MapMuse - Locate La Leche League Contact Information Near You

...founders of La Leche League were seven mothers from Illinois who had breastfed their own children and were motivated to help mothers who, for a variety of different reasons (often related to social expectations and misinformation) had difficulties with and questions about breastfeeding. Marian Tompson and her friend Mary White began with a conversation about the joys and difficulties of breastfeeding while at a local church picnic in August 1956. They each invited other friends to join the discussion; Mary Ann Cahill, Edwina Froehlich, Mary Ann Kerwin, Viola Lennon, and Betty Wagner. These women are considered the Seven Founders of La Leche League.

Drs. Herbert Ratner and Gregory White were invited to meet with them and advised the group about medical aspects of breastfeeding, providing access to the small amount of medical literature about breastfeeding then available. [1]

Philosophy and Mission

The misson of La Leche League is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Services

The primary purpose of La Leche League (LLL) is to encourage, inform, and support mothers primarily via monthly Series Meetings, telephone help, and online through email and the LLLI website[1]. Some Leaders also do home and/or hospital visits.

La Leche League Leaders are accedited volunteers who have breastfed their own babies and been specially trained to help mothers with breastfeeding. They facilitate meetings in the morning, afternoon, or evening once a month. Some Leaders develop expertise with particular breastfeeding situations such as breastfeeding an adopted child, special medical or physical situations of the mother or baby, family challenges such as divorce, and many others. In order to be most effective, Leaders keep up-to-date through continued training and study of the most current medical research on breastfeeding.

Most meetings are designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women to provide breastfeeding information, support, and encouragement. In some areas there are specialized meetings for couples, working mothers, teen mothers, or mothers of multiples (twins, triplets or more). Online meetings are available through the La Leche League International (LLLI) website [2]. While the Leader represents La Leche League at Series Meetings, mothers are encouraged to share their own experiences with other mothers. A common theme repeated by Leaders at a La Leche League meeting is "take what you need and leave the rest", acknowledging that every mother-baby dyad is unique and each mother knows her own baby best. All meetings are free of charge. A one year membership to LLL can be purchased for $40.00.

In some places, there is a centralized phone number (for an entire country or a US state, for example) where mothers can either receive help directly or be referred to a Leader in her area. In other areas, these Leaders directly advertise their telephone numbers, and sometimes email, via the LLLI Web site, telephone books and posters in parenting centres, libraries, doctors' and midwives' offices, health centres and other places where pregnant women and new parents might seek information. Mothers may also submit questions or concerns through online Help Forms available on the LLLI website.

Today, La Leche League has grown to help women in more than 40 countries. It publishes a bimonthly breastfeeding and parenting journal, New Beginnings, sent to those who become La Leche League members. Anyone may become a La Leche League member for an annual fee. La Leche League also publishes and sells THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, and other books and media for mothers, families, and medical professionals. There is a research center [3], as well, that collects data on scientific studies of breastfeeding.

The most recent LLLI International Conference was in July 2007 in Chicago, Illinois, and included a seminar for health care professionals. In addition, there are Area parenting and breastfeeding conferences held in many parts of the world every year. Some Areas also offer continuing education seminars for health care professionals as well as ongoing training for Leaders.