Status
Available
Local notes
EC Parenting
c.1
c.1
Collection
Publication
Plume (2004), Edition: Revised, 463 pages
Description
A guide for expectant and new mothers on breastfeeding thier baby.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1958
Physical description
463 p.; 6.06 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member sarahtar
A great reference book, I highly recommend for nursing mothers.
LibraryThing member callista83
This book has lots of information in it on breastfeeding along with some personal ancedotes from breastfeeding moms. I was always under the impression that La Leche League was a snobby group that thought poorly of bottle-feeding mothers and those who didn't babywear, co-sleep or do other attachment
LLL does tout that breast is best, but breast IS best. However LLL didn't call bottlefeeding mothers bad. Co-sleeping and babywearing is also mentioned but I didn't feel the authors were saying I was a bad parent if I didn't do those things also.
Unlike other breastfeeding books, this book also covered some other topics like discipline and getting things done with small children in a loving way that is conducive with breastfeeding. I also really enjoyed the photographs of nursing mothers and babies throughout the book.
At the end of the book is a chapter on the history of LLL which some may find interesting and some may not.
This isn't my top pick for breastfeeding book but it is a close second or third.
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parenting things. I was wrong and I apologize to anyone who is affiliated with the LLL. Just goes to show you should find things out for yourself, not go on others opinions. LLL does tout that breast is best, but breast IS best. However LLL didn't call bottlefeeding mothers bad. Co-sleeping and babywearing is also mentioned but I didn't feel the authors were saying I was a bad parent if I didn't do those things also.
Unlike other breastfeeding books, this book also covered some other topics like discipline and getting things done with small children in a loving way that is conducive with breastfeeding. I also really enjoyed the photographs of nursing mothers and babies throughout the book.
At the end of the book is a chapter on the history of LLL which some may find interesting and some may not.
This isn't my top pick for breastfeeding book but it is a close second or third.
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LibraryThing member nicholem
This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to breastfeed or has questions about breastfeeding their baby. I got this book when I was pregnant and I truly believe that it helped me to be a successful breastfeeding mother. It covers everything from pregnancy to weaning to tandum nursing. A must
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have for anyone who wants to have a successful breastfeeding relationship with their child. Show Less
LibraryThing member LLLMontebello
his classic guide to breastfeeding reflects current research while maintaining its trademark style of mother-to-mother sharing. The language in this edition reflects a gentle shift toward breastfeeding as the norm. Updated references and resource lists provide mothers with the tools needed to make
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informed decisions about birth, breastfeeding, and parenting. Show Less
LibraryThing member TullyFamily
While I do not agree with "attachment parenting," this book answered many of my questions. Worth reading!
LibraryThing member herebedragons
A fantastic book, one I would recommend to any mother-to-be who intends to breastfeed (and, personally, I feel strongly that every mother should breastfeed; it's the best option for so many reasons). Great advice here, lots of practical stuff and general infomation. Plus, LLL is a great
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face-to-face resource for new moms, too. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarinaSurette
Great introduction to breastfeeding, good place to go for support and encouragement.
LibraryThing member Amelia_Smith
This new edition is a big improvement over older ones I've seen, but I found some elements of it off-putting and suspected that they weren't well backed up by research. I can't be bothered to look up the exact sentence, but somewhere in the early chapters there was something to the effect of: "Any
That said, there was a lot of good information, particularly in the later chapters of the books which deal with challenges and different situations. Because really, that's when you need help, not if you have the perfect storybook childbirth and smooth sailing from there on.
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amount of formula is damaging." Really? How? Is one bottle of formula measurably detrimental? I find that hard to stomach. The emphasis on natural birth is ok, but the vast majority of women have some interventions especially in their first births. Starting off by saying to most of us that we're off to a bad start with breastfeeding is really annoying, and pointless. That said, there was a lot of good information, particularly in the later chapters of the books which deal with challenges and different situations. Because really, that's when you need help, not if you have the perfect storybook childbirth and smooth sailing from there on.
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LibraryThing member Daisydaisydaisy
I was given this book when pregnant, and have serious doubts about it. I am still breastfeeding, with a baby now 15 weeks, but in spite of the book, rather than because of it.
- First of all, the length is hugely off-putting if you want to breastfeed. It looks deeply intimidating.
- Poorly indexed.
- Judgmental - there is an awful lot here about how bad formula is (my baby would have been seriously ill without formula as my milk was so delayed coming in - we had to be readmitted to hospital so she could be tube fed). There is no nuance, or attempt to explain pros and cons, whereas I found breastfeeding had a lot of cons (yes, I am still doing it). Making out that formula is like poison isn't good for mothers or babies.
- Unrealistic - I'm not sure who the mothers are who have the time to lounge around naked with their babies for days at a time, but I certainly haven't come across them. The unrealistic expectations set out in this book set women up to fail, with all the damage that then does to early motherhood.
- Cutesy patronising style - this really grated. I couldn't have read it straight through even if I'd wanted to, as the style is SO annoying. There are silly little anecdotes (I'd rather have some hard evidence). Poo is always called "poop".
- Agenda - the book heavily promotes attachment parenting, whereas I just wanted advice on breastfeeding, not a whole parenting style.
