New Edition of Kindle Book is Available!

Check out the new, updated Jessica on Babies Breastfeeding FAQ, available for Kindle from Amazon.com. Makes a great new-mom gift or a quick purchase just before (or just after) you have your own baby. At $1.99, you get Jessica's basic breastfeeding advice in the palm of your hand, accessible any time and anywhere you need it.

Some sample questions and answers from the book:

What is the most important piece of advice you would give a new mother about breastfeeding?

The first thing I would say to any new mother is, “Keep nursing!” The more you nurse, the easier it gets, and the more you nurse, the more milk you make. You’ll often hear “breastfeeding is normal” or “breastfeeding is natural,” which is true, but it’s important to remember that breastfeeding is a skill that must be learned and practiced, by both mother and baby. Just like with any skill, the more you do it, the better at it you get. When my first son was born, I was so convinced that breastfeeding was natural and instinctive that I was very discouraged by how complicated it all seemed. I felt like I needed three or four hands. When my second son was born, despite all the reading I had done, it still took several weeks for me to find comfortable positions and the easiest way to get him latched on and sucking as quickly as possible. As awkward as you may feel in the first few weeks, you’ll find it getting easier by the day if you just keep at it. The third time around, I knew things would get better, but the first three days or so were very hard; he would scream every time I unlatched him from my breast. I had to keep reminding myself that the more he nursed, the better things would get. Sure enough, by the end of the third day, he became a much more content baby, and I was able to settle into a more comfortable nursing routine.

The second basic piece of advice I always offer is, “Give it six weeks.” The first few days and weeks can be challenging, and even painful, as you adjust to having a new baby and all the new demands placed on you by this change in your life. If you persevere through the first six weeks, nursing on demand, getting used to the baby’s cues and needs, it only gets easier. I’ve seen new mothers go from “Why is this so hard? I don’t want to do this anymore!” to “Oh yeah, I think I’ll nurse for at least a year,” in the space of just those few weeks. There’s something about that six-week point after which everything starts to seem easier. Also, as the baby grows, breastfeeding gets easier just because the baby’s mouth gets bigger, his neck is stronger, and he is more able to support himself. If you stick it out for those first six weeks and put in the work at the beginning, you’ll be able to continue your breastfeeding relationship for as long as you and your child desire.

I heard that giving a bottle of formula before bed, or adding rice cereal to the bottle, will help my baby sleep better and longer. Should I try this?

It is not a good idea to offer anything but breastmilk to your baby before six months of age. Remember that your milk supply is governed by the baby’s demand. If you give a bottle or other food instead of nursing the baby from the breast, you are telling your body that your baby doesn’t need milk at that time. This can cause your milk supply to drop, requiring that you continue to give your baby a bottle, which can cause your milk supply to drop further. It’s a vicious cycle that is difficult to get out of. 

There is no evidence that giving a bottle of formula at bedtime will help your baby sleep better at night. There is mounting evidence that doing so may be harmful to your milk supply as well as possibly contributing to postpartum depression or other maternal health issues. Recent studies show that mothers who breastfeed exclusively in the early months feel happier and better rested than those who attempt to supplement with formula in order to get more sleep. My sons woke frequently to nurse, and it was much easier just to pull the baby to my breast and go back to sleep than it would have been to get up and prepare a bottle for him. My husband and I were both much more sleep-deprived with our first son, who was formula-fed, than we were with our breastfed babies.

As for adding rice cereal to a bottle, or giving any other kind of solid (non-breastmilk) food to a young baby, this is highly discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and many other groups. It is recommended that you do not feed any foods or liquids except breastmilk to an infant under six months of age, unless under a doctor’s direction for a medical reason. Putting rice cereal in a bottle is also a choking risk. 

Also, giving a bottle in the early weeks of life may have a negative effect on the baby’s desire to latch properly on your breast (see “Should I give my baby a bottle?” below for more on bottles).

My nipples are bleeding. What do I do?

For short-term care, squeeze a little milk from your breast after a feeding and apply it to the bleeding nipple. Breastmilk has healing properties that will help the nipple heal faster and prevent infection. You may also purchase pure lanolin (usually found under the brand name Lansinoh) to apply to your nipples after a feeding. Lanolin is safe to leave on when your baby is ready to eat again and will soothe your nipples and help them heal. However, bleeding nipples are typically a sign of a bad latch or other feeding problem, and you shouldn't hesitate to contact a lactation consultant if the problem doesn’t resolve within a few days. 

