Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck: How to Nurture Your Baby and Your Mental Health

The 2023 Prose Award Finalist Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck provides mothers with information to navigate their breastfeeding journey while caring for their mental health. It discusses the impact of breastfeeding on sleep, bedsharing, and mental health, and offers effective help for partners, grandmothers, and friends. The book also addresses common breastfeeding problems and emphasizes the importance of preparedness for postpartum feelings. Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a psychologist and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, authored the book, which is full of practical advice and aims to help mothers and babies thrive postpartum.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: American Psychological Association

Breastfeeding is a beautiful and rewarding experience for many mothers, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming. The book "Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck" aims to provide mothers with the information and support they need to navigate their breastfeeding journey while also caring for their mental health.

One of the key messages of the book is that breastfeeding doesn't have to be painful or difficult. In fact, there are many things that mothers can do to make breastfeeding more comfortable and enjoyable for themselves and their babies. The book includes a thorough discussion of breastfeedings impact on sleep, safe (and unsafe) bedsharing, and how where babies sleep impacts their mothers mental health.

The book also describes what effective help looks like and gives specific suggestions for partners, grandmothers, and friends who want to help. Mothers will also learn how to navigate healthcare systems that can often undermine breastfeeding and mental health.

Postpartum is hard, no matter how you feed your baby. Yet formula companies tell mothers that all of their problems will be solved if only they would switch. It's not true; these issues will still be there even if mothers stop breastfeeding. These are the five "I"s of new motherhood: idleness, isolation, incompetence, identity, and intensity. If mothers are unprepared for these feelings, they can undermine both her breastfeeding and her mental health.

Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck provides information on common breastfeeding problems, such as nipple pain and low milk supply, while also keeping mothers mental health in mind. Breastfeeding, when it's going well, protects mothers mental health. Conversely, breastfeeding problems increase the risk of depression and anxiety.

Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett is both a psychologist and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, with more than 30 years experience in both lactation and mental health. Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck is an evidence-based guide full of practical advice with the goal of helping mothers and babies navigate their breastfeeding journey while also caring for their mental health.

In conclusion, "Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck" is a valuable resource for mothers who are breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding. The book provides information on common breastfeeding problems, as well as practical advice for navigating the challenges of breastfeeding while also caring for your mental health. With the help of this book, mothers can feel confident and supported in their breastfeeding journey, and can enjoy the many benefits of breastfeeding for themselves and their babies.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433833847