the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

i never thought i would be so excited to read a book about breastfeeding, but when i got this book for Christmas off my wishlist, i was elated! it was recommended to me by a friend, and is produced by La Leche League International, an organization whose mission is to support and promote a return to breasfeeding. prior to becoming pregnant, i really had never heard of LLLI, but now i hear of them everywhere!

hands down the best thing i walked away from with this book is the mantra: "breastfeeding is something i WILL do, not something i will TRY to do." i know many people will take offense to this statement, saying they physically couldn't do it because of supply issues or a variety of other reasons. however, i am aware that a nearly miniscule amount of women actually have supply issues. the others simply don't have the support and endurance they need to continue with breastfeeding. of course i'm saying all this with merely a knowledge of breastfeeding at this point, and not any experience. however, i know one thing and that is i'm committed to doing this!

a few months back after i finished my breastfeeding class, i mentioned how excited i was to have this bonding experience with LW. that's probably why i've been so caught up in dealing with my insurance about getting a breast pump. it's been frustrating to say the least, but mostly because i want to be successful in doing this for my child. my goal is to try and breast feed for a year, and to NOT supplement with formula at all. i know a lot of doctor's will push for supplementing, especially to get baby back to their birth weight, but honestly, with the help of this book i think i can avoid it all together. i would already call myself pretty prepared:

i want to assure people that i'm definitely NOT judging those who formula feed. before i got pregnant, i never gave breastfeeding a second thought. i was born in the 80's and my mother didn't breast feed any of us kids because it just wasn't something that you did during that time.  but there are few things in life that only 1 person can do for their child- and this is one of them.  because i will have to work in some capacity, i will need to pump to keep up exclusively breast feeding. i figure this will also come in handy when Dave and i want to leave the house unattended, and so that he can also help with feedings from time to time:)

i haven't completely finished this book because it's quite hefty and there are a lot of chapters that i will read a little later on (such as weaning, etc.). i wanted to be sure that i at least got the basics down before LW comes. i definitely plan on using this as a reference guide and not just as a 1x read. it has a super handy "toolkit" in the back that i can tear out and make copies of to track feedings, etc.

i know this won't be easy and it will probably be painful in more ways than 1, but i'm ready!
P.S., today's my due date! Anytime, Little Wood, anytime!