2nd Anniversary Giveaway Prizes

I wanted share with you all the assortment of stuff I'll be sending off to our giveaway winner, Rachel G. before I pack it up and never see it again.

The two knitted items are by Rachel Adler, "The Yellow Hobbit," who hand-dyes and spins her own yarn, then knits it into fun and unique items. For our giveaway winner, she made a baby hat (left) and a diaper cover (right). Check out Rachel's Etsy shop for more of her work!

In the middle is the paperback version of my book, The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide to Breastfeeding. You can purchase my book for Kindle or in paperback from Amazon.com.

Congratulations, Rachel G., and I hope you enjoy your prizes!

And We're Go for Giveaway!

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Jessica on Babies! To celebrate, we're conducting a special giveaway of unique items. My friend Rachel ("The Yellow Hobbit") has generously hand-dyed, spun, and knit a wool baby hat and diaper cover for one lucky baby out there. In addition, the winner will receive a paperback copy of The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide to Breastfeeding.

Check out Rachel's Etsy shop, where she sells her own hand-dyed wool!

If you're on Ravelry, check out her profile (username: theyellowhobbit) and her group!

You can purchase the Kindle version or a paperback copy of The Guide from Amazon even if you don't win!

And as for the giveaway itself, you have four ways to enter, and 5 chances to win! Follow me on Facebook and Twitter, leave a comment below, and, most importantly, share my blog with your friends via Facebook or Twitter for 2 extra entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Yes, It's Normal! Guide update in the works!

For my next small project, I plan to update the "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide to Breastfeeding to a 3rd edition. Listed below are the questions addressed in the current version of the Guide. Are there any additional questions you'd like to see added to a new edition? What questions would you like to see answered in more detail? Keep in mind that the Guide is geared toward mothers and babies in the first three months postpartum.

What is the number one piece of advice you would give a new mother about breastfeeding?

How often should my baby be eating?

How do I know if baby is getting enough to eat/drink?

What is a “latch?” How do I know if my baby has a good latch?

Should breastfeeding hurt?

My nipples are bleeding. What do I do?

How much/how often should my baby be eating during the night? When will my baby sleep through the night?

I heard that giving a bottle of formula before bed, or adding rice cereal to the bottle, will help my baby sleep better and longer. Should I try this?

Do I need to give my baby water?

Do I have to switch sides during a feeding? How long should the baby stay on each breast?

What do I do if baby needs to eat while we’re out and about?

Should I give my baby a pacifier?

Should I give my baby a bottle? What do I put in the bottle?

My breasts leak constantly. What can I do about this?

My breasts have never leaked. Is something wrong?

My breasts suddenly don’t feel as full as they used to, and I’ve stopped leaking. What happened? Should I be worried?

I think I have a problem with my milk supply. What can I do to make more milk?

My baby’s bowel movements are loose and frequent. What should his poops look like?

My baby hasn’t had a bowel movement in several days. Help!

My baby is suddenly eating nonstop. What’s going on? Do I have enough milk for him?

My baby has been asleep most of the day, which is unusual. Should I be worried?

My baby is very fussy and nurses frequently for a few hours around the same time every day/night. What’s wrong?

Does what I eat get into the breastmilk? How do I know if something I’m eating is bothering the baby?

Can I drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

I have a sore spot on my breast. What could it be? What is a plugged duct? What do I do about a plugged duct?

What is mastitis? How do I know if I have mastitis? What do I do about mastitis?

What is thrush? How do I treat thrush?

Can I take medications while breastfeeding?

If you've read the Guide, I would really appreciate it if you'd leave me a review at the Amazon site (here) and/or as a comment on "The Guide" page of my blog (here). Also, don't forget to recommend it to friends! 

Book News

Just a quick announcement: The Kindle Edition of my book, The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide to Breastfeeding is now $1.99 (reduced from $2.99) at least until the end of this year!

Happy Book-iversary

One year ago today, I published my e-book on breastfeeding. In that year, I've sold approximately (numbers as of July 18, 2012 at 7:00pm PDT) 173 copies of the book in the US and UK Kindle markets. I consider this a huge accomplishment and am very excited to be able to make such a report!

I would like to do something to celebrate my one-year bookiversary. I'm thinking about some kind of giveaway or promotion. I'd love some suggestions. I'd also like to raise the visibility of this blog as well as continue to get the word out about my book. If you enjoy this blog, please share it with your Facebook and Twitter friends. Link them to a post or page you especially like or share the whole blog. If you already own my book, consider leaving a review at the Amazon page. I'd love more feedback!

