Book Reviews | Motherworldly

06 Jun

Book Review: Breastfeeding Made Easy, by Carlos Gonzales

Carlos Gonzales writes as though he is giving a TED talk. In places, his stridency is amusing; but mostly it is just strident. I cannot tell if it would come across the same way in the original Spanish, or if this is a tonal quirk of the translation, but I did experience the same sense of being exhorted to follow his well-argued directions in his earlier books, and for this reason I would be very unlikely to share them with parents.

Breastfeeding Made Easy is a dense book filled with much confusing detail, and is quite outdated. For example, on p53 he discusses “foremilk and hindmilk,” a concept from which most breastfeeding authorities have moved on. Gonzales is, furthermore, highly prescriptive in his approach to positioning and attachment, and there is no mention at all of laid-back breastfeeding. He makes several sweeping statements that many parents would rightly disagree with. Here’s one:

breastfeeding stops being an issue when the baby starts eating solids (p84)

To which I say: hm, define “issue.”

The book also swings from exhaustively detailed advice such as that given on maternal diet (which in fact has very little impact on milk quantity or composition), to peculiar inclusions in the list of maternal conditions that may affect breastfeeding such as myopia – which, obviously, doesn’t affect it at all.

There are far more useful breastfeeding books available; this one is little more than an eyebrow-raising curiosity.

[Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book by the publishers Pinter & Martin]

05 Jun

Book Review: The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan – Alison Scott-Wright

I have come across this book a few times, and eventually someone gave me a copy so that I could read it cover to cover at my leisure. Having flicked first to the breastfeeding section and read the advice not to drink champagne lest it give the baby wind, I was tempted to drop it straight in the bin. But no, I persisted, so that you don’t ever have to.

Alison Scott-Wright is very much from the same school as Clare Byam-Cook, whose awful book she recommends; and really you don’t need to know much more than that. If you consider your baby to be a time-consuming, manipulative bore with no feelings, the Plan will suit you just fine. However if you wish to meet your tiny human’s needs following your parental instincts and the best available evidence, and your well-meaning aunt has given you a copy of this book, perhaps treat it as a “how not to parent a baby” guide.

Feel free, in the latter case, to ignore ASW’s basic premise that breastfeeding is really too difficult to bother with; a position that must be continually supported with anecdata from clients having trouble getting breastfeeding to work under the rules she prescribes. Feel free not to ensure your legs are at a 90 degree angle to your body (p41), not to restrict feeds to 3-hourly as soon as possible (p43), not to express five times in 24 hours in addition to breastfeeding on demand (p46), and take with a huge pinch of salt that breastmilk may be made unnatural and impure by environmental pollution. Amuse yourself instead with the mental image of cows living in clinical conditions, wearing nappies and using the finest organic antibacterial gel on their udders at milking time. Should you decide to use formula, please please disregard her instructions for making up bottles in advance, which is in direct opposition to evidence-based guidance from the NHS.

None of her terrible advice about feeding has very much to do with sleep, so let us move on to ignoring what she says about that. ASW likes to cherry-pick the research and twist it to fit her entrenched opinions. So for example she quotes Sue Gerhardt on early emotional development and uses this to argue in favour of her cruel and neglectful plan. If she had read more than the back cover of Why Love Matters, she would find herself in the uncomfortable position of having to reflect on how damaging her advice must be.

ASW does not, however, make any reference at all to the UK’s foremost authority on infant sleep, the work of Professor Helen Ball and Doctor Charlotte Russell at the Durham Infant Sleep Lab, where they undertake rigorous research and provide useful evidence-based information to support parents. And for this reason, the reader may also be at liberty to ignore the “baby’s daily sleep requirements” (p72), fully debunked by Charlotte Russell on Sprogcast last year. On p80, ASW dangerously disagrees with current safe sleeping guidelines, overruling the Back To Sleep campaign on the basis that she tends to believe that the babies for whom her plan does not work must surely have reflux; and also ignoring the increased risk of SIDS for a baby sleeping in their own room before the age of six months. It would also be absolutely acceptable to take no notice whatsoever of her claim that she “often advises introducing solids… from 16 weeks,” (p85) or her recommendation that parents water down formula or limit breastfeeds at night as early as 4 weeks, thereby depriving the baby of essential nutrients and comfort – surely a far more serious risk to the child’s physical and emotional wellbeing than that posed by sleep deprivation.

