Sue Cox

Why did you write Breastfeeding with Confidence?

Unfortunately, there seems to be a belief in the community that breastfeeding is difficult and I believed that a do-it-yourself guide with easy and practical explanations would help to change this.

How would you summarise your book's key message?

New mothers/parents need to see someone breastfeed, need to have supportive family and/or friends and neighbours, and need to understand what's normal and do their utmost to ensure it happens.

Based on feedback you've received, does any section or aspect of the book appeal to people in particular?

The afterbirth plan and the explanation of its importance seems to have generated a great deal of interest. Television documentaries have shown us how fascinating the birth and early care of almost every other mammal in the world is. It was not until recently - and, more especially, in Breastfeeding with Confidence - that the importance of skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her baby (or babies) has been set out as a plan for parents to use so that ongoing parenting and breastfeeding will be easy.

Any final advice for readers?

Believe in your own parenting abilities, which can be greatly strengthened by a long period of skin-to-skin parenting straight after the birth of your baby. Or, if you have a premature baby, kangaroo care (ie. skin-to-skin contact) every day once your baby's condition is stable. Even when you don't ask for it, many people will give you conflicting advice about breastfeeding and parenting. Listen politely and then follow your own instincts.