Praise for Breastfeeding, Take Two

♥♥♥From the International Lactation Consultants Association Print and Multimedia Review

Breastfeeding, Take Two explores reasons behind what author Stephanie Casemore grudglingly calls “breastfeeding failure” (p. 14), then outlines practical strategies for breastfeeding again.

The first half of the book is devoted to a cultural deconstruction of the breastfeeding experience. Casemore’s postmodern approach urges readers to question the culture-versus-nature divide, explaining “…the requirements of society are unavoidable…But the biological drive is still there” (p. 40). She concludes it is not mothers who have failed, but rather it is society that has failed them, whether through lack of support, misinformation, or a combination of the two.

The author tackes the thorny issue of making women feel guilty. She argues that the emotion is mislabeled, and if we truly listen to mothers, they are feeling grief, regret, loss, anger, disappointment, and more. These emotions are compounded by a lack of support, both as breastfeeding problems arise and after a baby is weaned. A treasure trove of women’a stories interspersed throughout the book lends authenticity to the author’s observations. Casemore chose to minimally edit the women’s tales, allowing the misinformation to remain as a testament to how society is sabotaging these breastfeeding dyads.

The second half of the book is a less philosophical, more practical guide to breastfeeding. Casemore empowers women with information they can use to make the most of “the continuum of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding” (p. 166). She continues to explore the emotional implications of the breastfeeding experience, and urges women to create a support network as they plan for their new babies. The appendix serves as a quick reference guide, with bulleted lists of basic breastfeeding management and troubleshooting tips.

Breastfeeding, Take Two fills a niche for mothers wanting the information to succeed at breastfeeding after a “failure” the first time around. It will boost their confidence, and arm them with the facts they need to triumph. First-time mothers may also be able to learn from the mistakes of others as they embark on their nursing voyage. Lastly, through reading this book, lactation consultants will gain a rounded appreciation of women’s lived experience to improve their counseling practice.

Michelle Roth, LCCE, IBCLC
Indiana, Pennsylvania
(Reprinted with permission from ILCA. Orginally published February 2012)

♥♥♥Breastfeeding, Take Two is a much-needed, very valuable book – and it is beautifully and thoughtfully written as well. Yes, there is good, up-to-date, breastfeeding information in here. But there is so much more. This is a book that shines a light on the much-neglected topic of how mothers feel about breastfeeding and the pain and guilt they experience when breastfeeding doesn’t work out for them.  Mothers need to know that when they are not able to reach their breastfeeding goals, they have not failed. They are not failures. They are not bad mothers. In all too many cases, as Casemore points out, those mothers have been failed by those who should have provided help and support.

The information and discussion in the book is enriched by the real stories of real mothers who have been through challenging breastfeeding experiences. It’s sometimes hard to read them – the grief and disappointment of the women is so vivid – but they are very powerful in their honesty and depth. Many of these women went on to breastfeed a second baby, but even those who didn’t are often able to express how they came to terms with their breastfeeding experiences.

While this book is obviously ideal for the mother who has had a difficult first-time experience with breastfeeding and is planning another baby, I would recommend it for a much wider audience. It can help the pregnant woman who is worried that breastfeeding might not work for her; it can help the breastfeeding mother who wants to better understand the emotions of her friends who have found breastfeeding didn’t work for them; and it can help the nurse, LLL Leader or LC who works with breastfeeding mothers and who will learn much from the stories and insights in this book.

~Teresa Pitman, co-author of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, The Latch, and The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers

♥♥♥Breastfeeding, Take Two is a must-read for everyone! For healthcare professionals, it offers an in-depth look into the experiences and emotions of mothers who are unable to successfully nurse their babies, and provides valuable insight as to why breastfeeding “fails” and what healthcare providers can do to help mothers be successful.

For mothers who have been unable to breastfeed, it offers validation, answers as to “why”, and a release from feelings of guilt, as well as encouragement, information, and hope for mothers who want to try again.

For society, it offers an opportunity to explore how we view breastfeeding, how our society places barriers for mothers who want to nurse, and answers to the question of what we can all do to make breastfeeding a more attainable goal for mothers.

Stephanie writes with conviction, confidence, understanding, and empathy. Having been there herself, she has devoted much of her time to learning all there is to know about breastfeeding and the relationship between breastfeeding, women, and society. Her incredible knowledge and insight, combined with the incredible stories from real women, make Breastfeeding, Take Two an enjoyable, emotional, thought-provoking read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows or works with any woman who has tried, is trying, or will try to breastfeed.

~ Tanya Nakogee, RN and mother

♥♥♥“If you’re looking for a book that will help explain what’s going on behind breastfeeding ‘failure’ and help you, in a non-judgemental, supportive way to find your way to be able to breastfeed future babies, then this is absolutely it. I have no hesitation in recommending this book wholeheartedly not just to any second time parents but to anyone who struggled to breastfeed their first and wishes to be able to make sense of it, and to my breastfeeding counsellor colleagues as well.”  Read the full review...

~Clare Kirkpatrick, Free Your Parenting

From Amazon

♥♥♥Beautifully written, Stephanie Casemore tackles societal issues that commonly interfere with breastfeeding, as well as physiological and emotional issues. From unhealthy advice to labor interventions, this text helps us to realize that the only true breastfeeding failure belongs to society, not to us mothers. Sprinkled with individual mothers’ stories throughout, Casemore builds our confidence as she helps us to understand what is going on. She gives us the tools to overcome many hurdles while also re-setting our expectations. She helps us to feel accomplished with whatever level of breastfeeding achievement we gain. ~ Linda F. Palmer, Infant Nutrition Consultant (Author of The Baby Bond)

♥♥♥An excellent book for those whose first breast feeding experience didn’t work out as planned. This book helped me gain a clearer understanding of the range of factors that lead to the breast feeding difficulties I experienced first time round. This knowledge has increased my confidence in my ability to breast feed my second child who is due any day now! ~ Michelle

♥♥♥Having recently gone through, and still recovering from, a breastfeeding “failure”, this book normalized the range of emotions I’ve been feeling through the stories of other women and Stephanie’s thorough discussion of the pressures mothers face and the divide between our biology and society. It is also a great resource on how breastfeeding works at the biological level and tips on how to get it off to a good start. An invaluable book for mothers who struggled once and who are now ready to try again. ~ Natalie L. Anderson

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