Books Archives

Breastfeeding News Updates

February 08, 2010

Here's a quick round-up of some breastfeeding stories that have popped up lately...

First off... congratulations to Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding blog... she's having a baby in June!

In the celebrity breastfeeding space... we've got Modern Family star Julie Bowen who is nursing twins; and Jennifer Garner talks about breastfeeding.

In more serious news... a recent study found that using antidepressants can delay breast milk coming in just after birth.

And finally, on Hobo Mama, there's a review Mama Knows Breast and a giveaway contest.

Go See This Show If You're in New York

October 13, 2009

When was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt? Can't remember? If that's the case, I have a strong recommendation for you. Go get this book: "Afterbith: Stories You Won't Read in a Parenting Magazine." Better yet, if you live in the New York area, go see the author, Dani Klein Modisett, in action. She'll be bringing her show to the New York Comedy Festival on Saturday, November 7th.

Modisett emcee's her show... which includes well known writers and actors reading essays they wrote about becoming a parent. The show runs mainly in LA, but travels around the country as well. For this stint, she'll be joined on stage by Dana Gould ("The Simpsons"), Andrew McCarthy (actor/director, "Lipstick Jungle"), Caroline Rhea (mom on "Phineas and Ferb," real mother of Ava Rhea), Dan Bucatinsky ("Web Therapy," "The Comeback"), Lew Schneider ( "Everybody Loves Raymond," writer, "Men of a Certain Age"), Caroline Bicks ("Midwiving Subjects in Shakespeare's England," Professor Boston College), and Andrea Martin (actress, "Wag The Dog," "Nurse Jackie."

Now watch this video:

The Most Important Book You Could Read This Year (If You Have Kids)

July 13, 2009

How's this for a big statement...this book should be required reading for all new parents. In fact, you should get it right after your first OB appointment. The "Wall Street Journal's Financial Guidebook for New Parents," covers virtually every financial planning issue you need to think about when you have kids.

It's so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of feeding, sleeping, bonding and educating. It can be truly overwhelming at times. Especially when you're sleep deprived. And of course, the most important thing is to love your kids with all your heart and soul. But at the end of the day, you can't avoid confronting how you're going to pay for everything... daily needs, housing, college tuitions and even your own retirement.

I know I faced a very steep learning curve with all of this when our kids were born. And it's always a work in progress. So it's nice to see everything you need to consider, organized in an easy to read book that is fine for those of us who freeze every time we have to calculate the tip in a restaurant.

Here's what the publisher has to say about the WSJ book on Amazon:

"The average family will spend between $11,000 and $16,000 during a new baby’s first year, and more than $200,000 before a kid’s eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, a second child only doubles your costs, with little economy of scale for each additional baby...

The Wall Street Journal Financial Guidebook for New Parents shows you the way, with information on how to:

• Safeguard your child’s well-being with wills, trusts, and life insurance
• Best weigh your child-care options and decide whether to go back to work
• Save on taxes with child-friendly tax credits and deductions plus tax-advantaged benefits at work
• Manage your family’s health-care costs
• Save for long-term costs by setting up a college fund
• Spend smart and save money at every stage of your child’s development
• Continue to contribute to your own retirement savings

There is certainly no shortage of financial advice books out there. I've recently read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and The Wealthy Barber. Both are excellent for learning how to think about assets versus liabilities, the beauty of compound interest and saving for retirement. But this WSJ book is by far the best thing I've come across. I've been dog-earring my own copy. You may want to too.

If you have other financial planning books or websites that you like, share them here.

Attention Bloggers... If You Want a Copy of My Book for World Breastfeeding Week

June 09, 2009

The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. So in advance of this, I'm giving away review copies of my book, "Mama Knows Breast." If you're a blogger or journalist and would like a copy, send me an email. mamaknowsbreast@yahoo.com.

Events for World Breastfeeding Week actually go on all of August... so it's sometimes called Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Click here to see what's going on in your area.

A Toilet Training Book That Is Working For Us

May 29, 2009

At long last, I think we are making some progress on the toilet training front. And I do have to credit "The Potty Train" by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison. Seriously, what child doesn't want to shout, as loud as possible, "chugg a chugg a, pooooo pooooo!"

And More Parenting Books

May 19, 2009

Seems like a lot of parenting books have come across my desk lately. Maybe it's my imagination. Maybe it's because of Mother's Day and Father's Day. Any one in the industry care to comment?

