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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Have you ever contacted La Leche League?

30 replies

lact8 · 03/04/2006 10:42

My health visitor asked me would I be interested in supporting other bf mums. I said yes and I'm now on a 12 week training course with LLL. I have been lucky so far that I've only ever had minor problems bfeeding my 3 and had excellent support from family etc so never had to contact any groups like LLL. I was wondering if anyone has just to get some more information about what will be required from me, did you find it helpful, etc. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 11:09

anyone?

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moondog · 03/04/2006 11:12

I've done the same thing with the ABM lact8.
Really enjoyed it and hope I've been able to help other women.Great sense of solidarity amongst all the women who took the course too.

teacups · 03/04/2006 11:12

Not me I am afraid but I would be very interested to hear about the course and the trainig. I am still BF DD (1 tomorrow) and am thinking about joining LLL to be in touch with other mothers who are still BF bigger children. All but one of my friend have stopped, and I was given the evil eye by 2 other mothers in the BF section of the baby room in Peter Jones yesterday as DD had a feed and then walked off!!!

I too have been lucky with BF and not really had any problems which haven't been sorted out with a quick post on MN (thanks ladies and esp Tiktok Smile!) I would love to help other mothers - how did you get on the course? Were you a member of LLL before ?

Jasnem · 03/04/2006 11:14

I rang them in a panic when my first was 6 weeks and all pain on feeding stopped and I thought I'd stopped producung milk.
They were very reassuring and I continued for 8 months.

Not a big problem i know, but were there when I needed.
Am having more probs this time round, and have the no. ready by the phone, but haven't called yet.

Hope you enjoy it Smile

Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 11:19

Thanks for replies! Smile

I wasn't member of LLL before, all started through the Health Visitor, contact yours and see what they have running in your area.

I'm really enjoying group, we take our babies along and nice to be able to confidently feed dd wihtout fear of offending someone. And not at all militant like i was half expecting Grin

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moondog · 03/04/2006 11:21

No
Breastfeeders are generally quite normal-gasp!
Wink

FrannyandZooey · 03/04/2006 11:24

I love my LLL leader, she has been extremely supportive and inspiring to me with regards to all aspects of parenting, not just breastfeeding. I have phoned her many times to ask for advice or information, sympathy or just to have a rant. I wish more women knew about the LLL and were not scared of their weirdy militant ways Wink

Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 11:25

Grin moondog

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mawbroon · 03/04/2006 11:25

I have contacted them a couple of times when I had problems with infection and with slow weight gain. LOL baby had slow weight gain, not me Wink I have started going to nearest meetings which are in the next town as there are only two of us breastfeeding in our village out of around 15 MumsSad

I like to be able to sit and chat to other Mums without having to explain that no, my bf baby isn't constipated just because he hasn't pooed for 5 days, and no I don't plan to stop soon (ds is 5 months)and no, I haven't given him chocolate yet (seriously, I was asked this) etc etc

Good luck with the training lact8, you will be providing invaluable support. Smile

moondog · 03/04/2006 11:26

I read the Telegraph,have never co slept in my life and shave my armpits.
Oh-and slings give me a bad back.

mawbroon · 03/04/2006 11:29

I'm normal too!

Grin
Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 11:29

Franny, part of homework is to spread the word about bfeeding support so i'm working on it Smile People in my village probaby go "oh no, here comes the mad woman who wants to get her t*ts out all the time!" Grin

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moondog · 03/04/2006 11:31

lact*,our best mother supported was a very young glamorous and sassy girl who lived on the local council estate.
Mws and HVs reported lots of Vicky Pollard types coming to clinicssaying
'I'm gonna give breastfeeding a go because X has told me all about it and how good it is for the baby.'
Grin

honneybunny · 03/04/2006 11:36

hi,
i chickened out to go to my first meeting this morning, but will try to go next time. i am just going through weaning my 27 month old ds1, and he has been off since thursday 23 march. i was afraid of a set back, if he saw older kids bf at the meeting, or if he would be playing with a 2yo, who then runs of to have a feed...

Lucy1977 · 03/04/2006 11:39

Hi

I contacted my local LLL through their bf support line so my area contact receives calls in her home and holds a monthly LLL meeting for anyone needing support to attend.

Not sure if this helps? She's also called me to check how I was getting on.

