When it comes to breastfeeding support, few organizations are as well known as La Leche League International (LLLI). When it comes to breastfeeding resources, few are as time-tested and thorough as the La Leche League guidebook The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This book, now in its eighth edition, is a 550+ page volume covers breastfeeding basics, the stages of baby and toddlerhood, breastfeeding troubleshooting, and so much more. It’s truly more than just your average book on breastfeeding!
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding to My Rescue
Eight and a half years ago I became a young, inexperienced, insecure, and terribly overwhelmed new mom with very limited local support. I wanted to breastfeed but found it extremely painful, and all of the things I expected this new baby would do (like sleeping in a bassinet or taking regular naps), she didn’t. I was certain that I’d spend my breastfeeding days with my toes curled in pain and my nights half awake to make sure that the baby sleeping on my chest (the only place she’d actually sleep) didn’t die of SIDS from not sleeping on her back in a separate place.
Then, by God’s grace, a La Leche League leader stepped into my life. I’ll never forget Kristy! She provided me with support, encouragement, advice, and reading material. Most helpful to me during those days was her copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding that she let me borrow. It saved me! It left me feeling validated, empowered, and encouraged to keep trying. Rather than doubting all of my instincts, I started to follow them, and was only helped by doing so.
Since then, La Leche League has come out with two newer editions, and I spent some time recently looking over the most recent eighth edition for the sake of this post.
What the Fans Say
An entire chapter is devoted to birth, a whole section of the book addresses the stages that a baby goes through and how breastfeeding tends to fit into that stage, and additional chapters go over major questions in mothering over sleeping arrangements, solids, being away from baby, pumping, supplementing, weaning, and a whole host of “technical” difficulties moms may encounter. This new edition also features some nice tear-out sheets in the back of the book that allow mom and her support network to put some of the main ideas from the book into practice. If she decides that she needs more help or wants to get plugged into a local breastfeeding support group, there’s a chapter dedicated to La Leche League Resources.
What the Critics Say
While the majority of reviews for The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding are very positive, there are of course some that have their differences.
The main theme I found was that critics of the book felt that it was dogmatic in its approach to breastfeeding and attachment parenting (baby wearing, co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, etc.) and almost snobbish in its view of formula-feeding moms. Some of the reviewers that just wanted a basic how-to book didn’t want the extra information on the importance of natural birth and other topics and found their inclusion to be discouraging to women who had a c-section or epidural. I personally don’t feel the book presents its information in that manner, however.
I would differ with a few (but certainly not all) of the nutritional notes made through the book. For example, my personal research would lead me to believe that a healthy diet for mom, including saturated fats from healthy animals, leads to healthier breast milk for baby. Also on a personal note, I found it interesting that this breastfeeding organization has changed with the times by exchanging the word “husband” as used in previous editions for the more vague “partner.” I find these to be relatively small differences given the overall theme of the book and the helpful information presented in it.
All in all, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a book I highly recommend to moms who are just starting their breastfeeding journey, those who have hit some bumps in the road, or those who just need a boost of encouragement to know they can successfully breastfeed their babies.
This is my favorite book to give as a gift to new moms. I felt like there was a huge step forward with the newest version of the book to give it a much better flow. Thanks for the great review.
I agree, Tessa! It’s usually a top pick for me to give to a new momma!
I have appreciated the book as an encouraging resource as well, and successfully breastfed my nine children for a year each! I cringe a bit at the title, though 🙂