And to liven up the blog as a whole, if you do read a post and have something to say, leave a comment! I'm always checking back here for comments and I'd love to get some discussions going.

Is It Really About What's "Easier?"

First of all, happy birthday to Jessica on Babies! This blog is officially a year old as of Saturday. I thank my loyal readers for keeping me writing, and my kids for giving me ever more to write about! I expressed interest in conducting a giveaway of my Kindle book in celebration of this milestone, but I need to know if people will participate in the sweepstakes if I run one. If you think you'd want to enter for a chance to win a free copy of my book for yourself or someone you know, please comment below or on my previous post and say so! Thanks! If I don't get any comments, I'll scrap the idea.

***

The great debate in infant feeding rages on, especially now that the AAP has updated and clarified its guidelines on infant feeding:

"Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Given the documented short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant."

The strong statement about breastfeeding as a public health issue, and not just a "choice," is a huge step forward in breastfeeding language and thought within the medical community, and I think the AAP should be commended for taking such a stand.

I often read and hear people debating about which is "easier," formula-feeding or breast-feeding, with fair points on both sides. There are ways in which feeding formula from a bottle is "easier," and there are ways in which feeding human milk directly from the breast is "easier." I'll even outline a few of each for you here, from my own experience.

Some ways in which formula-feeding is "easier" than breast-feeding:

1. Other people can feed the baby without mom having to pump.
2. There is a very short learning curve.
3. You can see how much the baby is eating.
4. Mom doesn't have to worry about what she eats and drinks.
5. Mom can be away from the baby for an extended period of time.

Some ways in which breast-feeding is "easier" than formula-feeding:

1. No bottles to wash or prepare.
2. You don't have to wake up all the way for the middle-of-the-night feedings.
3. Never have to worry about running out of food for the baby.
4. Food is always the right temperature, quantity, and composition.
5. It's cheaper.

When you look at it, it's kind of a silly list. It's all about the bottles and the preparation and who feeds the baby. Is that really what's most important? Is that really what the "choice" is about? What's easier? It's also "easier" to plop our kids in front of the TV all day instead of engaging with them. It's easier to take them to McDonald's every day instead of cooking healthy meals for them. It's easier to let them roll around in the back seat than install car seats and buckle them in every time. It's easier to let them do whatever they want than to try to discipline them. Heck, it's easier to keep them in diapers than to potty train them (believe me). But we wouldn't dream of making any of those choices just because they're "easier," would we? (Gosh, I hope not!)

How and what we feed our children, not just as infants but throughout their childhood, is a small percentage of the enormous body of choices we make for them as they grow. All of these decisions matter, some maybe more than others, but every choice we make for our children affects their health, well-being, happiness, and future. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether a particular choice we make is going to have a long-term consequence or benefit for our particular child, but we can look at statistics and research to make as informed a decision as possible based on overall trends. For example, it is quite clear that, when looking at a total population, people who were fed formula as babies are more prone to a host of diseases and problems, from food allergies to ear infections to diabetes and cancer, than people who were breastfed as babies. Evidence mounts. The risk for your specific child may be somewhat small, and perhaps it is a risk you are willing to - or must - take, given a medical, emotional, or family situation that makes breastfeeding an insurmountable challenge or undesirable option. However, it is important to admit that every choice you make has the potential to deeply affect your child's life.

I don't mean to cause you any terrible anxiety about what you feed your kid for breakfast tomorrow or whether you send them to preschool or what brand of jeans you purchase for them. I firmly believe that, for the most part, as long as we follow our instincts as parents, stick to our own moral codes, and, most of all, show our children that we love them, most of our other choices probably will not have lasting impact. However, the choices that are more likely to have long-term consequences for your child's health and well-being should be considered more deeply. So, while having French fries for all three meals one day is not likely to be a big problem, you probably don't want to get your child in the habit of eating that way on a regular basis. (Hey, I have a three-year-old. I sympathize!)

Since studies and statistics and research have shown that there is clearly a difference between breastmilk and formula in the long-term, this is a parenting decision that we need to think longer and harder about and educate ourselves about more, rather than choosing based on what's "easier."

More On Babywearing Among Other Things

Since my last post on "babywearing," I have been "wearing" my baby more and more. I've found that in the last month or so, GI has become much more comfortable in the mei tai, and thus, I have become more comfortable using it. I seem to remember the same thing happening with SB around this age. Perhaps the mei tai is better for babies about five months and up, and not so good for newborns. Now that GI sits well and can support his upper body, he seems to enjoy looking around and will happily go to sleep against my chest (without nursing!) when he's tired.

