Comments:

1. I had to throw out (figuratively) all parenting books when Helen was about 6 months old because she was developing slower as a preemie and the books were driving me nuts. So I guess I don't have any parenting bibles.
   
   Has anyone used this breastfeeding book? I had issues with breastfeeding Helen (I think entirely related to her being a preemie), and I'm nervous about getting it going for the next kid. I only bf for 6 weeks with Helen, so it's the one part of parenting that I feel completely unprepared for.      by honeybunny
   
2. I understand. I must have read about every sleep book out there, but did not really love any of them b/c nothing seemed to apply or work for us. In the end, I did what felt natural to me, which I think is what we all mostly do as moms. I think the books that address certain issues such as breastfeeding, sleeping, discipline, etc. (rather than the general parenting books) can certainly be very helpful, but I personally don't have any parenting bibles either.      by Csara
   
3. Although I didn't breastfeed either child for very long at all, the book that helped me so much was "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding". It came in the bag that you get at the hospital and I loved it. It really explained things really easily.
   
   Not a breastfeeding book but, I always recommend "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Karp. I love that book, it gave me a whole different perspective on the first 3 months of a newborn's life.
   
   I have so many sleep books. I took the bits and pieces that worked for me from each book -- I don't think that you can subscribe to any one 'formula' when it comes to sleep, you have to do the things that feel right and throw the other stuff out the window. I really like "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr Weissbluth. It can be a little bit 'textbooky' (boring to read!) but he outlines sleep very, very well. I don't agree with his extinction method, but I have used a lot of his other advice and techniques.      by Deana
   
4. Quote:

   I had issues with breastfeeding Helen (I think entirely related to her being a preemie), and I'm nervous about getting it going for the next kid. I only bf for 6 weeks with Helen, so it's the one part of parenting that I feel completely unprepared for.

   I had the same trouble with B. How early was Helen? B was only four weeks early, but that is when they just start developing the sucking reflex and B had a really hard time nursing. We officially quit at 4 months, but really most of the time I was just pumping bottles except at night. It's my biggest concern with the next kid too. Just look at this thread http://www.babytalkers.com/forums/co...cy-dreams.html and that will tell you about my bf fears! All I know is, if the new baby has as much trouble as B did I am not going to sit and take the time to pump like I did with B. She's just going to have to drink formula because that was so draining and it really made me sore!      by B'sgirl
   
5. I realized the whole post I just posted had nothing to do with the actual topic, so I removed it. oops. I was just venting about my own issues. haha.
   
   I don't have a baby/pg/nursing "bible" so to speak, but I did read a million pregnancy related books/breastfeeding articles before having C.... I felt that they did prepare me somewhat.      by IUgrad02
   
6. The BF books that were my bibles include:
   
   Hirkani's Daughters: Women Who Scale Modern Mountains to Combine Breastfeeding and Working by Jennifer Hicks
   
   Medications and Mothers' Milk by Dr. Thomas W. Hale
   
   Bestfeeding: Getting Breastfeeding Right For You
   Bestfeeding: How to Breastfeed Your Baby
   Breastfeeding: Getting Breastfeeding Right for You
   
   This picture cracks me up but here I am with Josilyn just hours home from the hospital looking up nipple trauma in my Bestfeeding book.      by jessica
   
7. Ha, ha! Love the picture Jess.
   
   B'sgirl - Helen was 5 weeks early and weighed just 4lbs, 12 oz. We were concerned that she didn't have much weight to lose, so we supplemented from the beginning. The main issue was the she was too sleepy to nurse effectively and that affected my supply (at least I'm hoping that's what affected my supply and not some issue with my own body). We nursed/pumped/bottle fed/supplemented for 6 weeks and then I called it quits because the ratio of breastmilk to formula was decreasing as she got older. My body just couldn't keep up.      by honeybunny
   
8. I'd say for me it wasn't any one breastfeeding book that helped. Actually if I had paid any attention to the most breastfeeding literature, I would have thrown in the towel. Our son was born with absolutely no suck reflex and low blood sugar. Because of the low blood sugar, we were forced to supplement right away. And he still had problems with a bottle because of the no suck reflex. I had three different lactaction consultants at the hospital completely baffled. And of course the LCs and any books were convinced since he was on the bottle first, he would NEVER get the breast.
   
   For the first 3 weeks, I pumped exclusively (and pumping exclusively is torture). I would offer him the breast, he would cry, I would cry and then i would give him a bottle. At some point around 3 weeks old, he got it. He wouldn't get it every time (especially if he was super sleepy in the middle of the night) but eventually it became where he was exclusively breastfed. For me the thing that worked is persistence. Obviously I do know that isn't the answer for everyone because not all babies, boobiess, and mommies are created equally.
   
   I think for me I almost found many of the books and the LCs frustrating because they made me feel like there was no turning back after giving him a bottle... and there was a certain amount of implying that the Mom is doing something wrong. All 3 of the LCs in the hospital came into my room (after hearing of my difficulties) thinking they were going to save the world and solve my problems and they all walked out saying "You are doing everything right, he just won't suck."      by bjlong1
   
9. Oh... and jessica... that pictures is classic! As I spent many an hour those first few weeks, scouring breastfeeding and baby books.      by bjlong1
   
10. Geez, how many times can I post? Haha!
    
    I really liked the same book Deana recommended "Happiest Baby on the Block" for those first few months. I felt it really helped me understand what is like for the baby to all of the sudden be out in the big bad world. I have a gazillion other books but so far i don't have one sleeping book that I follow yet. I'm still just flying by the seat of my pants on that topic. I do like the "Touchpoints" book and I refer to "Baby 411" on some topics just because it is easy nightitme reading... plus it's milestones chart I find to be a bit more realistic. If I went by some of the other books milestones, my child would have been delay in everything.      by bjlong1