Anyway, here are four more titles I've got on my desk to read:

Better Birth: The Ultimate Guide to Childbirth from Home Births to Hospitals is by Denise Spatafora. Denise is the creator of the Born Clear Method, a childbirth prep course that focuses on the mind-body connection. (A disclosure: Mama Knows Breast is cited in this book).

The Essential Breastfeeding Log allows you track your baby’s eating and sleeping habits. It evolves over time, with four different formats depending on the baby's age.

The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk is focused on remedying low milk supply. It's recommended by La Leche League. The Motherwear Blog had a good review of this book.

The Ultimate Mom: Uplifting Stories, Endearing Photos, and the Best Experts' Tips on the Toughest Job You'll Ever Love is edited by Maria Bailey, the host of Mom Talk Radio and the co-founder of NewBaby.com.

"If You Give a Mom a Martini"

April 26, 2009

Here's my assessment of Mother's Day when you have small kids. In my case, boys. Two of them. 18 months apart. Under the age of 5. Mother's Day is the place where aspiration meets reality.

My husband aspired to give me a break yesterday. I aspired to relax. But in reality, it didn't quite happen.

Sure, they let me sleep in. (Thank you! Thank you!) And yes, they made an awesome pancake breakfast. (Loved the flowers.) But one parent is not enough to handle these two steamrollers, so I decided to tag along on their trip to Central Park. One massive toddler meltdown and a near collision with a golf cart collecting trash later, we retreated home. I never made it to the yoga studio.

Over the past few years, I've slowly come to terms with the fact that "down time" is something to catch as catch can. If you've got a half an hour to yourself... take advantage of it. Don't wait for that free afternoon. It's hard to find, and even when you do, it might be fleeting.

A new book embraces this very notion. "If You Give a Mom a Martini" has tips for making the most of your free time. The subtitle..."100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes For Yourself"... says it all.

The book is co-authored by Julie Klappas and Lyss Stern (with a foreword by Christie Brinkley). Full disclosure... Lyss organized my first speaking engagement when my book came out.

Give a Mom a Martini is a quick read and has the usual suggestions of taking a nap and getting a manicure. But it goes further, and may even leave you chuckling at some of the pointers... I liked the idea of using a baby mop. Unfortunately my kids are too old. I think buying a lottery ticket is a good way to day dream... so I've done that. And I'm planning on decluttering our mailbox by trying out catalogchoice.org.

All in all, even if you only have ten minutes of peace and quiet, this book is all you really need. Just lock the bathroom door and tell the kids you'll be right out. Soon. When you're ready. After all, shouldn't every day be Mother's Day.

Books on My Desk Right Now

December 21, 2008

Here's what I'm reading, or planning to read:

Crafty Mama by my friend Abby Pecoriello. The subtitle says it all: "49 Fast, Fabulous, Foolproof (Baby & Toddler) Projects." The only problem for me... I'm not crafty AT ALL.

Crafty Mama Cover.JPG

Pregatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be, by Natalie Bovis-Nelson. I had the great fortune to meet Natalie at a cocktail party for method that she bartended. She makes an amazing mojito. And the drinks in the this book look so good I'm going to give them a shot, even though I'm not planning on getting "preggatini."

The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. This one is from the bestselling author of "The No-Cry Sleep Solution." We're having some issues right now with our 2 year old who has developed a strong aversion to naps. So this one is kinda relevant.

A breastfeeding book of course... "Mommy's Little Breastfeeding Book: 101 Tips Your Baby Wants You To Know About Nursing" by Michele Leigh Carnesecca. This book is amazing. It has all the main things a new mom needs to know about nursing. It's presented as bullet points. Easy to read. Practical. A big thumbs up!

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And finally, Are You Chanukah or Christmas? by another friend, Felicia Miller-Stehr. This picture book helps young kids, ages 2 to 7, understand the true meaning behind the season's holidays.

Mama Knows Breast For Sale on BabyCenter Website

October 03, 2008

This may have been here for a while, and I just discovered it. I'm not quite sure. But you can now buy my book, "Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding" on the BabyCenter site. They've got it for 10% off. Here's the link.

Win a Graco Activity Center for Your Baby-- Leave a Comment

April 14, 2008

UPDATE: FOR THE WINNER, CLICK HERE.