I use the mei tai a lot when I take the other two kids to the park. This way, I can be mobile and have free hands and not worry that I'm leaving the baby alone in his stroller while I tend to one of his brothers. The only problem is that I can't really lift the boys easily, especially my 60-pound five-year-old, so if they need help climbing up or down or getting on a swing, I feel fairly useless. Most of the time, another sweet mother or grandmother around sees that I need help and comes to my (and my kid's) rescue, but I feel kind of silly letting someone else haul my big boys around.

I've also been using it more when I shop, so that the three-year-old, with his little legs, can sit in the cart. However, I went to Trader Joe's the other day and put GI in the cart for the first time. He managed, although he wasn't totally steady. For a longer shopping trip, I think I still need to be holding him, and also I think SB still needs to ride in the cart sometimes. This kid-juggling thing gets tricky!

GI does love sitting in high chairs at restaurants, now. He seems to really enjoy being part of the table, even though he isn't eating with us yet. He grabs at and plays with anything in reach, and he giggles and screeches with joy watching his brothers eat. (Stay tuned for a "starting solids" post sometime in the next few weeks. GI will be six months on Monday! Can you believe it?)

I took the boys to the zoo yesterday afternoon and alternated between having GI in the mei tai and SB in the stroller (or pushing an empty stroller), and having GI in the stroller occasionally. I tried to nurse him a few times in the mei tai, but the zoo was too exciting and he wouldn't stay latched. While I'm not squeamish about nursing in public, I'm also not exactly blase about flashing random guys in the zoo who might happen to walk past me and see my boob hanging out. Another woman had sat down on a bench to nurse her baby, and I sat down on a bench next to her, took GI out of the mei tai, and finally convinced him to nurse well. She had been wearing her baby in a Moby wrap, and there was another lady there with a baby in an Ergo, so I felt like I was in very good company. In fact, the lady with the Ergo helped SB climb down out of a helicopter he had climbed up to explore. He wanted my help getting down, and when the woman saw that I was busy, she helped him down. So sweet.

By the end of the three-ish hours we were at the zoo, though, I was exhausted. Whew. Carrying that baby while traipsing up and down the hills at the zoo is tiring. My legs and back were aching. And yet, I know the only other way to have managed was with my double stroller, and I know that GI would not have wanted to stay in the stroller the whole time anyway, so instead of wearing him, I'd have been carrying him in arms, and that would have been even harder!

I also wear him a lot when I'm not at home but he might need to nap. He'll easily go to sleep in it, and since I would have nowhere to put him down, he can be "held" while sleeping and I'm still mobile and have my hands free. I think this is the single best argument for babywearing there is! Still, I don't usually wear him around the house, as I find it more cumbersome than helpful. But at other people's houses? Oh yes!

***

Enough on that, though. There's some important business to discuss. My blog is turning ONE on Saturday, March 3. My first post was March 3, 2011. I was thinking about doing a giveaway in the month of March to celebrate this milestone, but I need participation to make it work. So here's the deal. I will give away a copy of my Kindle e-book, The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide to Breastfeeding, to one lucky winner, who can choose to keep it for him/herself or to give it to a friend. The only thing I would need is the email address of the intended recipient.

Remember that you don't have to own a Kindle device to read Kindle books. Amazon offers a free Kindle app for all smartphones, iPod, iPad, and PC.

Please leave me a comment here on this blog post within the next few days if you are interested in winning a copy of my book (or if you know someone you'd like to give it to), and share my blog with your friends and ask them to comment if they're interested. If I feel there's enough interest, I'll officially announce the giveaway in a few days and give instructions on how to enter.

Announcement!

I am extremely excited to announce the release of my breastfeeding book, The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide To Breastfeeding, available NOW in the Amazon Kindle store and in print at Lulu.com. It's a short, encouraging book in question-and-answer form, along with appendices that offer additional useful information. If you or someone you know is pregnant or has a new baby, you really should check this book out. At just $1.50 for Kindle, what do you have to lose? And, if you want to make it a nice shower gift or new-mom present, it's available for $9.99 in print with a full-color cover and spiral-bound for convenience. I am also working on creating an ePub version so that it will be available for other e-book readers and in other e-book stores.

Click here for the Kindle version.
Click here for the print version.

