Book Review: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

La Leche League International is an amazing grassroots-type of organization of a local female leader and other local moms supporting each other in breastfeeding. This book is written by the mothers in this organization and it encompasses much more than breastfeeding. It includes chapters titled, "Going Back to Work," "Human Milk for Human Babies," "The Manly Art of Fathering," and "Mothers Helping Mothers." This book is kind of like a continuation after a natural childbirth on to natural, baby-led mothering (also known as attachment parenting).

Here are a few questions (written by me) that are answered in this book, with corresponding page numbers:

•  What is important about the baby’s head and lower jaw position for breastfeeding?
• His jaw does much better if he lifts his chin so that his head tips back slightly, chin in firm contact with the breast, nose lifted free or nearly free of the breast. (pg 70)
• What are the three “Keeps” if breastfeeding isn’t working for now?
• 1. Keep your milk flowing – hand express or pumping; 2. Keep your baby fed – drops on a spoon, from a dropper or bottle if necessary; 3. Keep your baby close – skin to skin contact will comfort, warm, stabilize breathing and heart rate as well as allow your breast to be available whenever he is ready (pg 77-78)
• Does breastfeeding need to be on a schedule?
•  When research showed that scheduled feedings led to breastfeeding problems, and we came to understand better how breastfeeding works, the recommendation changed to “feed the baby when he gives you hunger cues.” (pg 134)
• What percentage of breastfeeding mothers in Western countries sleep with their babies?
• Between 44 and 75 percent of breastfeeding mother sleep with their babies all or part of the night. (pg 228)
•  How often should milk be expressed while at work?
• In a nine-hour separation from your baby, you can expect to pump 2-3 times. (pg 270)

I have a 7th Edition copy and an 8th edition copy (page number references above and pictured above) available to my current Bradley Method students, for loan one week at a time.