Welcome to third, and final, part of my Mother's Day Giveaway Contest. No need to go shopping for yourself...or for another mom in your life. Just leave a comment to one of the posts I've put up for a chance to win some cool stuff.

So far I'm giving away ten copies of my book, Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding. Click here to enter to win.

I'm also giving away copies of two other books, Margarita Mama and The Rookie Mom's Handbook. Click here to enter to win.

Now for the third giveaway, we have an activity center, The Baby Einstein discover & play by Graco. I have to say, I LOVE this toy. When our first son was about six months old, we put him in it and he immediately "went to work." He sucked on the "star," flipped the book pages, and pressed repeatedly on the animal sounds. He was so focused, we called it "The Office." All I have to say is "Graco, thank you for inventing this. Without it, I could have never taken a shower when the kids were little."

The good folks at Graco, who have donated this center, have asked me to judge the contest. So for a chance to win, leave a comment, answering the following question:

How would this activity center make your life easier? (The deadline is May 11th).

Book Giveaway-- Leave A Comment to Enter To Win A Book

April 11, 2008

UPDATE: TO SEE THE WINNERS OF THE "ROOKIE MOM'S" BOOK, CLICK HERE.

UPDATE: AND FOR THE WINNERS OF THE "MARGARITA MAMA" BOOK, CLICK HERE.

Mother's Day Giveaways Update: I'm also giving away ten copies of my book, "Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding." Click here to enter to win. PLUS...I'm giving away a Baby Enstein discover & play center by Graco. Click here to win. Now, back to the original post...

Hot off the press... I've got two new books for all you moms out there. The Rookie Mom's Handbook and Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-Be are both from my publisher, Quirk Books. In honor of Mother's Day (May 11), I'm doing a series of contests for the next few weeks. So we'll kick things off by giving away ten copies of each book. The authors themselves will be the judges and pick the winning entries. The deadline to enter is May 11.

First off, The Rookie Mom's Handbook. Here's what the publisher says:

Bookshelves abound with activity books for babies and toddlers, but The Rookie Mom’s Handbook is the first designed exclusively for first-time mothers. Here are 250 enjoyable activities to help rookie moms maintain their individuality and boost their confidence about leaving the house, socializing, and doing things they’ve always liked to do—either with or without baby. Inspired by the popular Web site www.rookiemoms.com, the book offers bite-sized activities arranged according to the baby’s age. Some are crafty, some are adventurous, and some simply help get a meal on the table.

To win a copy, leave a comment answering the following question: What was your biggest rookie mistake as a pregnant, or newly minted mom?

Now for Margarita Mama. The publisher says...
Margarita Mama offers a pitcherful of delicious “mocktails” designed specifically for moms-to-be. Every drink is 100 percent alcohol free. And they not only taste great, they also provide a healthful treat for both mom and baby! Recipes include twists on old favorites such as Mudslides, Mojitos, Cosmopolitans, and Mimosas, plus yummy new libations like the Materni-Tini, the Raging Hormone, and the Chocolate Crave.

To win a copy, leave a comment answering this question: What was the craziest craving you had when you were pregnant and how did you satisfy it?

A Video Interview With Me

January 10, 2008

The website Boldfacers.com recently interviewed me, and the story (click here) has some of the best breastfeeding puns you'll ever come across. It all starts with the headline, "She's Stacked, Baby." Now why didn't I think of that?

If that's not your thing...just surf around the site to find profiles of people doing pretty cool stuff in all sorts of fields...people like a sneaker designer, a landscape architect and a jazz club founder.

Now click here to watch this video.

Keeping a Feeding Log

January 02, 2008

When our first son was born I kept a meticulous journal of his feedings. I'd note the time he ate, which breast he ate from, and how long he fed. I also marked down wet and dirty diapers. I was on top of things, and pretty proud of myself. At least I was, until his pediatrician more or less dismissed my note taking. I handed him a copy of the log, and he gave it right back to me. "I don't need this," he said. But look at all my hard work, I felt like saying back to him. Look, even my handwriting is neat!

What I realize now, is that he was essentially saying, your son is fine. He's peeing and pooping and most importantly gaining weight-- you can relax.

But fast forward to our second son, I did the same thing again. I kept a journal for a couple of weeks because I found it helped me keep track of what was going on. In a post-delivery fog, and sleep-deprived state, it helped me to remember when he ate. It was especially important because he was a sleepy baby, and I had to wake him to make sure he ate frequently enough.

