The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

So I just read a book that changed the way I look at breastfeeding.  Once I started it,  it was hard to put it down.  The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League was just such an excellent read and had so much information about being a mom.  Totally didn't expect all the tips on child raising and child birthing.

So I'm not writing to promote the book for anyone.  I'm not being paid for my opinion just sharing, like I always do.  After the read, I really wish I had read the previous edition BEFORE I had Audrey.  So many things I would have known off the bat instead of learning the hard way. 

But the thing that has blown my mind was something that the book said early on.  The book points out that there are NO BENEFITS to breastfeeding!  All the research starts with the breastfed baby at the experiment.  The formula fed baby as the control.  If you reverse that and make the breastfed baby the control, which he/she should be since breastfeeding the natural/normal way to feed a child then instead of benefits to breastfeeding we would be talking about the dangers of formula.  The things that formula fed babies lack rather than the benefits of breastfeeding.  Being that DH is a scientist, you would think I would have looked at the research more careful and found the control and thus the correct conclusion myself but I totally see everything different now.  EVERY DROP COUNTS!  I just don't think I'll every look at baby-feeding research the same way.  Audrey is the normal not the experiment.  She's not big for her age.  She is what a normal fucking baby should be.  Gerber has no clue what a normal baby is.  That Gerber baby  is being denied his right to nature's perfect food. 

This realization also makes me very sad for the babies who have no choice but to have formula.  Baby J comes to mind.  B was so looking forward to breastfeeding Baby J and giving her the best start possible.  Formula has its place.  Not all moms make it thur to hold and raise their babies.  Not all babies are born at 9 months ready to latch.  Some moms are breast cancer survivors and have no way to make milk.  I wish we could make milk bank for babies in need that are affordable.  I hope that more moms that can breastfeed will breastfeed if even for just a few days.  Every drop counts.