Laura's Recommended Reads

I'm re-posting my reading recommendations with updates.  Original post from March, 2010. 

Especially for a family preparing for childbirth:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

A great reference for healthy choices:
The Whole Parenting Guide (1999)
Strategies, resources, and inspiring stories for holistic parenting and family living
by Alan Reder, Phil Catalfo, and Stephanie Renfrow Hamilton

                                                          

And for anyone planning to breastfeed:

Breastfeeding
Keep it Simple (2006)

by Amy Spangler

You can order and flip through the first couple of pages at the  author's website: Babygooroo.com.
Read through this one before you have the babe.  It's less than 100 pages long with lots of drawings.

  I recommend you get a good thorough reference book that tells more than just the basics about breastfeeding.  This will be handy as questions come up after your babe is born and for trouble-shooting any common problems that might arise.  Don't feel pressured to read it cover to cover or at even all, especially before your baby is born.  Here is one option that you could get, The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. Sears and his wife Martha, an RN.  There is no need to memorize or 'study' more than just the basics about breastfeeding before you try to nurse your babe.  As long as you've read the basics, your next step would be to watch someone nurse, especially latch, even if it is just video clips on youtube.  See my Lactation Laura youtube channel where I have lists and links to helpful movies including a playlist of three 'sample' latches.  Explore other videos on there, I think you'll find it helpful.

For professionals who help breastfeeding mothers:

La Leche League International

The Breastfeeding Answer Book (2003) (aka BAB)

I recommend that you invest in this reference book first.  This book is great for troubleshooting and studying in general. It comes in a very easy to read question and answer format.  Topics are grouped in chapters and the index makes it easy to refer back to specific information.

Look for the third edition, which is the most recent.

Are you in Newberg, Oregon?  I have Amy Spangler's Breastfeeding book and the Dr. Sears Breastfeeding book available in my lending library; and The Whole Parenting Guide is available at the Newberg public library.  My lending library is for my clients and birth workers that network with me.

More about why I recommend such a simple breastfeeding book as Amy's in this post.  What are your favorites?