All parents can definitely disregard the long parent-blaming list of ways they can get their babies’ sleep wrong on p155; and unless the baby has a medical diagnosis of reflux, they can also take no notice of the 50 pages devoted to that subject. In fact, even with such a diagnosis, it might be wise to ignore the unqualified ASW’s unqualified opinions on this matter, and seek the support of a trained specialist.

ASW’s promise is that if you follow her “flexible” plan TO THE LETTER, then your baby will sleep through the night by 8 weeks. She has had 100% success with this. The only reasons why this incredible plan might not work are if the baby has reflux, or if the parents have been doing it wrong. Even teething “should not be used as an excuse” (p92). But never fear, silly parents, if you have got yourself into such a “hopeless situation” (p157), there is still hope! You can adopt her cosily-named “sleepy time” reassurance technique (p170) which is basically leaving the baby to cry, even if they “vomit to order” (p193).

This sleep is indeed sensational: sensationally cruel, ill-informed, and quite possibly harmful. I do not recommend this book.

30 May

Book Review: Birth Work as Care Work, by Alana Apfel

Birth Work as Care Work is an important introduction to the subject of intersectionality in the birth movement, drawing out themes of oppression and inequality through the stories of women.

Alana Apfel and her contributors identify the challenges of a profit-driven healthcare system dominating birth, and a society where “white volunteerism” overlooks the real lived diverse experience of birthing women in communities that are not their own. Apfel creates a space for birth workers to be heard on both a personal and a political level, including four beautiful birth stories.

I found this book challenging to read as a white middle class cis woman, because although I am steeped in a culture of empowerment, of being “with woman,” and of respect and awe of the birthing body, the contributors are quite deliberately not talking to me. Reading it has been a good lesson in making myself aware of the water I swim in, and not trying to “fix” others’ experience from within my own frame of reference.

This is a recommended read for anyone interested in the broad political and social context of birth, and wiling to feel like our work is radical, valuable, and important.

[Disclaimer: The author sent me a free copy of her book]. We will be chatting with Alana in Sprogcast Episode 27.

21 Mar

Book Review: The Positive Birth Book, by Milli Hill

This is an interesting and extremely thorough manual for birth, written by Positive Birth Movement founder Milli Hill, whose passion for improving childbirth shines out of every page.

The obvious comparison is with ‘How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out,’ being published around the same time and for a similar audience. But The Positive Birth Book is much less yummy mummy guidebook and more thinking woman’s handbook, with comprehensive chapters looking in depth at the decisions to make during pregnancy, the experience of labour, different kinds of support, ways of working with pain, and a lot less shopping.

Hill takes a strong evidence-based position, referring extensively to NICE guidelines, and with contributions from other very respectable authorities including Birthrights’ Rebecca Schiller and ABM Chair Emma Pickett. Usually I skip through the personal anecdotes, but they have been used really effectively in this book, breaking up an otherwise non-stop march of densely factual information.

A particular strength of The Positive Birth Book is the chapter describing what labour is “really like.” A tricky subject to cover, given all the possible individual experiences, and inevitably it’s a long chapter with some idiosyncratic but accurate descriptions. Hill goes on to argue the case for writing a birth plan, and she’s right that the process involves some engagement with the subject rather than washing one’s hands of any involvement in what might unfold. This is a difficult case to make, knowing that so many women struggle to come to terms with disappointment and grief when birth doesn’t meet their expectations. There is a good case for providing information and some decision-making strategies, which this book also does. A cute ‘visual birth plan’ tool is also offered.

A final chapter provides a taster of post-birth existence, touching on the fourth trimester concept, some basic but happily accurate information about breastfeeding, and postnatal feelings and changes. Here Hill signposts rather than going into much detail, since this would go beyond the remit of this already very detailed book.

I know that much inspiration and information for The Positive Birth Book was crowd-sourced, and the results have been articulately curated by Milli Hill into a really wonderful resource for pregnant women who are keen to do their research and take ownership of their birth experience.

[Disclaimer: I was sent a free review copy of The Positive Birth Book. You can get it from Pinter & Martin, with a 10% discount if you use the code SPROGCAST at the checkout.]

