a good thing. I (and I think most people who bother to buy a nursing book) know BF is a good choice before buying these books. I don't need a hard sell. This book simply lays out the facts in an easy to understand way. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Simply the best!
  By A1KNLM7WQ15KI on 2007-02-03
  "The Nursing Mother's Companion" -This is simply the best breast feeding book so far! Kathleen Huggins does not only give you invaluable information and support on breast feeding, but she also clears out all those prejudices around breast feeding, that unknowledgeable people may negatively affect and discourage you with. Breast feeding is a learned art, not intuitive. Mother and baby need support, information and time to practice breast feeding. Sometimes it can take up to 2 months to establish a functioning routine. Kathleen Huggins helps you overcome all problems, fears and discouragements and rather supports and empowers you to never give up breast feeding, and to continue, no matter what obstacles in your way. We must remember that breast milk is the best milk. It does not only benefit your baby, and gives your baby the best possible start in life, it does benefit mother, for not mentioning the mother-baby bond.
  AAP (American Association of Pediatrics) recommends breast milk solely for the 6 first months. First after 6 months, when your baby's digestive system is mature enough, you may start to introduce solids, together with breast feeding.
  
  
  
• Very informative
  By A13AG2C5KOT5Y1 on 2007-03-09
  I am due to give birth in about a week and have read everything I can get my hands about about breastfeeding. This book encompasses everything I've been reading from various sources. Highly recommended.
  
  
• The Best and Only Nursing Book You Need
  By A17KHC2602ZHSY on 2007-10-01
  Super informative, easy to understand, great resource section. I have 1 other book--the AAP book--and it is not 1/2 as good. Great layout, natural order of progression. And best of all, no hidden agenda, or platform to proselytize from. I read it over and over again, nearly wore it out, used every inch of every page of it. You cannot go wrong buying this book. It's like having a lactation consultant 24x7. Buy it! :-)
  
  

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