Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day.

Once upon a time, children grew up seeing their mothers, aunts, other relatives and friends breastfeeding. This does not happen very often any more, and often a woman finds herself with her baby in her arms without ever having even seen another woman caring for her child. With the widespread use of formula and the bottle, we have forgotten many notions and ideas that help in breastfeeding successfully, and our expectations regarding children's needs and behaviors have changed. The ideal image of a healthy child that most people have today today - for example, how and how much he will eat, how he will sleep, how much and how fast he should grow - are based to a great extent on the typical behavior of formula fed babies.

The reality is that almost all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck.

Breastfeeding provides a woman with a unique occasion to experience motherhood in an optimal manner, introducing positive changes within her family and the society. A well informed and involved woman can experience natural processes such as childbirth and breastfeeding in the best way for herself and her baby. She knows when to proceed, when to ask for help and which choices to make. She knows when and how to look for support and can give it to other women, growing as a mother and as a woman at the same time.

"La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing support, encouragement, information, and education to women who want to breastfeed."

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/necessary.html