What is La Leche League?

At a recent La Leche League meeting, a new mom beamed with joy as her newborn slept peacefully in her arms while another cried with frustration over her lack of sleep and her newborn's inability to latch on. A pregnant mom with a 2 year old wanted tips on tandem nursing while a mom with a 3 month old asked for help with weaning her baby. All of these moms got their needs met and their questions answered by the La Leche League Leaders there.

La Leche League provides mother-to-mother breastfeeding support and information over the phone, by e-mail, in meetings and online worldwide. Recognized as the pre-eminent authority on all things breastfeeding, it's hard to believe that seven young mothers in the Bible Belt of America started LLL just over 50 years ago. At the time, their goal was to increase breastfeeding success among them and to provide mothering support to their circle of friends. Mothers, always the best and most passionate advocates, spread the word of La Leche League quickly and today we have 10 LLL Groups in the Ottawa area alone!

La Leche League helps mothers educate themselves and make informed choices about breastfeeding. LLL Leaders are all mothers who have at least one child who have been breastfed for at least one year. Leaders go through a training process and are backed by a professional advisory board who can field more specific medical questions. The philosophy of La Leche League is summarized in their 10 philosophy statements:

1. Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
2. Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.
3. In the early years the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
4. Breast milk is the superior infant food.
5. For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until the baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth.
6. Ideally the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need.
7. Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
8. Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby's father. A father's unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child's development from early infancy.
9. Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
10. From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.

LLL Groups welcome all women interested in breastfeeding (with men welcome at couple's meetings). You can get more information on La Leche League at www.lllc.ca or call 613-238-5919 for meeting information and breastfeeding help.