by Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher, and Suzanne Arms

For a baby, breastfeeding fulfills a deep biological need which builds the immune system, provides perfect nutrition, and fosters the mother-baby bond and child development.  For more than a decade, the best-selling book, "Bestfeeding," has been recognized by nurses, midwives, dotors, lactation consultants, and nursing mothers as the definitive text on breastfeeding.  The authors are experienced women who have assisted tens of thousands of mothers to breastfeed successfully and enjoy it for as long as they and their babies desire.  "Bestfeeding" is the culmination of seventy years of hands-on experience from these three dedicated and internationally respected authors.  This brand new version of the classic, with it elegant and easy-to-read design, blends academic knowledge, clinical expertise, and practical skills to educate first-time and experienced mothers as well as health workers about breastfeeding, to make it rewarding and deeply satisfying for both mother and child.

"Bestfeeding" recognizes that breastfeeding is not only the simplest and best way to feed a baby, but also a skill that must be learned.  Fully illustrated with dozens of accurate photos of women from all walks of life and diverse cultures, plus clear drawings that demonstrate what works and what doesn't, this book gives tried-and-true solutions to both simple and unusual problems, as well as remedies for mothers and babies with special needs.

Topics include proper posture and positions, medical and dietary concerns, feeding multiple and adopted babies, caring for older children, recognizing and resolving problems before they become serious, and tips for working mothers.  It offers a detailed discussion of the many physiological and psychological benefits of breastfeeding.  Personal stories of women overcoming a variety of difficulties are shared, and each chapter is summarized for easy reference.  The book even includes a list of myths and truths to help the reader understand and avoid the conflicting, inaccurate advice so commonly heard today.

Much more than mere food, breastfeeding offers a unique opportunity to share love and comfort and for a baby to receive its primary needs from the one person every baby wants to be closest to -- its mother.  "Bestfeeding" educates where education lacks.  Mother's breast creates a different formulation of milk based upon her baby's specific needs, whether it is ill, premature, having a growth spurt; and breast milk changes from day to day, even feed to feed.

With just the right blend of sensitivity, information, and wisdom, "Bestfeeding" makes it possible for women to do what women have always known: that breastfeeding is simply the best and most pleasurable way to nourish a baby.

Mary Renfrew is professor of midwifery studies and director of the Mother and Infant Research Unit at the University of Leeds, England.  Chloe Fisher, a midwife for more than 30 years, has helped more than 10,000 mothers and babies breastfeed successfully.

Suzanne Arms, a pioneer in the childbirth movement since 1975, received the prestigious Lamaze International Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the world of birthing.  The August 2004 edition of "Bestfeeding : How To Breastfeed Your Baby" is published by Berkeley, California-based Celestial Arts, which provided the information for this article.

(Nearly twenty years ago when we were still publishing "Parents Bulletin" for The Parents' Theosophical Research Group, we discussed the esoteric effects of breastfeeding upon the baby's immune system.  Some occultists believed that the "vitality" of breast milk nourishes the baby's thymus gland, therefore creating natural immunity throughout the body.  The traditional Ayurvedic perspective from India also echoes this model. "Mother's milk promotes 'ojas' in the body of the child, so it is important that the child receives mother's milk in order to develop biological strength," according to Dr. Vasant Lad. - KM)

from For the Love of Life Winter, 2004