Posts filed under 'Book Reviews'
The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk
The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk by Diana West
My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finally sat down with this new release and was very impressed. I had the good fortune of attending a conference where Lisa Marasco was one of the keynote speakers, but this book is going to be an invaluable reference for my practice.
Written for the mother, it is equally useful to the lactation consultant. It’s informative but accessible. It was filled with tidbits that were new to me (for example, that studies have shown chiropractic to be an effective intervention for low milk supply).
I would caution the average reader to remember that far more women have TOO much milk, rather than not enough milk, and the tools in this book (especially the preventative ones) are directed to people who concerned that their supply will be compromised for a good reason–past history, fertility complications, breast shape, etc. Your mother or grandmother’s reports that she didn’t make enough milk should be taken lightly, as lactation management was poor in previous generations and it’s not unlikely that their problems were created by poor management.
1 comment February 6, 2009
The Birth Partner
The Birth Partner, Third Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin
My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book from the perspective of a birth attendant, but think it would be useful for the mother. Expectant women often have a hard time getting their partners to read “their” books, and I like the fact that this is directed toward the partners and support people. It is equally useful for Dad, Grandma, Doula, Partner, or Friend. The book is really an overview of birth as much as it is a book about supporting the laboring woman, so that helps educate those reluctant birth-book readers, in addition to specifically offering comfort measure techniques. I would recommend this for anyone who is planning on attending a woman during birth, and would give it a higher recommendation than the Doula Book for someone who is less familiar with the normal process of birth, since it goes into more detail regarding those topics.
Add comment January 17, 2009
The Doula Book
The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth by Marshall H. Klaus
My review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought this was a good, basic book regarding using doulas at birth. It was a nice balance of research, technique, and case examples. For anyone who’s been attending births for awhile, it’s fairly basic, but I still picked up a new tidbit or two (I’ve attended about 30 births). I would highly recommend that any grandmother, sister, or friend who is planning on attending a loved one’s birth read this before the big day. It’s a great primer in that regard. My criticism is that the pictures should be updated, as they will be a real turn-off to a younger generation. The cover is nice and modern, but the inside pictures make it look outdated.
5 comments December 31, 2008
