The Big Letdown

I am reading this book for a full-spectrum doula course that I am in, and it is through that lens that I am reviewing it. I gave it two stars because, although I found the content to be problematic, there was some accurate information that I resonated with.

Alright, so, I firmly believe that breastfeeding is a choice. I firmly believe that people have the right to make that choice and shouldn't be shamed for it, and that it is extremely personal. I also agree that it is shameful that pediatricians and obgyns push samples and branded products so readily to people, even before they've finished gestating.

That said, I don't think that it's right to shame individuals that are choosing to use formula, or tell them that formula actively endangers their children. I was especially surprised by the bounty of this messaging, given that the doula program I am reading it for emphasizes a variety of different birthing experiences, including those of trans folks and other people that may not have breast/chest feeding as an option.

One other problematic thing was how frequently there was shaming of sex workers in this book. It had zero place in the context of the text and felt genuinely strange to read when it came up.