Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood: God's Plan for You and Your Baby

by Sheila Kippley

God has a plan for you and your baby, and it starts with breastfeeding. He wants you to use the gifts He gave you physical and spiritual to help your baby thrive and mold you into a loving Catholic mother. That s why the Church has long promoted breastfeeding. Today, many mothers know that the medical evidence in favor of breastfeeding is your milk nourishes your baby and boosts his immunity; your warm, reassuring maternal embrace fosters his early mental and emotional development. But the spiritual reasons for breastfeeding are just as strong. Citing priests and popes, author Sheila Kippley here shows that nursing is not only the best way to ensure your baby s health and proper psychological development; it s an integral part of your vocation as a Catholic mother. Nursing your baby is an act of Christian charity. Indeed, Pope John Paul II says that nursing mothers are truly heroic. Their selflessness is a boon to the family, the Church, and society. Breastfeeding creates the intimate bonds of love and trust on which all Christian communion is based. It awakens tenderness in you and a sense of wonder at creation, especially at the marvel you cradle in your arms, your tiny baby. These pages show that breastfeeding is the best care you can give your baby, and it s also good for you as a Catholic woman. Nursing will deepen your love and develop in you habits of meditation and prayer. Let Sheila Kippley help you take the next step toward breastfeeding. Soon, as you gaze on the baby nursing in your arms, you ll find praise of God welling up in your soul, and thanksgiving for His wonderful works and for the marvelous gifts He has given you.

Genres: Parenting, Catholic, Spirituality

107 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Sheila Kippley, mother of five, has been active in the natural family planning movement since 1969. Her teaching of ecological breastfeeding for natural child spacing has helped many mothers enjoy a natural form of mothering. She has spoken on the importance of the mother during the early years, natural child spacing, and the spiritual aspects of breastfeeding. Her latest book is Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, and she and her husband are co-founders of NFP, International.

John and Sheila Kippley founded the Couple to Couple League in 1971 for three purposes:

1. To meet the need for a nationwide, independent, and organized way of delivering NFP services;
2. To provide instruction in NFP that includes moral and religious values along with physiological and scientifically accurate information;
3. To train volunteer married couples to be proficient counselors and teachers in a 99% effective method of NFP, and at no cost to those who generously undertake this training.

With the assistance of Konald A. Prem, M.D., then a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, a plan was developed to meet those needs. The CCL concept has proven successful, not only in the U.S., but in countries throughout the world. Each year sees new areas opening up to being served by CCL.

The Couple to Couple League (CCL) is an international, interfaith, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching Natural Family Planning (NFP) to married and engaged couples. It is essentially a volunteer organization because services are provided by professionally-trained volunteers who are supported by a relatively small staff at the international headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Local Chapters of the organization consist mainly of certified Teaching Couples and Promoters, along with other supportive members.

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book aside from her equating working mothers with raising sociopaths.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot explain how much I love this book! Every mother should read it!

[Karen Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a first time mom who's breastfeeding, reading this book has empowered me to push through with this special calling to nurture my child. Breastfeeding didn't come easy for me for almost a month because my baby had four oral ties. I had tears almost every feeding and I thought I couldn't continue. My baby had a frenotomy and things became better after that. Although, I must admit the physical and mental exhaustion of breastfeeding can sometimes get the best of me. But this book is a reminder that it is such a selfless act. Thanks to the author for teaching and showing us the ideal according to God's design and for including your personal experiences.

[Isabella Lawlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! I am so happy there is a book like this for Catholics, there was so much encouragement within these pages. As a breastfeeding mom I knew of the physical and emotional benefits of breastfeeding, but not much of the spiritual side of breastfeeding. It deepened my already strong conviction towards breastfeeding. As well as strengthening my confidence in my motherhood vocation. Every time I nurse my baby is an opportunity of self sacrifice and it’s a beautiful gift from God filled with so much grace.

[Win Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is countercultural to what the majority of society says about motherhood and breastfeeding. I give it 5 stars for its bold advice on the importance of breastfeeding not just for nutrition but also for comfort. I feel very affirmed as a mother after reading this book. There is something about this book that feels holy and pure. Sounds strange to describe it this way but it tugged on my maternal heart.

[Lynn Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that explains all the benefits of breastfeeding and fundamentally how mothers are created to care and bond with their babies. I loved this book as it motivated me to continue breastfeeding even when there were days I was close to giving up.

[Mary Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for every expecting catholic mother. It ties in the spirituality and connection that breastfeeding gives. Tons of stuff from JP2 as well.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read of this book. It hit in the exact emotional and spiritual place this time around. I missed a lot of the wisdom during the first read.

[Ana Curo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the authors gentle and simple way of explaining and sharing information, thoughts about breastfeeding and how she connects it to catholicism.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to the importance and joy of breastfeeding your child. Sheila Kippley is simple and straightforward in explaining the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of taking on this important role in your child's life. While she emphasizes the importance and normality of breastfeeding, especially what she terms "ecological breastfeeding" (which includes not feeding your baby on a scheduled but based on the baby's needs and desires, and offering the baby the breast instead of using pacifiers, etc) she is sympathetic to mother's who may not be able to breastfeed or breastfeed as long because of health or financial reasons. She also includes a section which offers tips and experiences which I found helpful in understanding how to approach breastfeeding in a way which relieves a great deal of the awkwardness and inconvenience and brings to light how fulfilling and worthy such caring and close interaction with your child can be.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good and inspiring summary of the physical and spiritual benefits of breastfeeding woven with Catholic theology and support. I was hoping it would be a little bit more moving, but it was effective and encouraging in its simplicity. It was a very affirming book and came at the perfect time for me. It was illuminating to see this way of mothering expressed through the teachings of the Church. Beautiful.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. It's a little friend of mine. I highly recommend it to any Catholic mother, or anyone that doubts the power that God gave to mothers as such. It's a remarkable relationship, this one of breastfeeding, and I am so grateful to have found this book to help me realize this simple truth in a profound way.

[mommylawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, inspiring book on the reasons for breastfeeding! Kippley provides scriptural and pontifical reasons for nursing your baby exclusively for six months and extended breastfeeding for at least two years. I've always weaned my children by 18 months, but I've been inspired to try nursing my fifth child until s/he is two!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a culture where doctors do not understand the basic physiology of breastfeeding and natural child-spacing, this book is a gift. It is not a page-turner, but the information is sound and encouraging.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Positively beautiful!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book. I give this books as gifts to soon-to-be and new mothers.