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Media reviews
MEDIA REVIEWS — Lee Clay,
CNM, MS,
and Kathryn McElroy,
Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. (Second Edition) By Jan Riordan and Kathleen B. Auerbach. Sudbury (MA): Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1999. 874 pages, $89.95 hardcover. Reviewed by: Priscilla Tait, CNM, MS, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant and Infant Mental Health Specialist, Shelby, Michigan. This book, a seminal text in the field of lactation, is written for the lactation consultant as well as all other health professionals who care for breastfeeding mothers and infants. As the most comprehensive work available on the topic, it is often referred to by lactation specialists as the “Brown Bible.” It is a reputation well-earned. The authors both hold doctoral degrees, have over 60 years of combined experience as breastfeeding specialists, and are internationally recognized experts in the field of lactation. The book is well organized and divided into five sections, covering a broad spectrum of issues in breastfeeding and lactation. It begins with an overview of the political, social, and cultural influences on breastfeeding rates worldwide, providing the reader with an important historic perspective. Subsequent sections offer complete, research-based information on every aspect of breastfeeding and human lactation for women, infants, and children from the prenatal period through early childhood. Throughout the book there is a strong clinical focus, with a “Clinical Implications” section at the conclusion of each chapter. The second edition has been changed and updated from the 1993 version. A new chapter on “Maternal Nutrition During Lactation” covers fluid and caloric needs, weight loss, supplements, and other issues. The table containing answers to common questions mothers ask about breastfeeding and diet offers helpful information that the midwife can use for quick reference. Another significant change in the second edition is the expansion of the chapter on “The Breastfeeding Process” into two chapters, separating the prenatal and intrapartum periods from the postpartum period. These two chapters are probably the most significant in terms of providing basic, current, and evidence-based knowledge and techniques for the maternity practitioner. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation is full of helpful illustrations, charts, tables and assessment tools. Mid-
278 © 2000 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Issued by Elsevier Science Inc.
CNM, MS
wives will find several tables particularly helpful, including those on Viruses and Breast milk and Drugs and Breastfeeding. Up-to-date care-plans for improper latchon, jaundice, mastitis, and sore nipples are clear and concise. A group of 32 color plates are found in the section on anatomic and biologic imperatives and clearly show breast anomalies and breastfeeding problems. These photographs can be used as an aid to clinical diagnosis. The new edition has also added a set of four excellent color illustrations of breast anatomy and breast milk immunology. These illustrations could be helpful teaching aids for both clients and students. Mothers who deliver prior to term are in particular need of support as they attempt to provide their infants with the optimal nutrition that breast milk provides. Whether the midwife is in a management role or a supportive role with the mother who delivers prematurely, s/he will benefit from the extensive information provided in the chapter on breastfeeding the preterm infant. Returning to work at 6 weeks postpartum may be one of the greatest barriers mothers face in providing breastmilk to their infants. In the chapter “Maternal Employment and Breastfeeding,” the authors provide a thorough and thoughtful discussion of the complexities of this issue and offer a wide range of strategies for client education, counseling, and support. This reviewer found the small section on Herbs and Breastfeeding to be somewhat inadequate. For example, the authors mention that “more than 30 herbs are considered to be powerful galactagogues”; however, they only vaguely mention three of them and, in doing so, confuse fennel and fenugreek as the same herb. A list of “Herbs Used for Health and Breastfeeding Related Conditions” is presented, but Blessed Thistle, a commonly used herbal galactagogue, is not mentioned at all. Midwives and other practitioners seeking information for clinical guidance in the use of herbs during lactation should turn to other sources. Midwifery and nursing educators will find this book to be an excellent choice for a graduate course in breastfeeding and human lactation. With a national breastfeeding initiation rate around 60% and 6-month rates as low as 21%, health care professionals have a mandate to increase knowledge and skills in the area of human
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • Vol. 45, No. 3, May/June 2000 1526-9523/00/$20.00
