Breastfeeding Grief: Understanding and Recovery
Available 1st August 2024
In a world where 80% of mothers say they failed to breastfeed, this book delves into the complexities of breastfeeding difficulties. Looking at a broader picture and providing solace for mothers who feel they failed their breastfeeding goals by reframing the narrative - these challenges are not based on an individual's failings, but rather reflect broader societal issues.
By addressing feelings of shame, grief, and processing your trauma, you can focus on embracing parenthood without the weight of past experiences holding you back.
Whether you're seeking answers or searching for ways to heal, "Breastfeeding Grief - Understanding and Recovery" offers a compassionate and inclusive guide to navigating the complexities of breastfeeding grief and embarking on a journey toward recovery.
Why is this book needed?
Around 80% of mums start breastfeeding, but about 80% of those mums say they stopped breastfeeding before they wanted to. They typically blame themselves, but years of working in the infant feeding world has taught my colleagues and myself that this self blame is nearly always misdirected. Failure to breastfeed is usually linked to a lack of good quality, consistent support for women and parents to meet their goals - it is indicative of a bigger feminist issue.
When people fail to breastfeed, they are at a significantly increased risk of postnatal depression and even feelings of trauma related to breastfeeding. Many of the parents I work with are even reluctant to have a second baby because of their negative breastfeeding experiences.
This book aims to bring an understanding to the bigger picture reasons for breastfeeding failure, helping parents to reframe their guilt and shame in a way that allows them to begin to heal. The second half of the book takes this awareness a step further by offering practical exercises and tips to actively work through difficult feelings.
What People Are Saying
“I wasn’t sure that a single book would be able to cover so many of my specific feelings relating to the grief I have felt due to the complicated feeding journey I experienced with my son. Your book touches on so many feelings that I hadn’t even identified for myself and helped me unlock and understand how my difficulties began, how society is set up to fail mothers and I found the practical advice to help me manage my feelings really useful. The mix of real mums experiences and the well referenced studies give evidence-based information that gives a real weight to the points being made. I will be buying more copies as I have so many friends who I feel would really benefit from reading this supportive and positive book.”— Jess
“I am currently breastfeeding my third child. None of my breastfeeding journeys went as I had imagined, each one unique and special regardless. I hadn’t realised how much grief I had been holding on to until I read Lucy’s book. It gave me a chance to think about each breastfeeding journey and reflect, heal and remember everything I had achieved. This book gives a wealth of information, in great detail, from every angle. It is written with kindness and at its heart the desire to help people with their feelings around grief, but also to arm them with well needed information.
I wish this book had existed before I had my children. Lucy has put so much thought into this book. It is inclusive, emotive, full of vital information that covers everything. Whether you are currently breastfeeding, previously breastfed, a family member or professional, this book is for you.
I highly recommend this book!”— Holly
“As a peer supporter, I found it an incredibly helpful resource for exploring and reviewing what can affect breastfeeding journeys, what support can be improved for families and what we as peers can do and suggest when people are struggling with breastfeeding grief. I particularly loved the sections on reframing thoughts and ways to feel reconnected and I think families would really benefit from more health professionals, practitioners and peer supporters having the knowledge to use and teach these skills. Whilst this is of course, an excellent book for parents who are struggling with grief, or have struggled in the past, I think it should be essential reading for those who support families in the early days of breastfeeding and parenting. “— Charlie
