Back to Categories
Parenting15 min read
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
by La Leche League International
From Pregnancy to Weaning, the Book Every Nursing Mother Needs
Published: January 18, 2023
3.8 (22 ratings)
Book Summary
This is a comprehensive summary of “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” by La Leche League International. The book explores from pregnancy to weaning, the book every nursing mother needs.
what’s in it for me? taking the mystery and fear out of breastfeeding.#
Introduction
la leche international.
the womanly art 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 chapter 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 chapter, we'll focus on overcoming the challenges associated with breastfeeding in order to make it more accessible to women and chest-feeding caregivers who are having a hard time.
a lot 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.
the baby is the boss#
first, you can 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 also 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.
and don't worry, if you've already come 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.
you're probably already aware of the old slogan, breast is best.
surprising benefits#
breastfeeding provides a variety of benefits to both you and your baby.
the nutritional balance of breast milk 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.
breast milk also includes pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, which helps the baby's intestines to be safe and strong.
nutritional value isn't the only great thing about breastfeeding.
it also helps your baby's physiological development, allowing their jaw and facial muscles to fully develop.
this can ultimately result in better ear and sinus health.
your physiological health is also positively impacted.
as the baby begins nursing, your uterus receives the signal to contract.
this helps you begin to heal from the birth process and also helps stave off your period for a while longer than if you didn't breastfeed.
the social and emotional value of breastfeeding can't be understated.
the connection you form with your baby as you feed her is important to both of you.
it helps you find security and footing in this world.
it helps you ease into your role as a parent.
but most importantly, make sure your baby is fed, whatever way works.
sometimes breastfeeding doesn't happen easily or at all.
a loving parent is a good parent, however you feed your baby.
and the good news is, most problems with breastfeeding can be overcome.
breastfeeding comes with its own set of myths and misinformation.
can i breastfeed?#
for example, many women with small breasts are concerned that they won't be able to breastfeed.
the good news is, there's no association with size of breasts and quantity of milk.
so yes, you can breastfeed.
however, depending on the shape of your breast, you may need to make some adjustments.
for instance, if you have long, narrow breasts, your baby may struggle to latch.
you can simply compress your breast like a sandwich to give the baby more surface area to latch onto.
nipple size is another often cited concern.
what if your nipples are too big for the baby?
the answer is the same.
you can breastfeed regardless of the size of your nipples.
you just may need to encourage the baby to open their mouth a little wider.
it's important that the baby doesn't only suck on your nipple.
this will result in not getting enough milk and in hurting you.
you want to make sure the baby sucks in as much of the area surrounding the nipple as possible.
another concern is inverted nipples.
once again, yes, you can breastfeed with this feature.
you just may need to do a little extra work.
massaging and stimulating your nipple can help.
you might also want to use a breast pump to help avert your nipples.
if all else fails, you can try a nipple shield, which will help reshape your breast so the baby can latch on more easily.
now that we've established that you can breastfeed with a variety of breast shapes, let's talk about complications.
what 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.
if you're feeding your baby and it feels painful or uncomfortable, do something about it.
this may mean a simple shift in position.
it might mean breaking the latch and trying again.
as mentioned in the last section, make sure the baby isn't only sucking on the nipple.
you may need to compress your breasts like you're feeding the baby a sandwich in order to make sure they take in as much of the area around the nipple as possible.
make sure the baby's bottom jaw is free to open and close and that your fingers aren't holding it in place.
his head should be tipped slightly back so he can widen his mouth and swallow easily.
again, if you don't have a good latch, try again.
don't continue if it hurts.
another complication is low milk supply, although often this is a case of misinformation.
in fact, it tends to be the first idea that friends, family, and even doctors jump to.
baby's fussing at the breast?
maybe you're not making enough milk.
baby isn't sleeping through the night?
maybe you're not making enough milk.
the truth is, if your baby is gaining weight steadily, producing at least six wet diapers per day, and pooping regularly, you're making enough milk.
if milk supply truly is a problem, you can help the baby get more at each feeding by holding and compressing your breast.
make sure you're taking care of yourself, staying properly fed and hydrated, and getting sleep whenever you can.
you can breastfeed after a cesarean birth, premature birth, or other complications.
it can be done, but it may take more work and dedication.
in some cases, you may just need to work with different feeding positions due to pain or surgical wounds.
in other cases, like if your baby is receiving medical intervention, you may need to begin your breastfeeding journey by pumping or hand expressing.
this milk can be fed to the baby even as you keep your supply going while you wait to take your baby home.
pumping or expressing milk may not come easily, especially if you haven't had the opportunity to breastfeed your baby yet.
