Got any good BF resources?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

So I am ideally looking for a book that has lots of practical information and techniques for helping new mothers to breastfeed- esp. helping with the first latch.

I have done a lot of general BF education and rsrch (as well as BF my own three kids) - but still can't seem to consistently get my newborn patients onto the breast! I'm not looking for academic research on the physiology or benefits of BF, really just a very practical manual of techniques.

Anyone have a reference they can recommend?

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Specializes in LTC.

kellymom.com has a ton of information and resources.

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Specializes in Global Health Informatics, MNCH.

Try this book: http://www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-Newborn-Clinical-Strategies-Nurses/dp/0323017452

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What about "The womanly art of breastfeeding"

and as a lighter source (but still with a lot of good information for patients) "so thats what they're for"

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I love "So that's what they're for" It was the book that convinced me to try bfing at all.

I guess that's not much to add to the thread, but I had to say it. :)

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Specializes in LTC.

The Nursing Mother's Companion (I think that's the title) is also a good book about BFing.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

There is a FABULOUS Jack Newman DVD that shows how to achieve asymetrical latch. If you're trying to become more skilled at helping women get their babies latched, I would think that SEEING it would be more helpful to you than reading about it. His website (http://www.drjacknewman.com) also has video clips.

"The Breastfeeding Atlas" has very good color photos of everything breastfeeding-related, including latch. It also includes a DVD.

But if you're looking for good book references, I think Jack Newman's "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers" is a great bridge between layperson info and healthcare provider info.

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so i am ideally looking for a book that has lots of practical information and techniques for helping new mothers to breastfeed- esp. helping with the first latch.

i have done a lot of general bf education and rsrch (as well as bf my own three kids) - but still can't seem to consistently get my newborn patients onto the breast! i'm not looking for academic research on the physiology or benefits of bf, really just a very practical manual of techniques.

anyone have a reference they can recommend?

have you heard of biological nurturing (bn)? (http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/) dr. suzanne colson was one of my midwifery instructors here in the uk, which is where i first heard of her research and principles. she worked as a midwife for many years with dr. michel odent. besides the practical side of this neurobiological approach to latching a baby on for effective feeding, there is the whole underlying hormonal and reflexive foundation to read about. it is truly fascinating. i have helped babies latch for several decades as an l&d nurse in the states and noticed many of these behaviours before, but suzanne's work pulled it all together and provided this new positioning (baby's, and mother's too - "sacral sitting") that helps utilise the baby's inner drive to latch his/herself on.

it is really amazing to watch how that funny bobbing we've all seen actually results in a great self-latch, unlike what often happens when the baby is lying crossways and is not free to head bob. that's just a little bit of what suzanne's work has revealed. it's well worth reading some of the many papers she's published (http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/pages/publications.html), and giving it a try yourself with your patients.

i start with mother semi-reclined; with pillows alongside and slightly under her arms; the baby lying upright between the breasts and, if quite large, somewhere close to the level of the nipples; with his/her hands free to 'massage' the breasts - you'll soon see the baby bobbing away, making urgent sounds, and wiggling or flinging off to one side or the other in search of the nipple. let the baby work at it, as it seems to boost success! the mother helps her baby a minimal amount, as she sees fit, but doesn't restrict baby's head. the pillows just support her arms to corral baby to keep him/her from falling off. see these principles in action in this unicef video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3k87l9hnoe (about half-way through and to the end).

just be sure you understand the whole picture so you can offer the mothers accurate information. my nhs hospital is fully behind the bn process, which is best started at delivery whilst skin-to-skin so as to fully tap into the mother's and baby's reflexive and intuitive responses. but i have initiated bn with new mothers who hadn't done so before and were having problems, and still had great success. i really love it, and so do the parents! :redpinkhe

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