Why Breastfeeding Grief And Trauma Matter

Recognising the emotional impact not breastfeeding can have on women and helping them heal.

In the nineteenth century, infants were commonly breast-fed; by the middle of the twentieth century, women typically bottle-fed their babies on the advice of their doctors. In this book, Rima D. Apple discloses and analyzes the complex interactions of science, medicine, economics, and culture that underlie this dramatic shift in infant-care practices and women’s lives. As infant feeding became the keystone of the emerging specialty of pediatrics in the twentieth century, the manufacture of infant food became a lucrative industry. More and more mothers reported difficulty in nursing their babies. While physicians were establishing themselves and the scientific experts and the infant-food industry was hawking the scientific bases of their products, women embraced “scientific motherhood,” believing that science could shape child care practices. The commercialization and medicalization of infant care established an environment that made bottle feeding not only less feared by many mothers, but indeed “natural” and “necessary.” Focusing on the history of infant feeding, this book clarifies the major elements involved in the complex and sometimes contradictory interaction between women and the medical profession, revealing much about the changing roles of mothers and physicians in American society. “The strength of Apple’s book is her ability to indicate how the mutual interests of mothers, doctors, and manufacturers led to the transformation of infant feeding. . . . Historians of science will be impressed with the way she probes the connections between the medical profession and the manufacturers and with her ability to demonstrate how medical theories were translated into medical practice.”—Janet Golden, Isis

Breastfeeding Uncovered reveals the complex barriers that society places in the way of breastfeeding, and shows how we can increase breastfeeding rates if we support, encourage and enable new mothers.

An authoritative, friendly and accessible look at the debate on infant feeding, offering parents and health professionals evidence-based information on why breastfeeding matters.

When breastfeeding does not go as hoped, mothers often have feelings of loss, sadness, anger, fear, failure, guilt and self-blame. Mothers then say they are heart-broken, crushed, and even devastated. These painful emotions double a mother's risk for postpartum depression. Yet, our healthcare system does not have guidelines in place to help mothers prevent the escalating emotions of Breastfeeding Grief. We have no "plan B" which guides mothers to promote optimal bonding when their breastfeeding goals are not met. And our mental health experts do not understand how to guide mothers in their emotional healing, so mothers can fully enjoy their baby with renewed confidence. Hilary Jacobson, author of "Mother Food: A Breastfeeding Diet Guide with Lactogenic Foods and Herbs" is a holistic breastfeeding specialist and clinical hypnotherapist. Her easy-to-read book "Healing Breastfeeding Grief" contains the essential information mothers need to navigate their way back into a positive sense of self, and an intimate connection and bond with their baby.

How often does my baby really need to feed? How do I know my baby is getting enough? Is it normal for my baby to wake at night? When you're expecting a new baby, suddenly everyone around you becomes an expert – particularly when it comes to how to feed them. It is easy to become overwhelmed by conflicting advice, myths and exaggerated stories. The Positive Breastfeeding Book cuts through the anecdotes, giving you clear, no-judgement, non-preachy, evidence-based information to help you make the right decisions for you and your baby. It will… help you understand how breastfeeding works give you tips for planning for your baby's arrival help you cope with those early months support you to make sure that whilst you're looking after the baby, you're getting taken care of too point you to how to seek help if challenges come up guide you through feeding in public, going back to work, and even rediscovering a glass of wine You'll find plenty of real stories and guidance throughout from mothers and experts in supporting breastfeeding. There are handy chapters on formula and mixed feeding, which cut through advertising spiel and give you the facts you need to choose and use formula safely. The Positive Breastfeeding Book doesn't promise to make it easy, nor will it get up in the middle of the night for you, but it will empower you with the knowledge and encouragement you need to feed your baby with confidence.

When we think about trauma and PTSD we tend to think about war and conflict. But around a third of women feel some part of their birth was traumatic. This experience can impact on their mental and physical health, their relationships and future plans. In Why Birth Trauma Matters, Dr Emma Svanberg, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Make Birth Better, explores what happens to those who go through a bad birth. She explains in detail how birth trauma occurs, examines the wide-ranging impact on all of those involved in birth, and looks at treatments and techniques to aid recovery. By drawing on her own research and the work of experts in the field, and sharing the first-hand experiences of women, she shows how it is possible to begin to move on.

How and when babies eat their first solid foods can be an exciting stage for new parents, but it can also bring confusion and anxiety due to conflicting advice and opinions. When should babies have their first sold foods? What should it be? How much? Is milk still important? Does any of this really matter? Why Starting Solids Matters aims to help readers find answers to these questions by exploring the science behind the headlines. It provides a gentle introduction to the importance of the first year and beyond for the development of long term healthy eating habits and weight with much of the information just as relevant for thinking about the diet of older children and even the rest of the family too.