The Best Breastfeeding Books for New Moms to Feel Good About Their Nursing Journey
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If you’re a new mom (or preparing to give birth soon!), you may be wondering which breastfeeding books to read. There are so many options out there, that it can be hard to know where to start! That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best breastfeeding books for new moms. These books will teach you everything you need to know about breastfeeding, from how to get started to troubleshooting problems down the road.
Whether you’re a first-time mom or experienced with breastfeeding, this list of top books is sure to help!
Our Recommendations for the Best Breastfeeding Books
- Top Choice: Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding
- Amazon’s Newest Best-Seller: Lactivate! A User’s Guide to Breastfeeding
- Reader Favorite: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
- Refreshing Outside the Box: The Big Letdown: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding
- For Working Moms: Work. Pump. Repeat.
- For Exclusive Pumping: Exclusively Pumping Breastmilk
- Cookbook: Eat to Feed: 80 Nourishing Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms
Honorable mentions (that we did NOT review but are popular reads!)
- The Nursing Mother’s Companion (grab a copy here)
- Latch: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage (grab a copy here)
- Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Moms (get a copy here)
Hate to read? But want to learn more about breastfeeding?
Knowledge is definitely power when it comes to breastfeeding. I’ve found that the more I understand- physiologically and mentally- the more at peace I felt with my breastfeeding journey. However, I know a lot of us don’t have time to read, or don’t want to!
Instead of a breastfeeding book, try this amazing breastfeeding class for the cost of 1 high-quality book- written by an awesome mom and lactation consultant.
This highly recommended course includes:
- 13 comprehensive videos- ranging from an explanation of benefits (health and psychological benefits), physiology, positions, latch, milk supply, and pumping
- 3 Bonus guides: troubleshooting, class notes, and a little black book of secret tips
This class is for…
- Pregnant first-time moms
- Pregnant moms that have concerns about breastfeeding
- Nursing and expectant mothers that are worried about their milk supply
- Nursing moms that want to be able to pump and bottle feed their babies for work and beyond
- Moms with newborns having difficulties with breastfeeding
Check Out This Mom Favorite Breastfeeding Class Here
(Note: There are also classes specifically for breastfeeding mothers that are getting back to work, exclusively pumping breast milk, and more! Read my full review of Milkology here.)
Top Choice: Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding
Ina May Gaskin is an experienced expert in childbirth and breastfeeding (I also highly recommend her birth book!). She explores the health and psychological benefits of breastfeeding and gives you invaluable practical advice that will help you nurse your baby in the most fulfilling way possible.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics Covered in Ina May’s Guide
- Benefits
- Challenges
- Products
- Nursing positions
- Sleep
- Going Back to Work
- Medications
- Nursing Multiples
- Weaning
- Sick Babies
- And more!
This ultimate breastfeeding book is jam-packed with useful information, medical facts, and real-life experiences that will help you understand how and why nursing works. You couldn’t ask for a better guide than Ina May Gaskin when it comes to nursing your baby for the first time and beyond.
Amazon’s Newest Best-Seller: Lactivate! A User’s Guide to Breastfeeding
This newer book is written by an IBCLC lactation consultant and is a comprehensive guide to breastfeeding that strives to truly answer all of your questions in a non-judgmental way. This helps you to tackle any breastfeeding problems that come your way with clarity and confidence.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics include:
- The most up-to-date information on breastfeeding, allows you to make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
- From solving everyday breastfeeding problems to clearing a plugged milk duct
- How to encourage the ultimate biological synchronization between you and your baby
- Helpful information for those crucial first 3 months, such as using a pump and breast milk supply
- A dedicated FAQ section to answer all those questions you have
- Illustrations that give you a better vision of what’s going on (from latch to other issues like thrush)
Reader Favorite: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
This book is written by the well-respected La Leche League to educate and empower nursing and expectant mothers. This updated nursing “bible” is designed for all breastfeeding moms: working mothers, stay-at-home moms, single moms, and mothers of multiples.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics included in this book:
- Real-mom wisdom on breastfeeding comfortably, such as navigating pain and boosting connection
- Updated answers to all your burning questions
- Strategies for moms- whether they want to nurse for a few weeks or one year and beyond
- Helpful tips for building a support network—at home, work, and in the community
- Tips for nursing special-needs infants, premies, multiples, and how to thrive in the face of any adversity
- Helpful about common issues like weight gain, daycare, colic, postpartum depression, food allergies, and medications
Refreshing Outside the Box: The Big Letdown: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding
There’s a lot of unnecessary guilt around how a mom chooses to feed her baby these days- particularly in U.S. culture. Want to know why? And learn how to spot the B.S. and make your own choices without cultural influence? Then you’ll love this book as much as I did!