lactation. It is this reviewer’s opinion that all graduate programs in women’s health, midwifery, and pediatric nursing should include in their curriculum a course on breastfeeding and human lactation, using this book as the required text. The content would also be appropriate for an undergraduate elective course in a nursing degree program. Midwives are often viewed by clients and other health professionals as experts in breastfeeding. Many midwives, however, do not consider their preparation in breastfeeding to be beyond a basic level. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation is an excellent textbook that provides the in-depth information to enable practitioners to provide a high level of care to lactating women and their babies. It deserves a place on every midwife’s shelf next to the other classics in the field of childbearing and childrearing. The Reality of Breastfeeding: Reflections by Contemporary Women. By Amy Benson Brown and Kathryn Read McPherson, editors. Westport (CN): Bergin & Garvey, 1998. 233 pages, $16.95 softcover. Reviewed by: Teak E. Nelson, RN, BSN, student, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many women make the choice to breastfeed based on the knowledge that “breast is best.” They have been told by friends, family, and health care providers that breastfeeding is easy, natural, and cost-effective. The conflictual messages sent by today’s Western society often are not encountered until breastfeeding women experience nipple soreness/cracking, nursing strikes, or harassment regarding public breastfeeding or late weaning. The Reality of Breastfeeding: Reflections by Contemporary Women is a community of stories by and for breastfeeding women and their families. In this reviewer’s opinion, there is no better resource for breastfeeding realities than women and families who have experienced this journey for themselves. This thematically arranged compilation of breastfeeding struggles and successes provides an organized medium by which parents can prepare for and be sustained through their breastfeeding experience. The editors, who are themselves breastfeeding women, have divided this compilation of essays thematically into three sections: latching on, hanging on, and moving on. This allows the reader to track specific issues during the breastfeeding journey, from establishment through weaning, in a manner that is chronological and easy to follow. The contributors have all either breastfed their own children or are family members of women who breastfed. In this reviewer’s opinion, the reflective nature in which most of the narratives are written lends confidence to the reader that conclusions drawn and emotions tied to the experiences are not sporadic in nature; but rather, the
result of months or years of contemplation and reflection. The marvelous variety among the authors allows readers from virtually any age, generation, culture, socioeconomic background, gender, or situation to identify with the breastfeeding narratives. Some breastfeeding experiences ended with nursing toddlers, others with early weaning/supplementation due to pain or lack of social support. One extreme situation even ended with infant death due to malnutrition in the concentration camps during World War II. The elastic holding all of the narratives together is the underlying message that whatever works for and is best for the breastfeeding woman and her family is acceptable, and a success in its own right. The editors state that their purpose in compiling these stories was to create a resource for parents to prepare them and provide support throughout their breastfeeding experiences. Each writer brings to their respective essay personal opinions and biases, many of which contradict each other. For example, one woman desired to continue nursing through toddlerhood, whereas another saw no reason to nurse a child old enough to request the breast. Although the opinions and solutions rendered by the authors may not be based on research, the emotions and decisions detailed are realities for the breastfeeding families who lived the experiences. As such, this book should not be utilized as a “how-to” guide for breastfeeding but, rather, as a social support for breastfeeding families and an enlightenment for health care providers and nonbreastfeeders who desire to know the realities that the breastfeeding experience can bring. Midwives and advanced practice nurses may find this book valuable for both personal development and clinical practice. In addition to formal lactation education, these narratives provide practitioners with insight into the realities of breastfeeding from their clients’ point of view. Additionally, it may stimulate health care professionals to examine their own personal beliefs about breastfeeding issues. As recommended reading for clients, this book can be used as a caveat to patient teaching and social support. This reviewer has personally recommended The Reality of Breastfeeding to antepartal clients and feels it should be offered to any family considering or currently breastfeeding. Consideration should be given to the literacy levels of the population served when recommending this book to clients. Many contributors are career writers; consequently, their narrations are written for high school level literacy or above. Because the book is a compilation of individual experiences, decisions, opinions, and reflections, there is no bibliography for further reference. The editors, however, have included a list of recommended readings, all relatively current (1986 –1998) for those readers who desire more information about the physiologic, historic,
