When breasts first start to grow, no one talks about it. There aren't any greetings cards that say, 'Woo Hoo! Your breasts are developing!' but you get a birthday card when you are ten and that's just about planet Earth going around the Sun ten times. Why don't we say, "Woo Hoo!"? Because we live in a society where we often get uncomfortable and look at the floor when it comes to talking about breasts. They seem to be important in lots of ways but then there are these confusing rules that say when we're allowed to notice them and talk about them, and when we're not. This book tells you all about breasts and helps you to feel confident about their arrival. They are much more than just a pair of bumps that can fit into a bra. Breasts can do amazing things that scientists are only beginning to understand. This book says, "Woo Hoo!" and 'Wow!' and 'Isn't that amazing?' It says, "Congratulations!" and also says, "I know this feels a bit weird too." Your body has looked the same for a long time and now things are changing. That can take some getting used to. Let's get to know more about our two lifelong buddies with the WHEN, HOW and WHY of breasts.

You may be worried about breastfeeding and worried that it might 'not work'. This is a common feeling when you live in a society where breastfeeding is often sabotaged by incorrect information, patchy support from a stretched health service and powerful messages from formula companies. But it's not a feeling that is entirely logical. We are mammals. We get our name from the dangly milk-producing bits. It defines us. I'm writing this book because I would like you to be as well-prepared as possible. I would like you to breastfeed for as long as you want to and as happily as possible. I want you to feel supported. Some of this new life with baby will be about flexibility and responsiveness and acceptance. If you are used to a world of schedules and decisions and goals, it may be a bit of a shock. Learn about human biology before you think it sounds bit too scary. Babies are the products of millions of years are evolution and we are too, if we can just tap into our instincts and trust them a little bit. Success comes when we tap into those instincts and when we know when to get help when our instincts aren't answering all of our questions. Can everyone who wants to breastfeed make it work? No. It may not work out for every single person. Not everyone may be able to exclusively breastfeed due to medical issues. Most of these people can give their baby breastmilk though and I'll talk this through as well. And let's not start this journey by imagining you'll be someone who won't make it.

This comprehensive and accessible guide provides birth workers and lactation professionals with the skills to help families navigate the emotional and physical challenges of weaning. Using a compassionate, person-centred approach that prioritises the needs of both mother and child, this pioneering resource details the emotional impact of weaning and offers practical guidance and expert advice suitable for professionals and parents alike in order to facilitate complex decision-making processes and set healthy boundaries. Enriched with the voices of parents talking about their individual weaning experiences, this is a much-needed, empathetic approach to the complex journey of weaning.

This evidence-based guide for professionals covers essential information to help support parents breastfeeding past the first six months, including starting solids alongside breastfeeding, nursing manners, and common problems and challenges. The recommendation of breastfeeding beyond six months is well-established, but many birth professionals don't feel confident enough to support parents. This book, packed with case studies of real-life parents and practical tips, helps to educate healthcare professionals - as well as parents themselves - to feel better informed. Each chapter combines professional, research-led evidence with a parent-focused resource section for a fully integrative approach. Centring families and their personal journeys, Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond is an invaluable guide for all lactation consultants, birthing professionals, healthcare workers and parents.