Queer Nursing by Liesel Burisch

⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐

As part of exploring and improving my professional practice, my knowledge with & history around infant feeding and my own relationship with my queerness, I picked up this short little book. It is most basically an inclusive guide for parents and parents-to-be about infant feeding.

- My absolute favourite part of this book is how open and inclusive it is. The opening chapter is solely dedicated to discussing the terms used in the book and why they are being used. There is no assumption of gender, relationships or orientation of the parents. In this way I think it is wonderful.

- Then follows the rest of the book which seems to be dedicated to a system for breast-/chest-/bodyfeeding. I don't claim to be an absolute expert in this field but professionally it is part of my role and systems tend to make me feel uneasy. The book does have some useful tips about preparation, navigating relationships in the early stages of parenthood and is among the less prescriptive feeding books I've read. Still, a system is a system and for all it is inclusive, I think this book misses the mark a little on the actual feeding advice.

- There are sections dedicated to ways of feeding that cater specifically (though not only) to the queer audience. Chapters on inducing lactation and supplementary feeding systems are very helpful and actually the first time I've encountered these in an infant feeding book!

A helpful little infant feeding guide which would be especially helpful for queer parents. Whilst the actual feeding advice is a little hit and miss, it is a good attempt at creating an inclusive and comprehensive feeding guide.