Recommended for every pregnant woman

I purchased this book because "What To Expect" didn't answer alot of my questions regarding breastfeeding and my own OB/GYN, while supportive of the idea, simply didn't know. Dr. Sears and his wife have nursed eight children, so their book comes not only from medical knowledge but also from personal experience. The book discusses nutritional information (both what to eat and what your baby is getting from your breastmilk), 'how-to's (..latch baby on, ..continue working and nursing, ..get daddy involved), pros and cons of nursing, weaning, and formula, tips on just about everything, and most of all, offers information so that you and your partner can make intelligent, loving choices for your child. I recommend this book for every woman who is pregnant, whether you're planning to nurse or not.

love-hate relationship with this book

Breastfeeding went horribly for my first child, so I approached it with some trepidation with number two. Luckily, it has gone pretty smoothly (he's now 6 weeks old). This book is loaded with useful information and re-reading it this time was helpful (Dr. Sears said I could have caffeine! Hooray! Fire up the Starbucks!) and answered a lot of questions I was having.

HOWEVER...as someone who bottle fed her first child after giving breastfeeding my all (even the lactation consultant said I'd done my best, go to formula) I did find Dr. Sears's attitude toward bottle feeding and bottle feeding mothers really appalling. He has a sidebar on page 48 where he refers to "Mothers of the bottle-feeding set" and makes them sound completely neurotic with sterilizing and preparing formula and counting ounces. On pages 7-8 he refers to the "stinky stools" of the formula fed baby and how the parent changing the child will have a look on their face of "mild aversion to downright disgust" and how the breastfed child will see "happiness rather than disgust...perhaps a perk for building self-esteem." Give me a break. His AP philosophy has some very good points to it, but making a child's self esteem dependent on a parent's cheerful demeanor during diaper changes is ridiculous.

So I'd say this book is helpful if you just look up what you need in the detailed index, go right to that page and read what you need. It's fine to have the opinion that breastfeeding is best and everyone should at least try it, but I think his obvious disdain for bottle-feeding mothers (who may have no other choice, who may be giving breastfeeding another try)is unfortunate. I feel sorry for any mothers of children in his practice who, like me, were unable to breastfeed a child.

Not completely won over

This book has great tips for breastfeeding. However, I am not so sure I like the Sears' attitude. I am not a fan of co-sleeping and think they hit it a little hard. I agree with some other reviewers that they are too negative regarding bottle-feeding. I have been lucky with breastfeeding my baby girl, but have many friends that have had problems and the rigid outlook of the Sears is not very helpful. Take their advice with a grain of salt - you are the mother, do what you think is best.