I've posted some excerpts here, so you can get a sense of what the book is like. Please pass this link along to anyone you think might be interested!

Excerpts from The "Yes, It's Normal!" Guide To Breastfeeding
by Jessica Shaham
Copyright (c) 2011 Jessica Shaham. All rights reserved.

From the introduction:

What’s in this guide?

It’s 3:00 in the morning. You’re up with your four-day-old baby, nursing for the sixteenth time today. You’re tired, your nipples are sore, and you’re not sure if the baby is actually getting anything to eat. You’re seized with the sudden fear that you’re doing something wrong, but who can you call at three in the morning for help? You pull out your iPhone and Google “Is my baby getting enough milk?” You’re bombarded by links to websites full of what looks like good information, but some of them are contradictory, and there’s just so much out there. How do you know which sites to trust? You glance over at your pile of “mommy” books, consider grabbing one of the breastfeeding books you registered for. But there are 21 different pages to look at all related to milk supply!

What now?

Now you open up this book on your Kindle app. You see in the table of contents, “How do I know if baby is getting enough to eat/drink?” You scroll to the page. And there, right in front of you, is a clear, half-page answer. You read it quickly and put the Kindle down. That’s all you needed to know. Your baby has fallen asleep, and you’re ready to join him.

That’s what this guide is for. Many new mothers share similar concerns, and I’ve tried to compile the most common questions that come up in the first few weeks of your baby’s life and give you short, reassuring answers to those questions. If and when you need more information on a particular topic, I’ve also provided the direct address of a recommended webpage that will have more answers and detailed information for you. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. It’s important to know which websites to trust and who to go to for advice. I’ve pointed you toward reliable, up-to-date sources that I use regularly, so that when you do have a chance to do more reading, you’ll know where to go.

After the question-and-answer part of the guide is a glossary that will define many of the common words and phrases associated with breastfeeding. You will also find a few appendices with additional information you might find interesting or useful as your nursing relationship begins and continues.

When in doubt, though, contact a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a local La Leche League leader, or an experienced breastfeeding mother you trust for personalized help on a particular question. If you have any concerns about your baby’s health, contact your pediatrician immediately.
Though I have done plenty of reading and have experience nursing a baby, I am not a medical professional, and my advice is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified expert. The advice provided in this text is for your information only, and you should use your best judgment when deciding what’s best for your health and the health of your child(ren). Sometimes I reference studies that I found in my own personal research, but I have not verified the results of the studies or their methodologies. My goal is to provide a helpful and reassuring introduction to breastfeeding.

To find a La Leche League meeting near you, visit the La Leche League International website at www.llli.org and use their “Find local support” feature to locate a group in your area.

To find a list of IBCLC’s near you, visit the International Lactation Consultant Association website at www.ilca.org, go to the Directories tab and select “Find a Lactation Consultant” (http://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3337).

Sample Questions:

What is the number one piece of advice you would give a new mother about breastfeeding?
 

The first thing I would say to any new mother is, “Keep nursing!” The more you nurse, the easier it gets, and the more you nurse, the more milk you make. You’ll often hear “breastfeeding is normal” or “breastfeeding is natural,” which is true, but it’s important to remember that breastfeeding is a skill that must be learned and practiced, by both mother and baby. Just like with any skill, the more you do it, the better at it you get. When my first son was born, I was so convinced that breastfeeding was natural and instinctive that I was very discouraged by how complicated it all seemed. I felt like I needed three or four hands. When my second son was born, despite all the reading I had done, it still took several weeks for me to find comfortable positions and the easiest way to get him latched on and sucking as quickly as possible. As awkward as you may feel in the first few weeks, you’ll find it getting easier by the day if you just keep at it.

The second basic piece of advice I always offer is, “Give it six weeks.” The first few days and weeks can be challenging, and even painful, as you adjust to having a new baby and all the new demands placed on you by this change in your life. If you persevere through the first six weeks, nursing on demand, getting used to the baby’s cues and needs, it only gets easier. I’ve seen new mothers go from “Why is this so hard? I don’t want to do this anymore!” to “Oh yeah, I think I’ll nurse for at least a year,” in the space of just a few weeks. There’s something about that six-week point after which everything starts to seem easier. Also, as the baby grows, breastfeeding gets easier just because the baby is stronger and more able to support himself. If you stick it out for those first six weeks and put in the work at the beginning, you’ll be able to continue your breastfeeding relationship for as long as you and your child desire.

