Book Review:
Breastfeeding at a Glance:
Facts, Figures and Trivia about Lactation

By Dia L. Michels and Cynthia Good Mojab, MS with Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam, Ph.D
Platypus Media, LLC, 2001
Available from LLLI, 1119-7, $5.95
Reviewed by Sara D. Furr
Lincoln NE USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 38 No. 5, October-November 2002 p. 110.

Leaders are sometimes asked to give short talks that give an overview of breastfeeding, including relevant statistics such as breastfeeding rates around the world, the cost of breastfeeding versus formula feeding, or the percentage of fat in human milk. This great booklet provides these statistics at your fingertips and includes more fascinating trivia as well.

Breastfeeding at a Glance is a wonderful compendium of lactation data that could be useful to Leaders when planning speeches, writing letters to the editor, or for use in a Series Meeting (particularly Series Meeting #1). This booklet would also make a good gift for a newly pregnant mother who is considering breastfeeding. The information in the booklet is relevant, accurate, and compelling, and would likely be appreciated most by women who are logical and fact-oriented in their approach to decision-making. With its concise format and brevity, it can be read in about an hour.

Breastfeeding at a Glance begins with a brief summary of several policy statements regarding breastfeeding from a variety of health care provider organizations. Other topics include the monetary value of human milk; the history of breastfeeding; environmental benefits of breastfeeding; the age of weaning; the differing costs of formula and breastfeeding; a comprehensive summary of breastfeeding benefits (for baby, mother, and the community); how to address breastfeeding difficulties; contraindications to breastfeeding; lactation in other mammals; legal issues; breastfeeding myths and facts; a list of breastfeeding resources (including books, periodicals, and organizations); and a final page devoted to quotes related to breastfeeding.

This booklet is supportive of LLL philosophy, particularly the idea that human milk is the superior infant food—the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby. Breastfeeding at a Glance is such an accessible reference it would be appropriate both for use in Group Libraries or for a Leader’s personal library.