So, I still like the idea of keeping notes for a little while, at least. And I'm sure some moms do it longer. That's why I was excited to get a copy of this journal from Random House. "Time to Feed: A Journal for Recording Your Baby's Feeding Schedule" is a great gift for a new mom. In fact, I just gave it to a friend today. It has simple entry spaces for each feeding, whether its boob or bottle, breast milk or formula. Best of all, there is a basic guide to breastfeeding at the back of the book, written by La Leche League.

Time to Feed Baby.jpg

Some Parenting Sites for You To Check Out

October 24, 2007

Here's what I've found recently:

About.com has a new breastfeeding Guide. Melissa Nagin is a lactation consultant in New York City. Click here for her bio. She has a great post right now on how she tried to teach her son economics using breastfeeding to illustrate the concept of supply and demand. (Full disclosure, my husband works at About, but I promise, he had nothing to do with this post!)

Jennifer at the Black Breastfeeding Blog, who I've mentioned before, has added a cool new audio function to her blog. (She's using utterz). If you want to hear the sound of her lovely voice, you can check out a review she posted of my book.

Finally, take a look at The Well Mom. Former ABC News Anchor Heather Cabot is running this site. The Well Mom aims to help moms take care of themselves while they are taking care of everyone else, too. She has a fantastic post on her site now about post-partum depression, and legislative efforts to increase funding for PPD research and outreach to moms. Heather also recently interviewed me about my book. Click here to read her piece.

Mama Knows Breast is Available on Amazon and In Barnes & Noble (and Borders)

September 04, 2007

I took this picture with my cell phone today. The soft focus somewhat accurately depicts my utter disbelief. I went into Barnes & Noble at Broadway and 82nd Street because I was doing an errand nearby, and lo and behold, there it was. My book! All four copies of it!

I bought two, and at the suggestion of the salesperson, signed the remaining two copies (they put the "Autgraphed" sticker on them). She said they only had four copies in the entire store but would order more.

And as equally exciting...I went onto Amazon last night and ordered some copies of the book. As I was completing the order I seriously expected to get a message saying the books would be shipped at an unknown date. Again, shock of all shock! With a two day delivery, the books should be here this Friday.

A couple more options for buying on line:
Barnes & Noble has their own website.
Borders book stores has the book too. If you buy on line, the site connects to Amazon.
Quirk Books, the publisher, will sell it to you too. They also have a link to a photo of an interior illustrated page.

P.S. Can you tell I'm a little excited?! This is my third blog post tonight.

Breastfeeding123 Reviews Mama Knows Breast and Interviews Me Too

August 25, 2007

Angela, over at Breastfeeding123, has been one of my blogging friends for the past year. She's also been one of the driving forces behind our monthly breastfeeding carnivals.

So I was thrilled when she said she'd review my book and do an author interview with me. Click here for her review of my book Mama Knows Breast. And click here for a Q&A she did with me.

Angela...your turn now to write a book!

Some Mama Knows Breast Book Reviews

August 23, 2007

For two reviews of Mama Knows Breast, check out Mamanista and She Knows: Pregnancy and Baby.

Mama Knows Breast Book Excerpt on The Celebrity Baby Blog

August 13, 2007

A number of months ago a friend got me a subscription to US Weekly magazine. I never knew, until the magazine started showing up in my mailbox, that I had a celebrity fascination. Likewise, I never knew, until I discovered The Celebrity Baby Blog, that I actually wanted to read about celebu-tots.

If you haven't read Celebrity Baby yet, check it out. I recently met the founder, Danielle, and she is really impressive. She's got a whole team working for her now, and they are the go to site for celebrity baby news. The site even has a page devoted to celebrity breastfeeding stories.

And best of all...Celebrity Baby is running an excerpt of my book right now. It's a synopsis of the first chapter. So for a sneak peak, click here. And while you're reading the post, check out the rest of the Celebrity Baby site. You, too, may find yourself hooked.

Books I'm Reading Now

July 16, 2007

Here's what's on my desk:

Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship & Creativity as a Lifestyle. My husband discovered this book for me. It's fantastic-- a way to re-examine what you are doing with your career and any other component of your life. There are also Ladies Who Launch meetings across the country. Check out Ladies Who Launch.