What do I do if baby needs to eat while we’re out and about?

The idea of nursing outside the house can be intimidating. Most of us are not interested in flashing our breasts to the general public. Before my son was born, nursing in public was one of my great fears. I couldn’t see myself lifting up my shirt in public like that. Also, if you’re used to nursing in a particular chair at home, or using a support pillow such as a Boppy or My Brest Friend, it can be hard to get comfortable when you don’t have one available. I do recommend that you practice nursing in other positions or places in your own home so that you can find ways that work for you. If you’re worried about what people might see, try nursing in front of a mirror a few times. You’ll see that from the front, the baby hides almost everything.

 
You should know that nursing in public is absolutely legal, and the majority of U.S. states and the Federal government have laws protecting the right of mothers to breastfeed in public, and that public breastfeeding is generally not considered “indecent exposure.” It’s also nice to know that many malls offer a “family care” area or something similar that is equipped with private nursing booths and comfortable chairs as well as diaper-changing facilities. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a place in my local mall when my son was a baby. Baby-oriented stores also often have “mother rooms” for the same purpose. You can ask a staff member if you’re not sure where to find it. Supermarkets and other stores will often try to accommodate your request for a private place to nurse, either by informing you about a lounge area in the restroom or allowing you to use the employee lounge. This will vary from store to store. I, frankly, would rather nurse just about anywhere but a public restroom, but if you’re in need of privacy, that may be an option for you. I also found that most department stores were happy to allow me to nurse in an empty fitting room. I also liked nursing in my car when that was an option.

If a private area is not available, or you’re not in a position to seek one out but you are uncomfortable with the idea of possibly exposing a breast, there are options for cover-ups, as well. You can purchase nursing covers or shawls in many fun patterns and colors. There are also specially designed nursing shirts. I purchased a nursing shirt from Motherhood Maternity* that looks like a nice v-neck+camisole unit. The v-neck can be moved aside, where a cutout in the lining allows access to the breast without exposing anything else. Old Navy also sells similar types of shirts. Nursing, like pregnancy, is becoming fashionable and mainstream, and it is easier and easier to find solutions like this. 

Another option I used often is to wear two layers, a camisole or tank top under a loose t-shirt or blouse. Lift up the top shirt, pull down or open the camisole/tank top, open your bra, and nurse. Your stomach, sides, and back are covered by the camisole, and everything else is covered by the loose top shirt.

 
Despite my qualms in the beginning, I quickly became used to the idea of nursing in public. I felt like I was in my own little “nursing bubble,” and even though there were people around me, I didn’t particularly care what they saw or what they thought. The only thing that mattered was feeding my son. Some women even become comfortable enough with nursing in public to continue walking around while nursing the baby, although I never quite made it to this point. You can also “wear” the baby in a front carrier, sling, or wrap and learn to nurse while wearing the baby. This is usually the most discreet and efficient way to nurse in public, if you can manage it, and you get the bonus of having your hands free. I eventually did figure out how to nurse in my Asian-style front carrier (called a mei tai), and I found this to be incredibly convenient when I had to nurse the baby and keep track of my toddler at the same time, especially in a crowded place like the zoo! 

Rest assured, there are options, and it can be done. And I like to think that the more women we see nursing in public, the more normal nursing in public becomes, and the less embarrassed anyone will need to be.

*I am not endorsing any specific brand, nor am I being compensated for naming any particular store or manufacturer.


Other Questions Include:

• How often should my baby be eating?
• Do I have to switch sides during a feeding? How long should the baby stay on each breast?
• My baby is suddenly eating nonstop. What’s going on? Do I have enough milk for him?
• Does what I eat get into the breastmilk? How do I know if something I’m eating is bothering the baby? 

Appendices:
Appendix A: Introducing Solid Foods
Appendix B: Weaning Your Baby from the Breast
Appendix C: “Off-Label” Uses for Breastmilk
Appendix D: Pumping and Storing Breastmilk
Appendix E: Bad Advice and Hospital Practices that Interfere with Breastfeeding Success

-----

There's a lot more in the book - 28 questions, plus a glossary and the five appendices. The print version is 73 pages, so it's shorter than your average breastfeeding book while still containing tons of useful information.

Oh, and the Kindle app is available for Android, iPhone/iPad/iPod, Blackberry, and PC for free, so even if you don't have a physical Kindle, you can still download and read my book on any of those devices, as well!

If you have any questions about the book, please feel free to ask me in the comments. I'll respond promptly.