Breastfeeding, Rewritten: Science, Struggle, and a Mother’s Resolve
Announcing 20,000 Hours of Breastfeeding by Dr Anamika Bakliwal
Why does something as instinctive as breastfeeding often feel like one of the hardest journeys a woman undertakes?
In a world where convenience is king and quick fixes are endlessly marketed, 20,000 Hours of Breastfeeding arrives as both a deeply personal memoir and a quietly radical guide. Written by a practising haemato-oncologist who is also a mother to a toddler, the book steps away from the precision-driven intensity of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and into a very different kind of battlefield—the sleepless, uncertain, and emotionally charged world of new motherhood.
At the age of 38, Dr Anamika Bakliwal the author finds herself confronting a challenge no medical training could have fully prepared her for: nursing her child for two and a half years without relying on a single bottle. In doing so, she navigates not just physical exhaustion, but a relentless tide of advice, doubt, and social pressure—from well-meaning family members to colleagues, and even the medical community itself.
What unfolds is not just a story of endurance, but of unlearning. Accustomed to clinical certainty and control, she enters a space where intuition, patience, and resilience take precedence. The result is a narrative that is as vulnerable as it is empowering, one that speaks directly to mothers who have felt overwhelmed, judged, or alone in their choices.
But this book goes beyond storytelling.
Structured with remarkable clarity, each chapter begins with the author’s lived experience—the emotional core of the journey. These memoir sections offer solidarity, reminding readers that behind every moment of doubt lies a shared human struggle. Complementing this is a unique and highly practical feature: The 3:00 A.M. Rounds.
These sections, placed at the end of every chapter, shift the tone from emotional to clinical. Here, the author returns to her role as a doctor, addressing the questions that often arise in the quiet, anxious hours of early parenthood. From the science behind milk production and immunity to myths about calcium loss, infant growth, and formula feeding, these segments provide clear, evidence-based answers in accessible language.
This dual structure—heart and mind, story and science—makes 20,000 Hours of Breastfeeding both a companion and a resource. It acknowledges the emotional reality of motherhood while equipping readers with the confidence that comes from understanding.
At its core, the book also challenges a growing cultural narrative. In an age where formula is heavily marketed and convenience often overrides conversation, it gently but firmly re-centres breastfeeding as not just a biological act, but a deeply relational and informed choice. Without judgement or dogma, it invites readers to question, to learn, and ultimately, to decide for themselves.
Perhaps most importantly, the book stands as a testament to a powerful truth: that a woman does not have to choose between professional excellence and maternal depth. She can inhabit both worlds fully, even when they demand everything she has to give.
With compassion, clarity, and credibility, 20,000 Hours of Breastfeeding offers something rare—a bridge between modern medicine and lived experience, between data and empathy, between knowledge and trust.
For every parent who has sat awake at 3:00 a.m., searching for answers and reassurance, this book promises both.
And more than that, it promises understanding.
Coming soon on Readomania!
About the Author
Dr Anamika Bakliwal is an accomplished Haemato-oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant physician with more than 14 years of clinical experience. Having earned her MD in Paediatrics and her DM (AIIMS) in Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant (Adult and Paediatric), she is highly proficient in navigating complex medical landscapes.
However, it was her own journey into motherhood and the unexpected challenges of breastfeeding that revealed a new kind of struggle. Despite her extensive background in paediatric medicine, she found the practical experience of nursing surprisingly difficult—a realisation that ultimately drove her to write this book.
Currently serving as a Senior Haematologist and BMT Physician at BLK-Max Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Bakliwal now blends her years of clinical expertise with her deeply personal insights to offer a unique, empathetic, and evidence-based guide for parents.
Connect with her:
Website: www. dranamikabakliwal.com
Instagram: @dr_anamika.bakliwal
YouTube: @dranamikabakliwal7772
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