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • Vol. 45, No. 3, May/June 2000
279
CNM, MS,
and Kathryn McElroy,
Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. (Second Edition) By Jan Riordan and Kathleen B. Auerbach. Sudbury (MA): Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1999. 874 pages, $89.95 hardcover. Reviewed by: Priscilla Tait, CNM, MS, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant and Infant Mental Health Specialist, Shelby, Michigan. This book, a seminal text in the field of lactation, is written for the lactation consultant as well as all other health professionals who care for breastfeeding mothers and infants. As the most comprehensive work available on the topic, it is often referred to by lactation specialists as the “Brown Bible.” It is a reputation well-earned. The authors both hold doctoral degrees, have over 60 years of combined experience as breastfeeding specialists, and are internationally recognized experts in the field of lactation. The book is well organized and divided into five sections, covering a broad spectrum of issues in breastfeeding and lactation. It begins with an overview of the political, social, and cultural influences on breastfeeding rates worldwide, providing the reader with an important historic perspective. Subsequent sections offer complete, research-based information on every aspect of breastfeeding and human lactation for women, infants, and children from the prenatal period through early childhood. Throughout the book there is a strong clinical focus, with a “Clinical Implications” section at the conclusion of each chapter. The second edition has been changed and updated from the 1993 version. A new chapter on “Maternal Nutrition During Lactation” covers fluid and caloric needs, weight loss, supplements, and other issues. The table containing answers to common questions mothers ask about breastfeeding and diet offers helpful information that the midwife can use for quick reference. Another significant change in the second edition is the expansion of the chapter on “The Breastfeeding Process” into two chapters, separating the prenatal and intrapartum periods from the postpartum period. These two chapters are probably the most significant in terms of providing basic, current, and evidence-based knowledge and techniques for the maternity practitioner. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation is full of helpful illustrations, charts, tables and assessment tools. Mid-
278 © 2000 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Issued by Elsevier Science Inc.
CNM, MS
wives will find several tables particularly helpful, including those on Viruses and Breast milk and Drugs and Breastfeeding. Up-to-date care-plans for improper latchon, jaundice, mastitis, and sore nipples are clear and concise. A group of 32 color plates are found in the section on anatomic and biologic imperatives and clearly show breast anomalies and breastfeeding problems. These photographs can be used as an aid to clinical diagnosis. The new edition has also added a set of four excellent color illustrations of breast anatomy and breast milk immunology. These illustrations could be helpful teaching aids for both clients and students. Mothers who deliver prior to term are in particular need of support as they attempt to provide their infants with the optimal nutrition that breast milk provides. Whether the midwife is in a management role or a supportive role with the mother who delivers prematurely, s/he will benefit from the extensive information provided in the chapter on breastfeeding the preterm infant. Returning to work at 6 weeks postpartum may be one of the greatest barriers mothers face in providing breastmilk to their infants. In the chapter “Maternal Employment and Breastfeeding,” the authors provide a thorough and thoughtful discussion of the complexities of this issue and offer a wide range of strategies for client education, counseling, and support. This reviewer found the small section on Herbs and Breastfeeding to be somewhat inadequate. For example, the authors mention that “more than 30 herbs are considered to be powerful galactagogues”; however, they only vaguely mention three of them and, in doing so, confuse fennel and fenugreek as the same herb. A list of “Herbs Used for Health and Breastfeeding Related Conditions” is presented, but Blessed Thistle, a commonly used herbal galactagogue, is not mentioned at all. Midwives and other practitioners seeking information for clinical guidance in the use of herbs during lactation should turn to other sources. Midwifery and nursing educators will find this book to be an excellent choice for a graduate course in breastfeeding and human lactation. With a national breastfeeding initiation rate around 60% and 6-month rates as low as 21%, health care professionals have a mandate to increase knowledge and skills in the area of human
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • Vol. 45, No. 3, May/June 2000 1526-9523/00/$20.00