16 Mar

Book Review: Why Hypnobirthing Matters, by Katrina Berry

This interesting little book explores the development of hypnobirthing as an approach to childbirth, from its origins in the thinking of Grantley Dick-Read, to its modern usage in situations from freebirth to caesarean and beyond. Author Katrina Berry points out what a useful coping technique it can be for early parenthood and for life in general.

The book goes on to explain how hypnobirthing works, and its relevance for birth partners and midwives. It does not claim it as the province of one particular type of birth, but does emphasise its role in increasing the likelihood of a straightforward birth, and offers information to empower women to make their own choices in any situation.

It finishes with a useful comparison of the different hypnobirthing tribes, in their own voices. This gives a real flavour of the slight changes in perspective from one programme to another.

Parents-to-be or practitioners with an interest in hypnobirthing can use this book to learn about what it is, and then decide which path will help them on their own journey.

[Disclaimer: I was given a free review copy of this book by the publisher Pinter & Martin. You can buy it here, with a 10% discount using the code SPROGCAST at checkout.]

09 Mar

Book Review: Open My Eyes, That I May See Marvellous Things, by Alice Allan

My partner Pete, reading it in a damp narrowboat in Bath, UK

Open My Eyes is the first novel from an author whose life experience has provided her with the richest material with which to craft a beautiful story. Mariam is a midwife volunteering in Addis Ababa, where she encounters both her past and her future in ways she does not expect. She finds herself fighting for the life of an abandoned premature baby, using the unconventional methods of kangaroo care and donated human milk. Meanwhile she antagonises hospital management, dates a handsome doctor, and tries to piece together a sense of her own pre-adoption world.

Alice Allan creates a real sense of the colours and dust and smells of Ethiopia, while telling the tale from multiple perspectives, so that each character’s story develops at its own pace. But this is not just a book about falling in love with a baby; we also have a mild thriller smouldering alongside Mariam’s story, although there is little for readers to figure out, and the rest of the book is so strong that this plot is not really crucial.

The biggest strength of the book is the chapters written from the baby’s perspective. I have never read prose that so powerfully captures the sensations of a newborn. If you need a way to convey the baby’s limited, terrifying world, or the importance of skin to skin and comfort, Alice Allan does this with the most poignant and effective insight. I read three pages of this book to a group of colleagues, and the effect was breathtaking.

This is a many-threaded story, and the central thread is that tiny fragile human, buffeted by the needs and the limitations of the adults in her world. It’s really wonderful to read fiction so heartfelt, so accurate, and so moving.

I’m intrigued to chat with Alice Allan for a future edition of Sprogcast (coming out on 25th April 2017), discussing both this lovely novel and her own fascinating life story.

[Disclaimer: I was sent a free preview copy of Open My Eyes. You can buy one from Pinter & Martin here, and don’t forget the 10% discount you can get by using the code SPROGCAST at the checkout.]

24 Feb

Book Review: How to grow a baby and push it out, by Clemmie Hooper

Clemmie Hooper is the new Mark Harris: the midwife all the talk shows want, popular on social media, and with a new, slightly different book about pregnancy and birth. Sorry Mark.

‘How to grow a baby and push it out‘ is a colourful, cheery book, with lots of pictures (mainly of Clemmie herself looking pregnant and glamorous). With a heavy emphasis on what to buy and how best to treat yourself (“Find a really, really lux hotel to stay in.” p101) and an assumption that you will “buy friends” by doing NCT classes, this really is the yummy mummy’s handbook.

I would have quite liked this book during my pregnancy ten years ago. In between the slightly vapid chapters about shopping, it covers a lot of topics, including how to massage your perineum, what to consider when choosing a place to give birth, and different options for coping with pain. With its bite-sized chapters and clear explanations, it is more accessible and less gloomy than the book I did have, ‘What to expect when you’re expecting.’

Reading it now, I would like to see more on consent and informed choice; Clemmie is in a good position to talk about building that kind of trusting relationship with Health Professionals, but at the end of the day she is working within a medical model, and that’s what comes across. The information given about breastfeeding is scant and inadequate, starting with a list of its benefits, omitting any discussion of how it works, conveying the message that it is always difficult and usually painful, and then admonishing readers not to pay attention to pressure about how long to do it for. This could have been done so much better.