This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the current state of breastfeeding in America. It’s an easy and fascinating read that covers everything from the history of infant feeding to how hospital discharge policies impact new moms and babies.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics Include:
- The Big Letdown takes on the multi-billion dollar baby formula industry and explores why American women have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.
- The book also takes a look at the feminist movement and how it has both helped and hurt breastfeeding mothers over the years.
- If you’re looking for a thought-provoking read that will leave you feeling inspired, motivated, and maybe even a little angry, to make a change, this is the book for you.
For Working Moms: Work. Pump. Repeat.
This book is the New Mom’s Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work.
It is for working moms who want to successfully give their baby breast milk and maintain their careers. It’s a comprehensive guide that covers everything from how to prepare for going back to work, to what type of pump is best for you, to how to store your milk while you’re away from your baby.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics Include:
- Pumping at work: how to make it work for you and your baby
- Navigating office politics when it comes to pumping and breastfeeding
- The best pumps on the market (and how to get your insurance to pay for them!)
- The basics of storing breast milk so it stays fresh and safe for your baby
- Helpful advice for how to deal with low milk supply and other breastfeeding challenges, such as sore nipples and being sleep deprived
This book offers great nursing advice and is an essential read for any working and breastfeeding mom who wants to breastfeed her baby. I love it most because it’s both practical and relatable with plenty of real-life stories from real nursing mothers that have been there.
For Exclusive Pumping: Exclusively Pumping Breastmilk
This comprehensive book is for moms who want to exclusively pump breast milk for their babies. It’s a great resource that covers everything from how to get started, to how to maintain your milk supply, to how to wean from the pump.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Topics Include:
- How to get started with exclusive pumping
- Product and parts recommendations
- Some practical advice for maintaining a good milk supply
- Milk composition
- How to wean from pumping milk
This book is for any mom that wasn’t able to breastfeed but wants to continue providing milk instead of formula (or a mix). Or for the mom that doesn’t want to breastfeed but doesn’t want to use only formula. It is possible!
Cookbook: Eat to Feed: 80 Nourishing Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding can make a nursing mom quite hungry. This cookbook is for breastfeeding moms who want to make sure they’re getting enough calories and nutrients to support their milk production. Because eating for two doesn’t stop at birth! 🙂
The recipes in this book are designed to be nutrient-dense, while also being easy to make and delicious.
Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These recipes focus on:
- Lactogenic foods (foods that can help to increase milk supply) that support nursing
- Nutrient-dense whole foods
- How to load the pantry with healthy and easy-to-make options
- Tips on easy meal prepping to make life with a newborn easier
Tips for Choosing a Breastfeeding Book
When it comes to choosing a breastfeeding book, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, think about what topics you’re looking for information on. Are you interested in learning more about the history of breastfeeding? Are you struggling with low milk supply and looking for tips on how to increase it? Do you want practical advice on how to breastfeed while working?
Once you’ve identified the topics you’re interested in, look for books that are comprehensive and offer practical advice. It’s also helpful to find relatable books, so look for ones that include real-life stories from other breastfeeding mothers.
Finally, make sure to choose a book that is updated with the latest information. Breastfeeding research is always evolving (but should always be empowering mothers no matter what they choose), so you want to make sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information.
Remember- if you don’t like to read you can also access an awesome video course called Milkology for almost the same price!
Related read: Tips About Breastfeeding- A Full Guide
Your Breastfeeding Journey
With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to find the best breastfeeding book for your needs. Whether you’re pregnant with your first, not sure if breastfeeding is right for you, a seasoned mom- or anything in between- finding the right book can make all the difference!
Happy reading!
What are your favorite breastfeeding books? I’d love to hear!
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