Breastfeeding a baby? Expecting a baby?

La Leche League What is La Leche League? La Leche League is an international charity, founded to give information and encouragement, mainly through personal help to all mothers who want to breastfeed their babies. The organisation’s breastfeeding counsellors (known as Leaders) are accredited by La Leche League International, the world’s authority on breastfeeding. Leaders are mothers who have breastfed their own babies and enjoy helping other mothers to do so. We provide information and support by phone, email and lead support meetings for mothers. Support meetings These monthly meetings provide a great opportunity for mother-to-mother support and sharing. Sometimes all it takes for a mum to succeed in establishing breastfeeding is to encounter someone who has overcome a similar problem and to hear her experience. While seeking to dispel the myths surrounding breastfeeding, replacing them with facts, La Leche League is respectful and supportive of mothers’ differing choices. We discuss many areas relating to breastfeeding including: why breastfeeding is good for mother and baby; preparation and expectations; getting breastfeeding off to a good start; overcoming/avoiding challenges and difficulties; family life with a baby; night-time parenting and infant sleep; returning to work and nutrition and weaning. So whether you are expecting a baby, a new mother or an experienced mother, struggling to breastfeed, enjoying breastfeeding, wanting to wean or a mother interested in supporting other mothers to breastfeed why not join other breastfeeding mothers, their babies and children and be supported in your decision to breastfeed? We have a great library of books and leaflets on breastfeeding and parenting available for loan. In 2005 we meet monthly in The Lower Hall at Christchurch on The Grove, Ilkley on the first Friday of each month 10am to 12 noon. Meetings and refreshments are free although donations are welcome. Telephone and email help Local Leaders: Barbara (Ilkley) 01943 430622 barbara@olicana.org Ruth (Otley) 01943 461051 ruth@auchterlounie.com