Best Breastfeeding Books of 2023

Is nursing something you’d want to learn more about? Is there anything more satisfying than being able to hold a book in your hands that has all the information you want without having to resort to an online search? Are you attempting to stay away from books written by people you don’t trust or books that have a history of providing bad advice? If so, have a look at our selection of the best breastfeeding books of 2023. There are thousands of people who have found these books useful, and we can vouch for their efficacy ourselves. Throughout your nursing adventure, you may rely on them as a reliable resource.

When to Begin Reading about Breastfeeding?

It’s ideal to start learning about prenatal care as early as possible throughout your pregnancy. With so much time to prepare, you’ll be ready to start breastfeeding your baby as soon as she or he is delivered with the right supplies.

As soon as your baby is born, you should begin feeding him or her breast milk. When you give your infant the first few drops of colostrum, you are helping to create their complete immune system.

Our Top Picks for The Best Breastfeeding Books

1. The Nursing Mother’s Companion

Breastfeeding isn’t an instinct, and this book finally acknowledges that. This book will be particularly useful to those women who have been misled about the benefits of nursing. Many of us have been told that we’ll know exactly what to do when it’s time to breastfeed, but here we hear the accounts of women who explain how difficult it may be to do so.

If you’re looking for a guide on breastfeeding, Kathleen Huggins’ book, “The Nursing Mother’s Companion,” is an excellent resource. In this book, you’ll learn about breast pump reviews and how much milk your baby needs. As a result, it will teach you how to deal with some of the difficulties and setbacks you may encounter.

Even more, it provides guidance on non-breastfeeding topics, including co-sleeping and SIDS. Since Huggins is a lactation consultant and a certified nurse, readers can rely on her expertise.

Pros

• This is a large book, clocking in at 368 pages
• Huggins’ background as a doctor provides her a lot of trustworthiness among her audience
• It is much easier to locate material in a book that has been meticulously indexed

Cons

• There are certain passages that get a little tedious

2. Work. Pump. Repeat.

Jessica Shortall’s book “Work. Pump. Repeat.” is a great resource for busy women who want to give their infant the greatest nutritious start in life while balancing their employment.

As a working mother of two, Shortall is well-versed in the challenges of raising a family and balancing a hard profession. With her employment, she traveled the globe while pumping milk for her children. How to plan workplace pumping schedules and what to do if you’re on the go for a few days are covered in this book. The pumping circumstances that many women endure while at work are also addressed by this product. When you’ve got a freezer full of food, you’ll know how to deal with tricky circumstances at work.

This book will show you that even if pumping at work isn’t fun, you can get through it. Breastfeeding your kid doesn’t have to be a choice between working and taking care of your child. This book is full of anecdotes and information from working women that will inspire you.

Makes for a simple and entertaining read because of Shortall’s conversational tone.

Pros

• Entertaining book
• Covers every aspect of pumping in the workplace
• Anyone can pump while touring the world, since this book was written by someone who has done so

Cons

• No shortage of tales, but not enough checklists to keep things organized
• In spite of your hectic schedule, this book may be too short at 208 pages

3. Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding twins is the subject of a whole chapter in this book. With several children, mothers learn how to multitask in a safe manner. In the midst of the difficulties of motherhood, you may find yourself tempted to give up and call it quits. With this chapter at your side, you’ll be well on your way to accomplishing your nursing objectives.

Other topics include how to care for a sick infant, how to work outside the house, what you’ll need to start breastfeeding, and even how to wean your child.

With more than decades of experience as a trained professional midwife, author Ina May Gaskin is an excellent source of information for new mothers.

352 pages long, this book will guide you from the first day of your baby’s life until they are no longer dependent on your breast milk.

Pros

• The author is a midwife with a lot of expertise
• The health advantages of breastfeeding are discussed in the book, which serves as an excellent source of inspiration through trying times
• Unlike some other works, this one covers the topic of identical twins in great detail

Cons

• Breastfeeding while working may have been better explained
• Some parents may not be interested in learning about the history of nursing in the United States, which is covered in the book

4. Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple

When it comes to returning to work after childbirth, Nancy Mohrbacher devotes an entire chapter to this topic. Every step of breastfeeding and pumping is covered in this book.

Breastfeeding parents returning to school are also included in the curriculum, as are working moms. The chapter about reasonable pumping expectations is also a favorite of ours. For more than a decade, the author ran a private lactation company.

There are several advantages to this comprehensive guide, which includes information on both nursing and pumping. 

Pros

• The author has a good grasp of the subject matter
• Helpful information may be found in the section on a baby’s milk requirements by age

Cons

• The length of this lengthy book might have been much reduced
• It’s informative, yet it’s missing a human touch

5. Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk

If you aren’t nursing but still want your baby to have breast milk, Stephanie Casemore’s “Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk” is a great resource.

Emotional aspects of solely pumping are addressed in this book. Some of the most common pumping challenges are also addressed in this guide.

Preemie parents will enjoy the advice tailored specifically to their needs, while all moms will benefit from the in-depth storage instructions. Until pumping is a habit, visualizing how frequently you should do it can help beginners make the most of the timetables she provides.

As a new mom, Casemore discovered the benefits of solely pumping. Mother and teacher, she is also an award-winning author who resides in Canada. The book is large and contains a wealth of information on pumping, both physically and mentally.

Pros 

• You could pump for a longer period of time as a result of this
• The book has a good flow to it
• Everything you need to know about pumping for exclusive use is here

Cons

• For some mothers, this may be too much repetition
• The tone of the book should have been improved

Wrapping Up

When it comes to nursing, a big part of the struggle is not giving up. To keep you going, the best breastfeeding books will motivate you.

Breastfeeding mothers who are committed to the long-term health of their infants will appreciate this list , which was designed with them in mind. Rather than just describing it, it’s written by someone who’s really done it. It’s a great way to study while having fun.