I liked the positive tone of the book, although in places the chumminess gets annoying; and I liked the focus on active birth, and the signposting (other than in the breastfeeding section) for readers who would like to explore the many topics in greater depth. It’s a nice starting point for mums-to-be who like a guidebook, but doesn’t really replace good quality antenatal education, where there will be more for partners, and lots of opportunities to discuss what might happen and how you might feel, rather than just be passively told about it all.

22 Feb

Book Review: The Gentle Discipline Book, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith

The Gentle Discipline Book is a book for parents, based firmly in attachment theory and gentle parenting practices, just as you would expect from an author who has very much made this her specialism.

Ockwell-Smith defines discipline as a supportive teaching process, and devotes a chapter to critique of discipline in its more widely-understood sense, i.e. punishment and reward. She supports this approach very thoroughly with a good chapter on neuroscience, and logical explanations of the developmental reasons for various behavioural issues in young children.

The book then goes on to look at a range of problems, from sulking to swearing, with helpful strategies for dealing with them. This is a widely applicable, useful read for all parents, and for anyone involved in educating parents and parents-to-be about raising children with empathy and kindness.

I also found that Ockwell-Smith gives a helpful perspective on parenting, recommending the 70/30 rule: “trying to be the best parent you can be 70% of the time and not worrying too much about the other 30%” (p238) As the mother of an occasionally difficult (but generally delightful) ten year old, I found this very affirming.

In this book, Ockwell-Smith offers an updated and less US-centric take on Sears’ Discipline Book, and I would recommend it unreservedly.

[Disclaimer: I was provided with a free review copy of this book]

08 Feb

Book review: Pride & Joy, A Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Parents – by Sarah & Rachel Hagger-Holt

This is the most perfectly-titled book I have ever come across, a fact which became increasingly evident as I read it – in one sitting – and found it to be so warm and upbeat, a book that is truly full of pride and joy.

Pride And Joy would be useful and interesting for LGBT parents; those considering becoming parents or even wondering if they ever can become parents; children of LGBT parents and other extended family members, and anyone working in a support role including health professionals, antenatal teachers and others. It is packed with anecdotes and quotes from that same wide-ranging group, so that it gives the reader a rich narrative, coherently exploring the broad experiences in the LGBT world. Each chapter ends with some points to consider, with signposting to useful resources, making it practical as well as very readable.

One thing that came across to me was that LGBT families have more common factors than differences with non-LGBT families. The authors treat extended and complex family situations as largely positive, acknowledging that blended families are now the norm for many people in western society, whatever the sexual orientation or gender identity of the parents. Many issues relating to pregnancy, birth, new parenthood, and growing up are not unique to LGBT families, however the fact that much of the support offered in these situations comes from the straight community reminds us of the importance of being open and inclusive when supporting parents. This book is well positioned to increase knowledge and understanding, and I hope it will be very widely read.

[Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy by the publisher. You can buy your own copy from their website, and use the code SPROGCAST at the checkout for a 10% discount]

07 Feb

Book Review: The State of Medicine, by Margaret McCartney

This book is difficult to read. It’s brilliantly written, coherently argued, and McCartney’s passion for the NHS screams through every paragraph, and for all that it is a joy to read; but it is difficult to read about the increasingly overt privatisation of the NHS, and the destruction of its most fundamental principles.

In 21st Century Britain, politicians express love for and pride in the NHS, while systematically setting it up to fail, by implementing policies for the sake of headlines, and apparently deliberately misreading research to support hopeless initiatives which are not trialled, and not terminated when they prove not to work. Modern social and cultural expectations enable the government to push forward their agenda, by creating an environment where popularity and choice trump evidence and effectiveness. The vocational nature of health work allows us to expect health professionals to give endlessly, while being abused in the press, badly paid, and put under intolerable pressure.

McCartney unravels so many threads of this Kafka-esque situation, bringing in clear evidence and pointing out where it is missing; and including the voices of real people working in and experiencing the NHS: doctors, patients, researchers, policy makers. She is so passionate and articulate, part of the very core of the NHS, and one of those who will fight to the last breath to maintain an evidence-based health service, free at the point of access, for everyone in the UK.

[DISCLAIMER: I was sent a free copy of this book by the publishers. You can buy your own on their website, with a 10% discount if you use the code SPROGCAST at the checkout.]