Breastfeeding Uncovered  

Who Really Decides How We Feed Our Babies? 

Revised & Updated 2021 Edition 

By Amy Brown 

Forewords by Chris van Tulleken & Sue Ashmore 

Review by Tara Durkin 

The book’s dedication, “For You,” absolutely rings true – I do feel Breastfeeding Uncovered was written for me as a parent, as a parent supporter, as an Antenatal Ireland educator, as a Cuidiú breastfeeding counsellor, as an IBCLC and a doula, and as an advocate. This book truly speaks to what parent-to-parent support and education organisations like Cuidiú are all about – providing parents with the best possible information and support to help families reach their own infant feeding goals.  

But Breastfeeding Uncovered goes beyond reaching out to women, parents, families and those who currently support them – in the breadth of this treasure of a book, Professor Amy Brown calls for shared responsibility and action throughout our societies, governments and institutions. Brown lifts the burden of the “success” or “failure” of breastfeeding off mothers’ shoulders and refocuses our attention on societal and cultural attitudes toward breastfeeding and parenting. Her focus is on how women who want to breastfeed can best be supported in our communities and healthcare systems to meet their goals – in the UK a 2010 survey showed that 80% of women stopped breastfeeding before they were ready to do so. The lack of society-wide support here is as dire as it is in the UK, given that Ireland and the UK are in regular competition for the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. And even then Ireland’s 2020 breastfeeding initiation rate was 62.3% (IMIS, 2021) compared to the UK’s 81%. It seems nowhere in the world is Brown’s book more necessary. Every single person in Ireland – politicians, CEOs, small and large business owners, civil servants, educators, parents, families, supporters, healthcare professionals, journalists, everyone – needs to read this book.  

Breastfeeding Uncovered is several books in one – if you were to read one book on breastfeeding this year, or even this decade, this should be it. It is at once a “Politics of Infant Feeding”; an action plan for societies, governments and individuals, providing global perspective and strategies for tackling low breastfeeding rates; a handbook for healthcare professionals; AND a guide for expectant and new parents. It goes into detail on how birth experiences can interfere with breastfeeding; what normal infant behaviour looks like, including around sleep; the obsession with big babies; attitudes to breastfeeding in public; the lack of protection for breastfeeding women returning to work; how formula companies have been allowed to spread inaccurate and misleading messages; and how we can protect and support all women, babies and families. Also to note for anyone preparing to take the IBCLC exam, Breastfeeding Uncovered would make great bedside reading. It contains sections on the UNICEF Baby-Friendly Standards, the WHO Code, the components of human milk, sections on the impacts of breastfeeding on infant health and maternal health, how women experience breastfeeding issues and what they need from supporters and healthcare professionals based on surveys of women. In many ways, Amy Brown’s book is an accessible and highly engaging version of Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. I wish I’d read it while I was studying for the IBCLC exam last summer! 

The call to action aspect of Breastfeeding Uncovered really kept me hooked. Because the truth is, it can be hard not to be discouraged by years and years of campaigning and numerous strategies, with minimal change. Like a breath of fresh air or a giant affirming hug, support and advocacy are pillars of this book: as in the previous edition, right on the inside front page is a “Where to get breastfeeding support” resource list (for the UK). In this new edition, the action points are much more clear in the book’s formatting and organisation, providing a straightforward yet hard-hitting template for any breastfeeding strategic action plan. As Ireland’s current breastfeeding action plan (2016-2021+) draws to a close, there’s a perfect opportunity for the new working group to cross-reference and incorporate Brown’s 12 Actions that are highlighted and threaded through Breastfeeding Uncovered. What I found most uplifting of all was Brown’s underlying belief that change is possible on many different levels – for example, that education can enable partners and family to be the breastfeeding supporters they can be.  

As would be expected from an academic as prolific as Amy Brown, her book is based on extensive research, cited and explored throughout the chapters and containing 40 pages of references – in 6pt type! This new edition is updated to include new case studies and research references. For anyone who has read the 2016 edition, you’ll also find a major organisational revamp of the book, as well as a new foreword by Chris van Tulleken, doctor, father and TV presenter, and an important new chapter on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected breastfeeding. 

“Essential for all new mums and those who support them” is the quote from Kate Quilton, broadcaster, on the back cover. I agree, 100 percent, yes. Bottom line: I love this book and if I’m not the one who wins this copy, I will definitely be buying one, because I will want and need to read and re-read it again and again.