Nikki Lee Health

Thank you to Megan Kuhn, who reviewed this book.

Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers through Adoption, Surrogacy, and Other Special Circumstances

Alyssa Schell MS, IBCLC

$(US) 15.95 plus s&h, Praeclarus Press, 2013

Paperback, 242 pages, English

URL: http://praeclaruspress.com/books/breastfeeding-without-birthing/

Breastfeeding Without Birthing is a uniquely inclusive and sensitive book written for adoptive mothers, intended mothers of babies via surrogacy, foster mothers, non-gestational lesbian mothers, relactating mothers, and exclusively pumping mothers who are interested in breastfeeding. From the start, author Alyssa Schnell identifies that “…this is not a well-worn path, but it is one that you and I will travel together.” Ms. Schnell is an IBCLC, an accredited La Leche League leader and breastfeeding mother of three children: two by birth and one through the profound gift of adoption. Using her own story, and the stories of many non-birthing mothers, she warmly and informatively guides mothers on their own path to breastfeeding.

This book is written to meet two simultaneous needs: those of physiology or “how-to,” and those of the heart. The author first invites her readers into an understanding of the importance of breastfeeding for all babies, particularly those whose attachment has been disrupted – a fact that she suggests holds true, at least to some degree, for all mothers who intend to breastfeed without birthing. The book is then divided into three sections: i. Creating Your Support Network, ii. Latching – Nurturing at the Breast, iii. Making Milk – Nourishing from the Breast. Ms. Schnell identifies a rich body of evidence to enable mothers to be physiologically successful at both making milk and nurturing their babies at the breast. She provides this information in an organized and easily accessible format while simultaneously tending to the deep heart needs facing many mothers who breastfeed without giving birth: those of criticism from others, experiences of grief, and expectations of mothering success. In short, the book reads at times like a textbook with (for the most part) exemplary photographs, tables and figures; and simultaneously like the words of a knowledgeable and tender friend.

The author honors and respects the unique circumstances that breastfeeding without birthing entails. She is forthcoming of the need to respect the legal and hospital policies that impact her readers. I particularly appreciated her sensitivity to the needs of birth families, and her advice in navigating the time and place for breastfeeding in the midst of such unique and fragile circumstances.

Ms Schnell beautifully blends encouragement for mothers to set goals and empowers them with resources to meet them with threads of her sensitivity to the process and “honoring [of] the transition”.  “Meet your baby where she is and travel as far along the path to attachment and breastfeeding as is possible.” As an adoptive mother of an exclusively breastfed premature baby, I highly recommend this book as an unmatched resource for mothers interested in pursuing breastfeeding without birthing. I also feel privileged to include it in my professional library as a maternal child health care provider and believe the perspective offered within its pages are of great value to anyone caring for potential breastfeeding without birthing couplets.
Megen J. Kuhn, RN, MSN