The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition (La Leche League International Book)

I had a much older edition of this book when I was pregnant with my first child almost 10 years ago and I read it and countless other pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting books. I passed along the older version to a pregnant friend after the birth of my youngest in 2002; I thought I knew all I needed to know after successfully breastfeeding my first and continuing to breastfeed my youngest. Some recent problems led me to borrow the new 7th Revised Edition from a LLL meeting and I wish I had a newer edition before my second son was born. I learned so much about recent scientific discoveries about breastfeeding and the healthful properties of human milk. I could have avoided alot of heartbreak and anxiety in the hospital if I'd known all this and read it prior to his birth. The hospital was not very friendly to breastfeeding and if I had not already had the positive experience with my first son, I probably would have let them convince me of the need for bottles. As it was, we had a very difficult time in the first few weeks, which could have been avoided with the knowledge and information contained in this book. I urge you to read it, especially if you are considering nursing. And even if you plan to feed your baby formula, it may change your mind! And bring it with you to the hospital to use as a resource and to back up your requests to nurses to NOT give your baby sugar water, formula or a pacifier. The scientific information and references provided should give you all the support you need.

I breastfed all three of my children well into toddlerhood and was very active in LLL for several years. This book does have helpful information, but if you don't completely subscribe to LLL's basic philosophy (breastfeeding on demand until the child chooses to wean, having no scheduled separations from the child because then you might not be available for nursing at the exact moment the child wanted to, a very limited role for fathers, etc.), the book will seem judgmental. In addition, the book often does not seem sympathetic to mothers who face what seem like overwhelming problems. Their assurances that you can work things out no matter what can be guilt inducing rather than helpful. Actually talking to LLL leaders can be great--I've gotten some wonderful help from some. On the other hand, I've know others who were either not knowlegable enough to be helpful, gave too much information, or who were jugmental and unsupportive of mothers who made choices they didn't like (such as working outside the home). One cannot be an LLL leader if one has had scheduled separations from baby (like working), so many leaders have strong feelings about how you should parent, and their personal feelings can get inthe way of being helpful to moms who work, want to wean, have to go on a trip without the baby, etc. In the book itself, I also find that the use of "he" to refer to all children is annoying--they say it's for clarity because the mom is always "she," but in the chapter on dads, they still refer to babies as he, and somehow the references are still clear. LLL has a tendency to put women in the secondary position of fulfilling their womanliness solely by serving the needs of others. I think The Nursing Mother's Companion is a better book for the nursing mom. It's helpful and practical, and while the author is very pro-breastfeeding, you don't feel like there's a hidden agenda lurking beneath the advice. The non-breastfeeding oriented decisions you make about how to run your life and family don't really enter into the discussion, while in LLL's book, these other issues are front and center. If you don't want a whole life philosophy along with breastfeeding advice, The Nursing Mother's Companion is a better book.

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I had problems with breastfeeding for the first 4 weeks. Just when I was at my wits end, everything just clicked and now we are doing great. This book really helped me through those weeks and I got the encouragement I needed. There are relatable stories and straight answers to questions you have about breastfeeding. I found this to be an invaluable resource!

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I've read the reviews on this book and La Leche League stating that somehow, La Leche Leage (LLL)and this book can make one feel inadequate or less womanly if problems with breastfeeding lead to supplementing with formula. My experience has found this to be very untrue.

I attended my first LLL meeting while I was pregnant with my first child. I found the people to be very friendly and they went out of their way to answer all of my questions about becoming a new mom and breastfeeding. I contuniued these meetings for the wonderful support and education throughout my pregnancy. I also hired a Lactation Consultant to help with breastfeeding once the baby was born.

Unfortunatly,I ended up with a c-section. I was unable to see my daughter for almost 4 hours after the surgery. When I did finally meet her, she was very drowsy from the epidural and would not latch for over 24 hours. My daughter was born on a Friday night, and the hospital's Lactation Consultant was "off" for the weekend!!! It was the wonderful women I met at the LLL meetings that I called for help. They were so helpful and did not judge me for having difficulty. Also, the book was VERY helpful in answering all of the MANY questions that arose once my child was brought to me. I especially loved the chapter that addresses concerns about breastfeeding after a c-section. Many of the nurses and, suprisingly, the physicians, suggested over and over that I supplement with formula, when really all I needed was a breastpump!!! I had to request a breastpump 3 times before it was brought to me. Without the support of the LLL and the book, I would have gone along with the nurses and Doctors and my daughter & I would have missed out on all the benefits of breastfeeding.

In short, I have not found this book or LLL to be judgmental of mothers who have difficulty with breastfeeding and end up supplementing with formula, rather, what I have found is just pure frustration that mothers are robbed of the opportunity to experience all the benefits of breastfeeding by being pushed into supplementing at the fist sign of any difficulty. My experience has taught me that breastfeeding is an art and it is not always easy to master it, especially when you are mentally and physically exhausted from having a baby. LLL was there to SUPPORT me and my family in that time by providing education and assistance. Thanks to them I knew how important it was to get my baby the colostrum I was producing the first few days after she was born and I knew not to panic when there was very little of it coming out. So many of the moms I know are convinced to supplement or give up breastfeeding altogether because they are told or mistakenly think the don't have "enough milk" during this stage!!! I was so relieved that I was wiser due to the information I received from LLL and the book.

The first couple of weeks of breastfeeding were difficult, but with the help of my Lactation Consultant, LLL friends, and this book, my now 5 month old daughter is 100% breastfed and VERY happy, healthy and bonded to me (as I am to her!).

I can't say enough good things about this book and LLL. They helped me to become a caring, nurturing and confident mom! Also, there's a 1-800 number in the book that any mom can call and they will walk you through ANY breastfeeding problem!

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This wonderful, factful book got me through the wee hours of the night when I thought nothing was going right. It gave truthful information rather than the fad stuff one hears from friends and Moms. The book helped making this part of child rearing a true joy. I am now giving a copy to my daughter to help her prepare for the care of my first grandchild.