Lucy

FrannyandZooey · 03/04/2006 11:56

Lact8, I think banning anyone with long hair or a dirndl from attending meetings would be a good start.

suenorth · 03/04/2006 12:02

I called LLL at my wits end one Saturday morning after an agonising night feeding ds. She was wonderfully reassuring and calmed me down in next to no time. I was about to give up feeding (despite having bf dd very happily for 10mths) but she got me through the weekend and I was able to carry on bf for 10mths with ds too.

Agree with earlier posts that we need to spread the word about what help is available so more women feel supported and don't give up bf. Good luck with your training - it's a great thing to do.

Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 17:38

Thank you for all your positive posts! Just got back from group now, really informative and got a cup of tea and cake too Smile

Honneybunney, I can understand why you feel like that, how has ds1 taken the weaning? THey have a creche at the meeting I attend so could work out ok if yours does too?

Franny, is that long hair parted in the middle, in plaits and wearing some sort of tie dyed clothing? Grin (sorry if offending any tie dye wearing plait lovers!)

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FrannyandZooey · 03/04/2006 17:56

OMG can you see me? Shock

Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 19:28

BlushBlushBlush
I personally find tie dye very, erm, attracive Grin

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FrannyandZooey · 03/04/2006 20:11

Heh. Not worn tie dye since about, erm, 1995.

My sunflower dungarees have bit the dust as well, sadly :(

honneybunny · 03/04/2006 20:12

lact8 (love the name!), i just wanted to add to my earlier post: i think it's great you are training to become a bf councillor! my hv asked me the same question, if i'd be interested in supporting other bf mums at our local support group. this one is organised by local health team, and is weekly in one of the local health centres. at the times i went there were about 4-5 other mums, and the same number of staff. i found the atmosphere v.friendly and encouraging. anyway, my reason for getting in touch with LLL now was all because of weaning ds1. (thanks for asking how i'm doing!) at the support group they don't have any experience with weaning at toddler age, tandemfeeding etc. so i thought i would have more luck asking LLL.
i am finding the process of weaning my tandemfed toddler quite tough, and so is he... Sad the fact that ds2 is obviously still bf-ing (he is only 3.5months) doesn't make it any easier. it's just ds1 lost his abiliy to latch on properly, and during each nursing session was desperately trying to get milk out any way, i shouldn't hijack your thread...
thanks again for asking, and good luck on your course!

Caribbeanqueen · 03/04/2006 20:20

I contacted them several times when dd was first born, not in this country though. They were great, very patient with me, and I used to drop in whenever I was in the area for about a year Smile. I used to phone them as well. There's no way I would have managed to bf without them.

koolkat · 03/04/2006 20:31

lact8 - good for you !

I used to go to LLL meetings, not because I had any problems with bf but because I just wanted to meet like-minded mums. I would love to become a LLL leader one day too, but when DS is 21 and doesn't take up so much of my time Grin

You get a very mixed bunch at the meetings, anything from very young mums, to older mums like me, women from different backgrounds, hippies to City types, and different nationalities. It all depends on your local area. I think it is popular with older mums who are bf toddlers.

I didn't find my group particularly close-knit, as in none of the women seem to have become close friends, but as I say it depends on your local area and the mix of the group.

Good luck !

Original poster
lact8 · 03/04/2006 21:37

Thanks koolkat Smile

One of the reasons I want to do it is because I can take DD (15weeks) with me and get a break from DS2 (2yrs)for a couple of hours! Looks like I won't be going back to work (part hooray, part OMG at home with kids all the time!) I'm going back to university in September and want to eventually work in health promotion particularly bfeeding with young women. I was 19 when I became pregnant with DS1 and really did feel like the only young mum who was bfeeding in our area.

Honneybunny, hijack away! When did DS1 lose ability to latch on? I was wondering if it was a reaction to DS2's arrival as my DS2 started playing up over nappies, potties, pooing, weeing after DD born. I just wondered if your DS1's outlet was through feeding instead? Must say I'm very impressed by your tandem feeding.

Franny, have wonderful mental image of you, tiedye t-shirt and sunflower dungarees at the same time, surrounded by lots of little cheruby looking children wearing lovely knitted jumpers, grubby bare legged knees and little wellies, all in awe at your earthmotheriness Smile Know i'll think this everytime I see you on a thread now. Bet you're a minimalist in real life tho

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