The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How To Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life by Renee Peterson Trudeau. This workbook helps you re-examine your life, your priorities and how you spend your time. On line you can find out information about joining or starting a PRG, or personal renewal group. Personally, this book helped me realize that I needed to make time to exercise; I remembered how much I missed taking modern dance classes. So I'm giving it a go again...after a four year hiatus. Ouch.

Now...for some chick-lit. Momzillas by Jill Kargman. On the surface, this is nothing like The Mother's Guide, but in many ways it has the same message. A new mom searches for her place in the hyper competitive world of being a mom in New York City and finally finds her calling. I'm impressed by Kargman's ability to take the little details of life...the things we all see every day...and weave them into a narrative.

Motherhood, The Second Oldest Profession. This is an Erma Bombeck classic from 1983.

Finally, A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder. This book taught me to embrace the inherent state of disorder in our apartment, and look at it as an indication of fun, energy and creativity.

Write a Review of the Book "Mama Knows Breast" or Help Design T-Shirts

June 11, 2007

Hey fellow bloggers, if you want to write a review of "Mama Knows Breast" when it comes out, I can try to get you a copy. Just send me your mailing address.

And for the talented graphic artists among you...I'm making Mama Knows Breast t-shirts, bibs and baby onesies. But I'm looking for a little help. I need to create a logo in jpeg format. So if there's anybody out there who is skilled in this area (I am not), send me your ideas. If I pick your submission, you'll get some free copies of the book plus my undying gratitude!

Dads and Breast Feeding-- My Husband, My Co-Author

Welcome to the June Breastfeeding Carnival, a tribute to the Dads in our lives. At the end of this post you'll find entries from our usual cast of blogging characters, as well as some guests.

As I've been talking about ad nauseam here, I've been working on a book about breastfeeding that's coming out this September. In our house, this is our "third" baby. For nearly as long as we've had kids (going on 2.5 years now), I've been working on this book. And now, it's time to give credit where credit is due-- to my silent co-author, my husband. "Da-da," as the boys call him, has encouraged me every step of the way.

To begin with, he's a lactivist in his own right. He "covered" me while I breastfed on airplanes and in fancy restaurants. He brought me water while I was nursing, changed diapers in the middle of the night so I could go back to sleep, and even re-positioned an inconsolable newborn on my chest. So when I announced, one day, 5 months post-partum, that I wanted to write a book about breastfeeding, he said, "Go hire a babysitter and get to work."

Along the way, he contributed his own ideas; read draft after draft; reviewed contracts; helped develop my blog; and celebrated the book sale with champagne and flowers. Now, ever the MBA, he's devising ways to sell as many books as possible.

So thank you, "Da-da," for serving as an in house lactation consultant, and cheerleading me through this book process. This would not have been possible without you. Happy Father's Day. Maybe you should be the one doing any book signings!

And now for the other carnival contributors:
Jennifer, at The Lactivist, writes about how dads have to accept taking "second place" when it comes to breastfeeding. Her post is "Fathers and Breastfeeding: The Importance of Seconds."
Leisa, at Down with the Kids, (writing from Australia) contributes "Mothers' Milk: A Dad's Perspective."
Angela, at Breastfeeding 1-2-3, contributes "A Father's Take on Breastfeeding: Perception Versus Reality"
Kelli, at Nursing Your Kids, writes about the "Partnership" involved in breastfeeding.
Jessica, at hepatitis-epi, contributes her story about "Fathers and Breastfeeding."
Amy, at Musings of a Crunchy Domestic Goddess, contributes "My Hubby, the Lactivist."
Sinead, writing from Northern Ireland, writes "My Hubby, my Best Breastfeeding Buddy."
And a Dad, at Fine Whine, writes "Feeding on the Outrage, or Where are All The Boobs?"

Pre-Order Mama Knows Breast on Amazon!

June 06, 2007

I was amazed to find this today!! My book won't be available in stores until September, but you can place an order already on Amazon.

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Parenting Books I'm Reading Now

May 21, 2007

Here's what's piled on my desk, nightstand and bookshelf at the moment:

"City Baby: The Ultimate Guide for New York City Parents from Pregnancy to Preschool," By Kelly Ashton and Pamela Weinberg. Since we moved back to NY a couple of years ago this has been my bible. I used it to find a music class for the kids, a yoga class for me, and some sane advice about preschools. If you don't live in NY, you may want to check out one of these other versions of the book: City Baby Brooklyn, City Baby Los Angeles and City Baby Chicago. City Baby Boston and City Baby D.C. are coming soon. (Full disclosure: I met Pamela recently and she gave me some insightful advice on the whole book business thing).

