Breastfeeding has received immense attention in the medical community and increasing interest in the field of psychology and social work. The majority of research demonstrates that breastfeeding is essential for normal physiological development, while paying only minimal attention to the contribution of nursing to psychological development. This book fills in the gap by providing important insight into the development of relationships and interactions in breastfeeding families. Issues covered include the development of sensitive parenting styles through nursing; the reverberation of sensitivity in the family system; the evolvement of family themes that sustain physiological nursing and sensitivity; child, maternal, and paternal development through nursing; couple relations; and practitioner self-awareness. A brief review of history describes the impact of authoritarian figures on nursing and the salient themes that promoted or interfered with the development of physiological and maternal nursing throughout history. Feminism, artificial baby milk, breastfeeding aids, and breastfeeding in adoptive families exemplify other issues discussed. Each chapter ends with implications for practice.

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