I'm sure there are better books out there about breastfeeding. The best advice I got was to do my best, top up with formula, and don't worry about it.
- First of all, the length is hugely off-putting if you want to breastfeed. It looks deeply intimidating.
- Poorly indexed.
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You don't have to read the whole thing (I certainly didn't), but it's a nightmare to find the information you want as the index is so poor. For instance, I wanted to find out what to do about blocked ducts, but could I find either "ducts" or "blocked" in the index? No. Found it by accident in the "mastitis" section. Not helpful as it assumes prior knowledge. I was better off Googling for info on Mumsnet.- Judgmental - there is an awful lot here about how bad formula is (my baby would have been seriously ill without formula as my milk was so delayed coming in - we had to be readmitted to hospital so she could be tube fed). There is no nuance, or attempt to explain pros and cons, whereas I found breastfeeding had a lot of cons (yes, I am still doing it). Making out that formula is like poison isn't good for mothers or babies.
- Unrealistic - I'm not sure who the mothers are who have the time to lounge around naked with their babies for days at a time, but I certainly haven't come across them. The unrealistic expectations set out in this book set women up to fail, with all the damage that then does to early motherhood.
- Cutesy patronising style - this really grated. I couldn't have read it straight through even if I'd wanted to, as the style is SO annoying. There are silly little anecdotes (I'd rather have some hard evidence). Poo is always called "poop".
- Agenda - the book heavily promotes attachment parenting, whereas I just wanted advice on breastfeeding, not a whole parenting style.
I'm sure there are better books out there about breastfeeding. The best advice I got was to do my best, top up with formula, and don't worry about it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Coatlicue
The most destructive and manipulative book I was given while pregnant. By far.
I planned to fully breastfeed, and read the book with that goal in mind. I couldn't believe how unpleasant and judgemental the tone could get in this book. And I was appalled at how many false and thoroughly disproved
I read this book before I had my child, specifically to prepare for my plan of exclusive breastfeeding. I came away nauseated at how cruel and dismissive the book was, toward anyone who didn't toe the EBF line. Under a veneer of pseudo-soothing language, the implications were clear.
As someone who was already planning to breastfeed, the book should have been preaching to the choir. But it just made me angry with its nonstop smugness.
It made me wonder, why did the author write this book? To explain and promote breastfeeding, or to be covertly hateful toward people who don't? Because the book would have been much better without that second part.
In the end, this not a book for people who want rational breastfeeding/infant feeding advice. It's a support guide for people who have a great deal of identity invested in breastfeeding. I should have been clued in by the title referring to breastfeeding as an "art".
I planned to fully breastfeed, and read the book with that goal in mind. I couldn't believe how unpleasant and judgemental the tone could get in this book. And I was appalled at how many false and thoroughly disproved
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statements were made about formula. I came away completely disgusted with how the book's authors regard women who formula-feed. I read this book before I had my child, specifically to prepare for my plan of exclusive breastfeeding. I came away nauseated at how cruel and dismissive the book was, toward anyone who didn't toe the EBF line. Under a veneer of pseudo-soothing language, the implications were clear.
As someone who was already planning to breastfeed, the book should have been preaching to the choir. But it just made me angry with its nonstop smugness.
It made me wonder, why did the author write this book? To explain and promote breastfeeding, or to be covertly hateful toward people who don't? Because the book would have been much better without that second part.
In the end, this not a book for people who want rational breastfeeding/infant feeding advice. It's a support guide for people who have a great deal of identity invested in breastfeeding. I should have been clued in by the title referring to breastfeeding as an "art".
Show Less
LibraryThing member wrightja2000
I read this after having nursed three children for a little less than two years each (probably a total of five years spent nursing) because I was curious if there was anything I didn't already know. I skimmed a lot but there were helpful things I learned. I didn't agree with everything- after
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reading I felt guilty for weaning my children from nursing at night (all over a year old) because of back pain I suffer from. But I believe there needs to be a strong voice for women nursing as long as they are able and this book provides that. It reminds me of my first labor experience- I had a midwife who kept telling me that it was ok to take pain medication if I needed to, which to my mind felt like she was telling me I couldn't be successful at labor. But it was my mom telling me, "You can do it, you don't want to give up, an unmediated birth is what you wanted, it's important to you," gave me confidence and comfort in spite of the pain. Women need cheerleaders like that in breast feeding. Show Less
LibraryThing member London_StJ
I wanted advice on breastfeeding, but apparently purchased a 400+ page advertisement for LLL meetings and products, with propaganda thrown in for good measure. "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" offers basic infant advice found in any good parenting/pregnancy book, and from my perspective offered
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nothing significant either in terms of infant care or breastfeeding advice. The tone of the guide itself was a large detractor for me - as was being told every other page that "x" was available for purchase from LLL, or that "Ms. Y" attended a LLL meeting and everything was just peachy (most often without sharing the advice that seemed to make everything better). Personally, I believe this book is a big waste of time and money - you can find the same information elsewhere without all the additional ads and scare tactics! Show Less
Other editions
The womanly art of breastfeeding c.2 by Judy Torgus (Paper Book)
Similar in this library
Pages
463