the truth is, your body is designed to respond to your baby's needs, and a breast pump just doesn't have that soft, cuddly feel to it.
to stimulate milk flow, get as much skin-on-skin contact as you can with your baby.
do your pumping in the same room as your baby.
a warm, comforting bath may help as well.
do your pumping consistently so your body gets used to producing milk at a certain rate.
another common complication is tongue tie.
some babies are born with an unusually thick or tight frenulum.
the frenulum is that little line of skin that tethers your tongue to the bottom of your mouth.
a tongue-tied baby can't lift their tongue high enough to easily latch onto your breast.
the solution for this is uncomfortable but simple, and can be done with a quick trip to the doctor's office.
once your baby's doctor diagnoses the tongue tie, they can simply snip it loose.
this is a brief moment of pain, a drop of blood, but otherwise uneventful for your baby, while allowing him to at least latch onto your breast.
there are many other complications that can arise with breastfeeding.
the most important thing to understand is that you have resources.
la leche league is a great place to start when seeking answers to your breastfeeding challenges.
the world is full of the kind of advice that is generally harmless, but also false.
well-meaning bad advice#
when it comes to breastfeeding, you'll hear a lot of opinions on how long you breastfeed, or when you ought to change breasts.
but here are the facts.
you can breastfeed as long as you and your baby want.
most experts recommend 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, and up to 2 years of breastfeeding while initiating other food.
go with what feels right for you and your baby.
as for how long per session, again, it doesn't matter.
you nurse for as long as your baby needs to feel full.
some people still talk about how you should breastfeed a certain length of time out of one breast, so the baby can get the hind milk, which is allegedly the more calorie-dense milk that a baby gets after about 10 minutes of breastfeeding.
this idea came about by seeing breast milk in a bottle with some natural separation.
inside the breast, this separation isn't occurring.
the bottom line is your breast only makes one kind of milk.
switching breasts is also up to you.
you don't have to make sure the baby gets equal time with each breast in every session.
you do want to make sure that over the course of the day, both breasts have been used fairly equally, but on a per-session basis, it doesn't matter.
and how often should you breastfeed?
however often the baby needs in order to have his needs met.
you may get some feedback that sounds like this.
is that baby eating again?
you may get well-meaning advice about how you're spoiling your baby and you need to get him on a schedule.
just thank people for caring enough to share their advice, and then go on with the schedule, or lack thereof, that works for you and your baby.
one of the great things about breastfeeding is the portability.
breastfeeding accessories#
you don't need a lot of accessories.
for example, you don't need special nursing clothes.
while it might be nice to have a nursing dress for special occasions, most of the time the flaps and snaps and buttons don't really accomplish enough to justify buying them.
just wear loose, comfortable clothing that you can lift up or unbutton.
you don't need a nursing bra.
you don't technically need a bra at all.
if you do wear a bra, the size you wore during your last trimester of pregnancy should do.
you might want to wear some breastfeeding pads.
not every mother experiences leakage, but for the ones who do, pads can help prevent unwanted leaks.
you do need a baby carrier if you're going to follow the baby-led, full-time breastfeeding paradigm.
a comfortable wrap that allows the baby to feed on demand can free you up to do other things or just relax a little.
you may need a breast pump.
if you're going back to work or need flexibility for any reason, a breast pump can help.
it isn't strictly necessary, as you can hand-express milk, but many mothers prefer pumps.
la leche league was formed in response to the lack of support women were receiving for breastfeeding.
your breastfeeding village#
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.
many partners and family members want to be supportive but just don't know how.
here are a few ideas to suggest to them.
food is always a big deal.
whether it's stocking the freezer, doing the grocery shopping, or grabbing takeout on the way home, when you feed a breastfeeding mother, you relieve her of stress and time so she can focus on feeding the baby.
relax about the housework.
when you're supporting a new mother, it's important to do as much as you can in terms of keeping the house clean and running.
but the two of you should also agree when to let things slide for a while.
rest is sometimes more important than the dishes.
emotional support is also essential.
be patient, kind, and willing to listen.
baby blues and postpartum depression are real and common, and even if your breastfeeding partner isn't experiencing those, she's still healing from a major physical event in her life, as well as feeding a baby with her body.
long story short, if a partner or support group is paying attention, they're going to know what you need.
but it's also okay to just ask.
you've just listened to our chapter to the womanly art of breastfeeding by diane wiesinger.
final summary#
Conclusion
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.
thanks so much for listening to this chapter.
as always, we would love your feedback or rating, and we hope to see you in the next chapter.
You Might Also Like
Discover more book summaries in the same category or by the same author.