This book is the Bible of low milk supply! This excellent book is geared towards mothers currently struggling with low milk supply and for mothers who may have struggled with their milk supply with a previous baby and who would like to be proactive and try to figure out what possibly went wrong so that they can try to fix it for a subsequent baby. It is also a valuable reference guide and resource for professionals working with breastfeeding mothers.
The material presented is primarily evidence(research)-based, but that said, is not too technical for the average reader. It focuses on a step-by-step investigative approach to figuring out where your problem(s) with low milk supply are originating, and then offers helpful and practical ideas for going about improving your milk supply in a practical and non-blaming way. It does not promise a full milk supply for everyone, but I think if you try some of the ideas found in this book (those that are applicable to your situation), you will certainly end up with an improved milk supply at the very least. There are no "one-size fits all" remedies here and you do have to start at the beginning and read through the book in it's entirety or you may miss out on lots of important information. There are no magic bullets here either-- if you want to increase your milk supply it will probably take a lot of time and energy figuring out why it's low in the first place, and then you'll have to put in even more time tailoring remedies to suit your unique situation. Some of the solutions presented are more conventional (i.e., using medications like Motilium), and some are more "thinking outside of the box" (using alternatives like chiropractic, naturopathic and homeopathic medicine for example), but if you approach this book with an open mind, everyone is sure to find something they can comfortably work with.
I have to say that I find the other review rather unhelpful and frankly, quite inaccurate, and I have to wonder if they actually read the whole book or just skimmed through it to find what they were looking for (exactly what you shouldn't do with a book like this). I say that because they complain that there is nothing in this book about beer being used as a galactogogue (an agent that stimulates or increases the secretion of milk) when that is not the case at all. The authors do mention grain-based beverages (including but not limited to beer) as being helpful for some women to increase milk supply. From the book: "The effects of alcohol (ethanol) on breastfeeding have been widely debated. Mothers have long been advised to drink a glass of beer or wine to relax and get their milk flowing. Beer especially has been recommended, and a positive effect on milk supply has indeed been documented. However, it's actually the polysaccharide from barley that stimulates milk syntheses; a good nonalcoholic beer has the same effect. Alcohol itself inhibits both the milk ejection reflex and milk production, especially when taken in large amounts. Even a moderate amount, such as a single beer or glass of wine, can disrupt the balance of lactation hormones in breastfeeding women. While the immediate effects of alcohol on milk production and delivery last only as long as the alcohol is in your system, chronic alcohol use has the potential to lower your milk supply overall." (p.74-5)
Chapters in this book:
' Investigating Your Milk Supply
' Understanding Your Milk Factory
' What's Normal and What's Not
' How to Know If There Really Is a Problem
' Making the Most of What You Have
' Supplementing Without Decreasing Your Milk Supply
' Getting Your Milk Supply Off to a Good Start
' Investigating Causes of Low Milk Production
' Is It Something You're Doing?
' Is It Something Your Baby Is Doing?
' Is It Something About Your Breasts?
' Is It Your Hormones?
' Can Your Mind Affect Your Supply?
' Increasing Milk Production
' Physical Techniques to Make More Milk
' Galactogogues: Foods, Herbs, and Medications That Stimulate Milk Production
' Making More Milk When You Return To Work or School
' Making More Milk in Special Situations: Exclusive Pumping, Premies, Multiples, Relactation, and Induced Lactation
' Surviving the Present and Planning for the Future
' Coping with Low Milk Supply
' What About Next Time?
and contains an Appendix: Galactogogue Tables, References and an Index.
If you are interested in putting in the time and effort to figure out why you are having problems with your milk supply, and are willing to put in an equal (and sometimes even longer) amount of time addressing those problem(s), then this book is definitely for you and well worth the investment. I recommend it whole-heartedly!
