Think Twice Before Donating to LLLI this Year

Thanks for clarifying. The survey about 'why Leaders are leaving the organization' is probably referring to an internal exit survey LLL entities give to retiring Leaders (a form for sharing things the entity might improve on, not in any way a survey that's going to published). There has been no organization-wide survey about retiring Leaders, so you are not missing seeing any results.
For info - the survey was only one of the tools which informed LLLI's
discussions about a title change. Check out the FAQs and other correspondence from LLLI for more details.

You haven't seen the results of the survey but you know how the majority of Leaders responded? So interesting. The results were shared to all LLL Leaders with a rationale for the title change. If you missed it, ask your administrators or the LLLI Board for a link.

The board needs to explain themselves.

I filled in that LLL survey for LLL GB and said womanly should be kept. I saw no summary of the results - does anyone know where to find it?

I then left, and have recently had a survey about why. I felt I could be honest as it was anonymous, so I mentioned mixed sex spaces and the risks of women self excluding and the unknown risks for babies of induced lactation in men who identify as women.

I haven’t found any other UK breastfeeding support organisation to join, I think there’s definitely a space for a single sex option. Though I agree that individual LLL GB groups are continuing to provide fantastic support to women.

They are dropping 'womanly' from the title of the book. It will be called The Art of Breastfeeding. It's confirmed with the publisher:

mobile.twitter.com/millihill/status/1554196952212017152

Thanks, Faffertea. I had the impression GPs were reluctant to prescribe it anyway, so it seems highly unlikely to me that any doctor in the UK would prescribe for a male, but I suppose you're right.

@ScreechingEchoChamber
Would a GP prescribe…?

No I don’t think so. Or at least not routinely. There are occasional discussions in a GP group I’m in about prescribing Domperidone to women who need help establishing milk supply and for a variety of reasons I would say a good 2/3+ say no so I think even higher proportion would say no to a male. Having said that a certain Dr Harrop practices as a GP and there are others who are on the gender prescribing train so I’m sure there’s some.

I do know my immediate U.K. based LLL group isn't like this and the leaders are GC.

However the wider international / us group seems to be being infected

@Tuilpmouse I think this will be due to the women who are breastfeeding but want to be called men. So because of this handful and then the XYs, women can't actually use our own words and be described as who we are.

For some of the articles and research on the topic of males feeding infants from their breasts, this thread might be interesting.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4566255-to-think-that-the-nhs-had-lost-the-plot-over-breastfeeding?page=1

But I thought they strongly believed "transwomen were women"? So why can't they be described as ladies or women?

It's worth realising that this is also being promoted in the NHS thanks to the Rainbow Badge accreditation scheme.

Given that most mothers spend a very short time in the maternity unit, and also the babies, unless there is something wrong, supporting the non-birthing parent to breastfeed/chestfeed seems highly inappropriate.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/870748/response/2080857/attach/5/Induction%20pack.docx?cookie_passthrough=1

"Group rule #1:

'Please be aware that group members and lactating parents are not all women or mothers. Please avoid addressing the group as "mommas" “women” or “ladies” etc In your posts or replies.'

I consider this abusive. I really hate this BS and the total negation of women and our experience, but mostly ignoring the welfare of babies.

This. The problem with all these organisations is that they are/were vital for women, but they are getting infiltrated.

Lactation fetishes are well known. They are certainly something that a breastfeeding support group should be fully aware of and should not be allowed anywhere near breastfeeding mothers.

if a group such as LLLI is not familiar with lactation fetishes...well I just don't believe it. They must've spent almost their entire history keeping those sorts of men out.

it's the magic ticket again, isn't it?

I have just looked at lll australia (where I am). It’s not very big here and looking at that I wouldn’t touch it- there’s a content warning on the link to the llli philosophy for ‘Cis-heteronormative language’, I guess so no one looking up a group whose sole focus is breastfeeding babies gets literally harmed by reading the word mother. I’d guess issues sit heavily at the local level.

I have provided evidence @deeperthanallroses. A link from their U.K. website.

An organisation which advocates and encourages men to try and feed babies does not have the best interests of mothers and babies at heart.

Full stop.

I’m in that Fb group. It is US based remember- I’d say they do a lot of good work. It’s full of breastfeeding and has the odd breastfeeding/chestfeeding phrase in there. Its less full of mother - I suspect some of the materials used to say more women and mothers but there is still quite a bit of that. For a US based org it’s doing ok I’d say, you might want to keep an eye on it if you are active in that space as they are certainly working on inclusion and diversity (which does mean more than getting rid of that pesky word mother, they are an org operating internationally trying to support disadvantaged non English speaking women) I hate the term chestfeeding but I don’t mind it here and there which indicates that women who don’t identify as women are welcome which I’d think is the majority status of those actually breastfeeding their baby who don’t like the term breastfeeding. Their annual report is public and full of breastfeeding, perhaps one or two chestfeedings in the whole thing. Don’t warn people against donating to LLL unless you have more specific issues and evidence.

I don't know @ScreechingEchoChamber. I do know that LLLI are trying to normalise it though.p and that women's hard earned cash should go to other better causes that support women and children, not men with a fetish

www.laleche.org.uk/relactation-induced-lactation/

'Domperidone

You will need a prescription from your GP. The dose usually recommended is one or two 10mg tablets three times a day. Domperidone is not licensed for use as a galactogogue.

From UK Medicines Information (document will download for viewing):
‘As there are limited alternative options for the stimulation of lactation, the use of domperidone can be considered provided there is evidence of thorough evaluation for treatable causes such as poor attachment, and when increased frequency of breastfeeding, pumping or hand expression of milk has not been successful. A maternal dose of 30mg daily for a maximum of 1 week should not be exceeded.'

Would a UK GP actually prescribe domperidone off label for a male?

I can't find a GB facebook group for LLL, only small local ones.

There is this group:

www.facebook.com/groups/lllinducinglactation/

'This is an inclusive support group for those looking for information and support on how to induce lactation (bring in a milk supply without a pregnancy) for non-birthing parents, such as surrogacy, adoption, co-nursing, trans/non binary chest feeding, etc; and for those who are relactating for a child they did birth after stopping breastfeeding previously for any reason.'

Group rule #1:

'Please be aware that group members and lactating parents are not all women or mothers. Please avoid addressing the group as "mommas" “women” or “ladies” etc In your posts or replies.'

Trans women can use a protocol similar to adoptive and other non-gestational mothers and stimulate their milk supply: it is called the Newman-Goldfarb protocol.

You can also give human milk or formula supplements using an at-breast supplementer. Your healthcare provider can help you look at your options, and your local LLL Leader can offer support with your breast or chestfeeding goals and journey.

And for any men who are struggling to breastfeed, they urge them to attend groups:

Many parents worry about whether their baby is ‘getting enough’. LLL meetings are a good place to get support from others.