Reviews

Initiating and maintaining lactation via milk expression is extremely challenging for mothers following preterm delivery. However, there are very few resources available to mothers which specifically address the problems of long term milk expression.

 

This book is written in a clear style and the information is easy to access. It contains expert knowledge about long term expression, which can only be learned from personal experience. The author, herself a mother of a preterm baby, exclusively pumped for a year and shares with us the highs and lows of her long journey. The book is filled with useful tips and anticipatory advice about how to initiate and maintain a milk supply. There is also a comprehensive trouble shooting section which skillfully deals with problems such as a declining milk supply, sore nipples and much more. 

Although this book is an extremely valuable resource for mothers of premature and sick babies, the information it contains will appeal to all breastfeeding mothers. The content will also be extremely useful to a larger audience including health care professionals and breastfeeding advisors. This book fills a void in breastfeeding literature that has been missing for a long time. It is a practical book, thoughtfully written which deals with difficult issues in a sensitive and practical way. I recommend this book whole heartedly as an extremely valuable resource.

 

 ~ Elizabeth Jones, Breastfeeding Specialist, England  
 

From the Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 21, Number 3, August 2005:

      This short, easy-to-read book lists possible reasons for exclusively pumping, including prematurity, illness, latch problems, long-term separation, and maternal choice.  Throughout the book, Casemore recommends seeking help through the services of an LC.  She details the realistic time and energy needs of a pumping mother and discusses the emotions involved, including the sense of loss and grieving when one is no longer able to breastfeed, the response by others to the decision to exclusively pump, and guilt over the decision not to breastfeed.

This book addresses well the fundamentals of pumping, including properly fitting flange sizes, comfortable suction levels, and double pumping with a good-quality breast pump.  The research on cycles per minute and millimeters of mercury pressure is discussed fully.  Casemore lists the differences between types of pumps, giving examples by name of the better models in each category.

 

Excellent suggestions are made for initiating a milk supply by pumping, followed by directions for maintaining the well-established supply, increasing a diminishing supply, and “power pumping and cluster pumping” (p 64).   The chapter on milk storage guidelines, containers for storage and feeding, cue feeding rather than scheduling, feeding to infant satiety, and caution about infant overfeeding is excellent.

 

Exclusively Pumping is based on the personal experience of the author with input of more than 50 other women who exclusively pumped milk for their infants.  Casemore states, up front, that she is not a medical professional and has no background in lactation or breastfeeding support.  Despite this fact, she provides high-quality, up-to-date information and strongly promotes the physical act of breastfeeding at every opportunity.  She further states, “When breastfeeding does not work out, breast milk is still the best way of nourishing a baby and it must then be provided by pumping” (p 13).

 

A wide-ranging list of resources online is included in the appendix and includes LactNet archives, LLLI, Dr Newman, and Linda Smith; unfortunately, no resources for ILCA or IBCLE are given.

 

I would recommend this book, which will make a good addition to the libraries of lactation professionals who assist mothers with difficulties, providing yet another informed choice for mothers.

 ~ Kathy Parkes, RN, IBCLC, RLC   San Antonio, Texas USA        Women express for many reasons, to deliver mother’s milk to their preterm or ill babies who cannot breastfeed yet, to provide nourishment when mother and baby are separated for any reason or to provide breast milk when breastfeeding is not an option. This book is written for all of those mothers in a comfortable style, well researched and full of useful information and practical tips.

The subject matter ranges from discussion about biases and beliefs, personal experiences, expectations and emotions, physiology and biochemistry to the fundamentals of how to pump and maintain milk supply.  There are also chapters on using and storing expressed breast milk and overcoming difficulties. Many great sources of web-based information are also included.

 

A useful resource for mothers and health workers.

 ~ Kathy Venter, RN, IBCLC, Canada  
 We all know that breastfeeding is best, but what can you do when your dream of breastfeeding just doesn’t come true? Exclusively pumping at least gives moms the chance to provide their babies with the best start in life — mother’s milk.  Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk is a lifesaver for new mothers who wanted but find themselves unable to nurse their babies. It not only describes the physiological and mechanical aspects of pumping, but also sensitively addresses the very emotional side of being unable to nurse. ~ New mother, Albany, NY, U.S.A
I enjoyed the book–it gave me the needed encouragement at a time when I was ready to quit!  ~ Becca Heary, exclusively pumping mother, U.S.A.

I read the entire book in about 2-3 days.  It is very informational and answered many of the questions I had regarding pumping breast milk.  I had my first daughter 5/1/605 and have been exclusively pumping (due to latching problems) since she was about a week old.  The discussion groups you provided on the internet were helpful.  I find them to be very supportive and a good source of information.  Now, I feel more confident that I can continue pumping seeing how many moms have been successful with it. ~ Kathy, Minnesota, U.S.A.  

I have to tell you, you are a godsend to me!  You were among the first people who recognized, to my knowledge, that there is a whole community of women out there who are breastfeeding, but using the bottle as the delivery mechanism!  I applaud your efforts to educate people and look forward to reading what you have to say about our specific situation.  So, thanks! 

 ~ Jessica Abbott, Atlanta, Georgia

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