The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Book Summary - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Book explained in key points

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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding summary

Name: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Rating: 3.7 (13 reviews)
Author: La Leche League International

La Leche League International

From Pregnancy to Weaning, the Book Every Nursing Mother Needs

3.7 (13 ratings)

15 mins

Brief summary

'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' by La Leche League International is a comprehensive guide for new mothers seeking to breastfeed their babies successfully. It covers everything from the benefits of breastfeeding to common problems and offers practical advice on how to overcome them.

Topics

Family Life The Body Women's Health & Maternity

Table of Contents

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Summary of 8 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Taking the mystery and fear out of breastfeeding.

We’ve all heard horror stories about the pains and difficulties of breastfeeding. Whether you’re an idealistic mom-to-be, or a current mother struggling through the pain and uncertainty that can come with breastfeeding, the good news is that there are solutions to almost every breastfeeding obstacle.

It’s hard to deny the benefits of breastfeeding, but doubt and lack of support can cause us to give up too soon. If you’re passionate about wanting to breastfeed your little one, this Blink may be just the support you need.

In The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, the authors argue that breastfeeding is the most natural and beneficial form of baby feeding available. In this Blink, we’ll focus on overcoming the challenges associated with breastfeeding in order to make it more accessible to women and chestfeeding caregivers who are having a hard time.

The baby is the boss

Much of the advice given in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding evolves from the idea that the best way to feed a baby is by letting him or her lead the way.

You will be able to trust your baby to signal when she’s hungry and when she’s finished. This may involve feeding her more frequently than you expect. It may involve feeding her for longer periods of time.

The point is that with baby-led feeding, you don’t have to worry about whether the baby is getting enough—more on that soon—or how often she’s feeding. You simply let her guide the process based on her needs.

Don’t worry, if you’re already coming up with “what about” questions, we’ll be getting to those. However, if you feel that baby-led feeding could be problematic for your schedule, you can still benefit from the advice coming up.

Surprising Benefits

You’re probably already aware of the old slogan “breast is best.” Breastfeeding provides a variety of benefits to both you and your baby. The nutritional balance of breastmilk is ideally suited to meet the needs of a growing child.

Besides nutrients, breast milk also provides your baby with his first protection against germs and infection. It also contains secretory immunoglobulin A, which prevents the intestines from passing through germs and allergens. Breastmilk also includes pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, which helps the baby’s intestines to be safe and strong.

Can I Breastfeed?

Breastfeeding comes with its own set of myths and misinformation.

Many women with small breasts are concerned that they won’t be able to breastfeed. The good news is, there’s no correlation between size of breasts and quantity of milk. So yes, you can breastfeed.

What About Complications?

Now that we’ve established that you can breastfeed with a variety of breast shapes, let’s talk about complications. There are many obstacles to breastfeeding that can be overcome with knowledge and experience.

One of the biggest fears women have is pain. The fact is, breastfeeding should not cause you pain. There may be some chafing and stinging in the early days, but it should absolutely not hurt or injure you.

Well-Meaning Bad Advice

The world is full of the kind of advice that is generally harmless, but also false. When it comes to breastfeeding, you’ll hear a lot of opinions on how long you breastfeed or when to change breasts. Here are the facts:

You can breastfeed as long as you and your baby want. Most experts recommend six months of exclusive breastfeeding and up to two years of breastfeeding while initiating other food. Go with what feels right for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding Accessories

One of the great things about breastfeeding is the portability. You don’t need a lot of accessories.

Your Breastfeeding Village

La Leche League was formed in response to the lack of support women were receiving for breastfeeding. As a result, there is now plenty of easily accessible information available to breastfeeding women, as well as supportive groups.

However, a mother’s most important network is the family and friends around her, particularly her partner, if she has one.

Final Summary

Breastfeeding can be a challenge, but it has so many rewards and benefits to both you and your baby. Most challenges can be overcome and breastfeeding can be achieved in spite of many different complications. Because you’re prioritizing your baby’s needs, you may end up neglecting your own. That’s where it pays to have a strong, supportive community and/or partner to help you through the process. If you have faith in your body and lean on the experts for support, breastfeeding can be the most beautiful season of your life.

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What is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding about?

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (2010) is an updated version of the classic, definitive guide on breastfeeding. Based on the premise that breastfeeding should be the baseline standard of baby feeding, the book offers answers and techniques to both common and obscure breastfeeding challenges.

Who should read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding?

First-time breastfeeders
Anyone pregnant and considering breastfeeding
Partner of a breastfeeding (or soon-to-be) mother

About the Author

Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, and Teresa Pitman are mothers and leaders in the international organization La Leche League. Founded in 1956, La Leche League formed to help normalize breastfeeding and offer support to mothers around the world.

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Health & Nutrition Parenting

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