"the milk memos: how real moms learned to mix business with babies-- and how you can, too," by Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette. This book was written by some moms who work at IBM. It started as a series of entries in a collective notebook the moms kept in the office lactation room. The book has excerpts from that diary as well as practical advice for breastfeeding moms who go back to work.

Finally, "How To Feel Manly in a Minivan: The Desperate Dad's Survival Guide," by Craig Boreth. Boreth's first book, "How To Iron Your Own Damn Shirt," explained what men need to know about being the perfect husband. Now he's tackling parenthood, with a guide that explains how to become a dad with your masculinity, sanity and lower back intact. Sounds like a good Father's Day gift to me. (Another full disclosure here, Craig is a friend of a friend and he's been giving me lots of tips about book marketing).

Now, if I could just get the kids to stop throwing the books from my nightstand to the floor!

The Cover of My Book

April 13, 2007

At long, last, here is a sneak preview of the cover of my book! The fabulous folks at my publisher, Quirk Books, just sent it to me. One more round of edits this weekend, then marketing galore, and a September publication!

Looking for PR Ideas For My Book

March 23, 2007

I just Fed Ex'ed another set of revisions to my publisher. Two down, one more to go. Now I have a long author questionnaire that I need to fill out for the marketing department. Part of this involves writing a list of websites, blogs, and media outlets that might want to write about the book.

Since there are literally thousands and thousands of sites that we moms visit, this task feels a little daunting. I know what I know...but I don't know what I don't know.

So if anyone has suggestions, send them my way. Let me know what sites you like; what magazines you read; what TV shows you watch. I'll add them to my list. I need all the help I can get!

In advance, thank you for your support.

An Update on My Book Mama Knows Breast

March 07, 2007

It finally feels real. My editor Melissa showed me a draft of the cover illustration and it's pretty cool! They've hired an illustrator whose work is really hip, colorful and fun. She's expert at drawing cherubic babies, as well as moms who look like they could handle any dirty diaper thrown at them with aplomb.

And now, I've just Fed Ex'ed my corrections to the first layout to my editor. For the past 4 days I've been utterly consumed by going over the book line by line. (I had to buy a pencil to do this). I have to say, I'm amazed that every time I read it, I find something to re-write.

Some of you have asked how I got to this point. So here's a bit of Mama Knows Breast history. It all started in March of 2005 during a family vacation in Miami. I off-handedly commented that since I was breastfeeding, this would perhaps be the only time in my life when I would actually look like all the other bikini-clad buxom babes strutting around. A family member, who has had a long career in book design, responded: "You should write a breastfeeding book!" Hmmm...not a bad idea I thought.

When we got home I spent hours searching the aisles at Barnes & Noble and surfing the internet to see if anyone had written a "hip" guide to breastfeeding. I found plenty of books about breastfeeding. Books that are great if you're looking for detailed, problem-specific advice. But I didn't find a book that matched what I had in mind; a book that would give people practical information in a fun, light-hearted manner; the book that I wish someone had given me when I was pregnant and utterly clueless about breastfeeding.

So I wrote a book proposal. I learned how to do this years ago in journalism school from a class taught by renowned author named Sam Freedman. This 50+ page document had a sample chapter and an overview essay that detailed the book's contents and potential audience.

The proposal was basically a pitch document that I used to find an agent. I sent it to 10+ agents and kept getting rejected. Then a cousin told me about her friend Abby who was writing a book called The Crafty Mamas: Book of 50 Fast, Fabulous and Foolproof Projects for Baby Gear. I met Abby and she introduced me to her agent Katherine at Curtis Brown. Katherine "got it" right away. I signed on the dotted line and she started shopping the proposal around (after she had me re-write it a few times).

Of course publisher after publisher rejected the book. Until finally, the folks at Quirk Books "got it." I turned in my first draft last August and we've been editing it for the past few months. Finally, the end is in sight. There will be two more sets of layouts to review. Sometime this spring we'll wrap things up and the book will be published in September.

At this particular moment, I have one thought...it's a good thing the gestation period for human babies is shorter. If it was as long as that of this book, we may well be extinct.

Breast Feeding Product Reviews

March 04, 2007

Angela at Breastfeeding 123 gets my vote today for hardest working, most diligent blogger. My eyes practically jumped out of my head when I saw her latest post.

