Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck How to Nurture Your Baby and Your Mental Health

Painful latch, delayed milk, low supply, oversupply, infections, and tongue-tie are just some of the issues that can imperil breastfeeding. Postpartum anxiety and depression can make things even harder.

This book aims to help expectant and new mothers reach their breastfeeding goals and care for their babies with confidence. While new motherhood is challenging, there are ways to make it easier. A mother's mental and physical health are essential, and that is the focus of this book. 

The scientific literature tells us that breastfeeding creates a powerful physiological response in the mother, which protects her mental health. When breastfeeding is going well, it prompts a powerful physiological mechanism that can help minimize the stress and inflammatory responses that underlie depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

 Author Kathy Kendall-Tackett is a board-certified lactation consultant and researcher in breastfeeding, depression, trauma, and women's health psychology. Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck is an evidence-based guide full of practical advice to enhance your physical and psychological well-being so that you and your baby can thrive.



 

Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, FAPA, is a health psychologist and international board-certified lactation consultant. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in health and trauma psychology. She has been an accredited La Leche League leader for 26 years and served in many board and leadership positions. She was the founding editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Lactation and is currently editor-in-chief of Psychological Trauma. Dr. Kendall-Tackett has authored 490 articles and is the author or editor of 40 books including the bestselling Breastfeeding Made Simple (with Nancy Mohrbacher) and the Clinical Lactation Monograph Series. Visit kathleenkendall-tackett.com and follow @UptySciChick.

Preface: Breastfeeding Doesn’t Have to Suck
Section I: The Fundamentals
Chapter 1: A Primer on Breastfeeding
Chapter 2: The Five I’s of New Motherhood
Chapter 3: Breastfeeding: Learned or Instinctual?
Chapter 4: Breastfeeding and Your Mental Health
Section II: Positioning, Latch, and Nipple Pain
Chapter 5: Baby on Your Breast: Positioning and Attachment
Chapter 6: Sore Nipples and Engorgement
Section III:Milk Production: How it Works and How to Spot Difficulties
Chapter 7: Making Milk: How You Can Know Your Baby is Getting Enough
Chapter 8: Delayed Lactogenesis II and Insufficient Milk
Section IV: Sleep and Nighttime Feeding
Chapter 9: Breastfeeding, Sleep, and Mental Health
Chapter 10: Bedsharing and Infant Sleep Location
Section V: Finding Breastfeeding Support
Chapter 11: Family and Community Support
Chapter 12: Hospital, Healthcare Provider, and Lactation Consultant Support
Chapter 13: What Postpartum Support Could Be
Section VI: Caring for Your Mental Health
Chapter 14: Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and D-MER
Chapter 15: Breastfeeding after a Traumatic Birth Experience
Chapter 16: Breastfeeding after Childhood Abuse, Adversities, and Sexual Assault
Section VII: Moving Beyond the Early Days
Chapter 17: Employment and the Breastfeeding Mother
Chapter 18: When You Can’t Feed at the Breast
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Index List