Book review: Breastfeeding made easy by Carlos Gonzalez

I guess nothing in the world can prepare you for something you have never experienced until you actually try it yourself. As I intend to breastfeed I was delighted to know that I have been picked to review "Breastfeeding made easy" book by Carlos Gonzalez (£11.99)- a pediatrician, father of 3 and a breastfeeding supporter. 

He tackles many real life questions from how to get started through to solids and going back to work.  He also covers treating illness, how to succeed in difficult circumstances and the importance of good support and how to access it.  

In his characteristic friendly style, and by tackling head-on the real- life questions mothers have about breastfeeding, he explains:

• How breastfeeding works, and why most mothers, with support, can do it if they want to
• How myths and misinformation can derail mothers, and how to avoid this 
• How to manage introducing solid foods, weaning from the breast, and going back to work 
• The proven heath benefits of breastfeeding, for babies and their mothers 
• How treating illness, in mother and baby, needn’t mean the end of breastfeeding 
• How breastfeeding can succeed even in difficult circumstances 
• The importance of good breastfeeding support, and how to access it. 

What I wanted to learn from the book: I was expecting for it to give me clues on how to breastfeed, positions, best time for breastfeeding and something that can make breastfeeding easy.

I must admit that after reading the First Chapter I thought that I won't carry on reading as it was too "heavy", it had a scientific feel to it which made it more difficult for me to "attach" to as a book. As I was determined to read the book I carried on with other chapters.

Carlos comes across as knowledgeable, reassuring and a supportive person, which I think is essential. He talks about breastfeeding on demand, that it can not only be what baby wants, but when mother wants it too (within reason).

Throughout the book he mentions the term "western mothers", and the fact that he doesn't approve of their approach to breastfeeding or the way they think e.g. "My milk is drying up, I must give him another bottle" or "Poor little thing, he was crying because he had a lot of gas". He says that breastfeeding on demand has always existed and scheduled feeds are a modern invention.

Carlos gives valuable advice in each chapter but due to the volume of information it makes it difficult to digest as some of us prefer a quick "dip" (for that you can use detailed content section) into the book for a quick answer or someone prefers more tables and illustrations.

Unfortunately for me as a first-time parent (to-be) none of the information properly sank in, therefore I would recommend this book, but for those parents who have time on their hands to read the book and to dig in information, for second, third..time parents who already know what to do but looking for an alternative view.

DISCLAIMER: I was sent the above item for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinion are my own.