Angela has compiled a fantastic collection of breastfeeding product reviews. Basically, she found reviews from all the breastfeeding bloggers out there, and provides links to the sites. If you click here, you'll find reviews of breastfeeding products, books and clothing. If you can think of it, she's got it. Here's a list of the reviews:
Breastfeeding bras
Breast pumps
Breastfeeding accessories
Breastfeeding art and calendars
Breastfeeding bloggers' stores
Breastfeeding and parenting books
Children's breastfeeding books
Children's breastfeeding toys
Sewing your own breastfeeding products
Nursing bracelets
Nursing covers
Nursing necklaces
Nursing pads
Nursing pillows
Nursing shirts
Slings
Breastfeeding videos
Kids' products

Bravo Angela. What an invaluable resource you've created!

Babyproofing Your Marriage-- Book Review

February 10, 2007

The "Five-Minute Fix" was all anyone could talk about. I was at a restaurant eating dinner with a coed group. We had just left the book party for "Babyproofing Your Marriage," and everyone wanted to talk about the authors' key to fixing your marriage in five minutes. (Full disclosure: one of the diners is married to one of the authors).

So what is the Five-Minute Fix for any marriage? In their opinion-- weekly fellatio. (The word they use actually starts with the letter "B.")

Yes, that's right, in addition to a lot of other useful advice, the three authors recommend this particular sex act. As they figure it, it "costs" you some exertion, a mere five minutes, and some feelings of compromising yourself. The "benefits"-- your husband will think you're a sex goddess and he'll change the next diaper without being asked.

I'm writing about this book now, as part of my monthly blog with my breastfeeding blogger friends. Our theme for February is "Baby Love." And I think the authors of "Babyproofing" are onto something with the general premise of their book. Parents with a little bit of perspective will tell you that one of the best ways to love your children is to create a sense of harmony at home. In most cases, that comes down to making sure your marriage is strong.

The authors write::
"Parenthood and family take everything we have to give and then some. But we all know, we reap what we sow. What we invest in our kids and our spouses come back to us in ways we can't even imagine." (p. 230)

"Babyproofing" takes a realistic look at how kids impact a marriage. Couples that were just recently wooing each other over late night dinners suddenly find themselves fighting over the minutiae of everyday life.

On any given weekend in thousands of homes across America, wives stand in front of their husbands listing all of the selfless acts they have performed in the last week: "I paid all the bills, bought a birthday present for your mother, read Goodnight Moon 5 times, took 4 six-year-olds to Chuck-E-Cheese ... and that was just Tuesday..."

The husbands return fire: "Excuse me, but did I not make the kids breakfast every morning last week, including the morning it made me late for my presentation, when I really should have gone in early? And I picked up the dry-cleaning without being asked, and I did bath duty three times last week. What more do you want?"

A volley of personal accomplishments and sacrifices ensues. Not exactly what we thought life would be like when we eyed each other across a room all those years ago, is it? We both end up angry and defensive, each convinced that we have it tougher. Some people are habitual scorekeepers, some people just do it occasionally. But we all do it. ( Click here to read more of this excerpt).

Fortunately, the authors do have some practical solutions. My favorite is the "Training Weekend." Mom takes off for the weekend leaving Dad behind, unassisted to deal with everything. It's supposed to make him more appreciative and more confident. Sounds clever to me. So honey, as soon as I wean The Bear I'm going to give this one a try. Not because you need the kick in the pants, but because I NEED A BREAK. We'll make it a training-Training Weekend. I'll get the sitter to come help you.

Sometimes "Babyproofing" is painful to read. Sometimes it's reassuring. Sometimes you will literally laugh aloud. My husband and I had a good chuckle over this one:

"Can you imagine a day that doesn't begin with someone screaming and hurling a sippy cup across the kitchen in a wave of toddler fury?" (page. 266).

I only have a couple of issues with the book. First, I didn't see much mention of breastfeeding (unless I'm so tired I missed it). I would have liked to see how the authors fit breastfeeding into their analysis. Second, the book is a little long. If we're all so tired and stressed out, then who has time to read a nearly 300 page long book?

Nevertheless, even if you don't have time to read the whole thing, you can still get something out of reading selected chapters. If you want to read about battling grandparents, check out Chapter 5, "In-Laws and Outlaws." If you want to hear how having more kids (yes, more) can actually restore some balance to the marriage, read Chapter 6, "Ramping Up and Giving In: More Kids More Chaos."