lactation. It is this reviewer’s opinion that all graduate programs in women’s health, midwifery, and pediatric nursing should include in their curriculum a course on breastfeeding and human lactation, using this book as the required text. The content would also be appropriate for an undergraduate elective course in a nursing degree program. Midwives are often viewed by clients and other health professionals as experts in breastfeeding. Many midwives, however, do not consider their preparation in breastfeeding to be beyond a basic level. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation is an excellent textbook that provides the in-depth information to enable practitioners to provide a high level of care to lactating women and their babies. It deserves a place on every midwife’s shelf next to the other classics in the field of childbearing and childrearing. The Reality of Breastfeeding: Reflections by Contemporary Women. By Amy Benson Brown and Kathryn Read McPherson, editors. Westport (CN): Bergin & Garvey, 1998. 233 pages, $16.95 softcover. Reviewed by: Teak E. Nelson, RN, BSN, student, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many women make the choice to breastfeed based on the knowledge that “breast is best.” They have been told by friends, family, and health care providers that breastfeeding is easy, natural, and cost-effective. The conflictual messages sent by today’s Western society often are not encountered until breastfeeding women experience nipple soreness/cracking, nursing strikes, or harassment regarding public breastfeeding or late weaning. The Reality of Breastfeeding: Reflections by Contemporary Women is a community of stories by and for breastfeeding women and their families. In this reviewer’s opinion, there is no better resource for breastfeeding realities than women and families who have experienced this journey for themselves. This thematically arranged compilation of breastfeeding struggles and successes provides an organized medium by which parents can prepare for and be sustained through their breastfeeding experience. The editors, who are themselves breastfeeding women, have divided this compilation of essays thematically into three sections: latching on, hanging on, and moving on. This allows the reader to track specific issues during the breastfeeding journey, from establishment through weaning, in a manner that is chronological and easy to follow. The contributors have all either breastfed their own children or are family members of women who breastfed. In this reviewer’s opinion, the reflective nature in which most of the narratives are written lends confidence to the reader that conclusions drawn and emotions tied to the experiences are not sporadic in nature; but rather, the
result of months or years of contemplation and reflection. The marvelous variety among the authors allows readers from virtually any age, generation, culture, socioeconomic background, gender, or situation to identify with the breastfeeding narratives. Some breastfeeding experiences ended with nursing toddlers, others with early weaning/supplementation due to pain or lack of social support. One extreme situation even ended with infant death due to malnutrition in the concentration camps during World War II. The elastic holding all of the narratives together is the underlying message that whatever works for and is best for the breastfeeding woman and her family is acceptable, and a success in its own right. The editors state that their purpose in compiling these stories was to create a resource for parents to prepare them and provide support throughout their breastfeeding experiences. Each writer brings to their respective essay personal opinions and biases, many of which contradict each other. For example, one woman desired to continue nursing through toddlerhood, whereas another saw no reason to nurse a child old enough to request the breast. Although the opinions and solutions rendered by the authors may not be based on research, the emotions and decisions detailed are realities for the breastfeeding families who lived the experiences. As such, this book should not be utilized as a “how-to” guide for breastfeeding but, rather, as a social support for breastfeeding families and an enlightenment for health care providers and nonbreastfeeders who desire to know the realities that the breastfeeding experience can bring. Midwives and advanced practice nurses may find this book valuable for both personal development and clinical practice. In addition to formal lactation education, these narratives provide practitioners with insight into the realities of breastfeeding from their clients’ point of view. Additionally, it may stimulate health care professionals to examine their own personal beliefs about breastfeeding issues. As recommended reading for clients, this book can be used as a caveat to patient teaching and social support. This reviewer has personally recommended The Reality of Breastfeeding to antepartal clients and feels it should be offered to any family considering or currently breastfeeding. Consideration should be given to the literacy levels of the population served when recommending this book to clients. Many contributors are career writers; consequently, their narrations are written for high school level literacy or above. Because the book is a compilation of individual experiences, decisions, opinions, and reflections, there is no bibliography for further reference. The editors, however, have included a list of recommended readings, all relatively current (1986 –1998) for those readers who desire more information about the physiologic, historic,
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • Vol. 45, No. 3, May/June 2000
279