Finally, if you just want to focus on "The 'Sex Life' of New Parents: Coitus Non-Existus," turn to Chapter Four. But ladies, rest assured, the responsibility for fixing things is not just on your shoulders with the Five Minute Fix. In the authors' opinion, your spouse needs to keep romance alive and do more "domestic crap." "The bottom line is: pitch in if you want her to put out." (page 153)

You know what, I think the guys have their work cut out for them. That stuff-- romance and housework-- take a lot more than five minutes!

Help Me Finish My Book

January 30, 2007

For months my book has been "gestating" and now it's time to deliver this baby. We are in labor over here. Yesterday I met my editor. She came from her office at Quirk Books in Philadelphia and invited me to a book party for The Handbook of Style. It was at chic salon in SOHO-- thankfully I got my hair colored a couple of days ago.

But I digress. The point of the visit was to go over my manuscript. And now, I have two weeks to turn in the next draft. So, as I type, I'm staring at a copy riddled with the editor's questions-- in all capital letters, highlighted in yellow. As I'm going through the edits, I'm going to post questions here from time to time. So let's get started...I'm looking for answers to the following questions:

What did it feel like when your milk "came in" the first few days after birth? What does it feel like now, when you feed your baby?

If you've used formula, how much would you estimate you've spent in one year?

What are the best things (the "pros") about breast feeding?

What are the worst things (the "cons") about breast feeding?

Has breastfeeding impacted your relationship with your spouse? How about your sex life?

If you had a c section, which breastfeeding position worked best for you after birth?

So, as The Bortski (now 28 months) has said on occasion, "HELP, PLEASE HELP." I'd love to hear your comments. And watch here for more requests to come.

An Update on My Book "Mama Knows Breast"

January 25, 2007

As you may have gathered from this site, I'm working on a book called "Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding." It's a tongue in cheek, irreverent look at the life and styles of breastfeeding moms.

I got the idea to write the book when I realized-- after 6 months of feeding The Bortski-- that I knew more about his car seat and stroller than I did about my own boobs. I looked for a fun book about breastfeeding, and all I could find were some pretty serious, albeit useful, tomes. That was my "light bulb" moment.

So here's a little update on the progress of the book in case (like me!) you're wondering what's going on. The book should be published by September. That's the latest from my editor at Quirk Books. In fact, she's coming to the city on Monday and we're going to start whipping this thing into shape. I handed in a draft months ago and now it's time to start revising.

I'm nervously waiting for her comments. You could say I'm a book virgin-- never written one of these things before. So I have no idea what I'm in for.

As for some other first time authors, I went to a book party this week for the launch of Babyproofing Your Marriage. (My husband knows the husband of one of the three authors). Anyway, these ladies reached the holy grail of all writers this week-- they were on the Today Show. I'm reading the book right now and I'll bring you a review as part of the next Breastfeeding Blog Carnival on February 12. So far, it's a good read-- especially the chapter on sex.

And if you're looking for another fun book, check out Haiku Mama which is published by Quirk Books. The author is the blogger Kari from Haiku of The Day.

So that's the latest from book land, cross your fingers for me and my meeting with my editor.

Breast Feeding Book for Kids

January 04, 2007

When The Borstki was about 15 months old we had an amazing revelation--he was memorizing the books we read. Here's how we figured it out. I picked up the Dr. Seuss book "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" and started to read. "Did you ever have the feeling there's a ZAMP..." When I paused, simply to take a breathe, The Bortski said "in the LAMP." Yes, that's right, he finished the sentence for me. At first I thought it was a fluke. So I kept going. "Or a NINK..." And he did it again. "In the SINK." Then it happened with other books too.

So now, I've found another one I'd like to add to his repertoire. "Near Mama's Heart," by Colleen Newman is a book about breast feeding. It's got a catchy rhyme and beautiful photos of kids breast feeding. You can see mom's feeding while hiking, sleeping, sling wearing and picnicking.

Newman self-published through Trafford Publishing. The back of her book has endorsements from Harvey Karp, M.D. of "The Happiest Baby on The Block" and breast feeding maven Kelly Bonyata, of Kellymom.

You can order "Near Mama's Heart" on Colleen's website, MyBabyAndMore. You can also click on this link to a promotional piece for the book on YouTube. This video gives you a sneak peak inside the book's covers.

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