LLL members-after one year of BF am I a bit late to be considering joining?

[logrrl]

just that really.

Back to work next week so will not see my other BF friends very often (working on BF group days). I DO have my sister to talk to about anything that comes up as she BF both of hers for two years, and DH, who is very positive about the whole thing, but I do occasionally like a natter about wee things that come up.

Searching through the archives on "extended" BF (I realise that the term is very UK specific and one year is actually biologically normal)someone suggested joining LLL. Will everyone else there be BF tiny babies? Will there be opportunity to chat about things that aren't "problems" per se but more "experiences". Will it be difficult to get to know people if DS is tearing around and not being a tiny baby feeding for hours letting me drink tea, which is how I made friends at my BF group?

I would actually have to go to some effort to go to my local LLL meetings as they are on the other side of the city, but if they were friendly and supportive and maybe even educational for me even at this stage, then I'd go!

no not too late at all! I have a few "local" meetings and they all have a big range of ages (of babies and mums!)

generally we have a group discussion type thing first, but this isn't overly formal and often digresses! but is basically done so that no-one feels left out, everyone is included in it

then there is time for chatting to the leader if you have problems, or just talking to other mums, looking at the library etc etc

I've only ever met nice people at them!

oh yes, and they usually have stuff to entertain older toddlers too

Yes, worth joining. but you dont' have to be a memeber to go to the meetings, so perhaps you could try it a couple of times to see if it's for you.

Our branch has two meetings a month. The first one focuses on younger babies and the second on older babies and toddlers. Everyone is welcome at either meeting, but the main discussion is tailored to suit the age range IYSWIM.

I go to both meetings as I am tandem feeding a 5 week old and 4.5yo.

Also, don't forget that after a year of breastfeeding, you will be able to contribute your experience which will be helpful to the newer mums.

i would say LLL is the place to go if you are feeding a one-year-old. at our local group there are only ever a couple of newborns, most others are feeding older (or much older) children.

we all sit round in a circle, introduce ourselves and then bring up any 'issues'. i have regularly asked questions that were bothering me, but not bothering me enough to find out the answer elsewhere/go to health visitor etc and it is so reassuring to hear that no one else's child sleeps through the night/eats vegetables/wears a coat.

i'd say go for it.

definitely worth going along to a meeting - my dd is 19 months and i went back to work part-time at 1 - only thing i was less keen on is the previous leader of our group seemed a wee bit judgey about me going back to work, but hey ho.

and it's very child-friendly, ie no expectation that kids will sit quietly and not tear around.

i go when the meetings fall on my days off and it's always nice to chat to other mums

I went to one breastfeeding support group at the children's centre and there was about 6 or 7 mums with small babies. Probably all 6-8 months and under.
My son was about 18 months, tearing around like you say and one woman and I remember and her partner were there with a little newborn, and saw me with my big toddler, one support worker said 'he probably just feeds at night and so now though?' and I laughed and said 'no he BFs constantly still', the guy looked slightly horrified.
I could imagine him leaving and saying 'we don't want to do that with ours do we' to his wife.

Also, what the heck is 'LLL'

and does anyone else feel dreadfully awkward at sitting in these groups completely silent for over an hour, I hate it :-(
I manage to speak to a few people and it's sooooo painfully awkward, that stupid forced chit chat, jesus. I only guilt myself into going so DS can play.

LLL is La Leche League

i've never been to one where anyone sat silently for an hour!!! why go to a group if you aren't going to talk to anyone>

I think the great thing abpout LLL is that they structure it so that everyone gets to know each other first.

as I said in my first post, we go round and all introduce ourselves and our children, there's normally a set topic to discuss and talk about, which often digresses as we discuss individual experiences.

then there is a general free-for-all afterwards. because you've already been talking it's much easier IME.

If you hate going and having to chit chat to people you don't want to talk to then don't go! meet up with some friends instead or something... i am sure your ds doesn't really care too mcuh about going to a rbreastfeeding group you hate

ooh i've just found theres one near me - thought closest was darlington!

still, it has meetings on saturdays, strange!

Meetings on Saturdays are a great idea - I work full time but would love to attend breastfeeding groups, mother & toddler groups, library song & story time etc. on weekends. I guess I am in a minority... all the fun stuff is during the work week

hmm yes hadnt thought, & im going back to work soonish
but in the meantime weekday would have been better

thanks everyone!

Sounds like the type of thing I will enjoy, if it's like thisisyesterday says. My local group has a web timetable of talks etc, some of which sound interesting enough. I think the LLL books are fab and I like the idea that there is a "lending library" of LL publications available, which is probably terribly sad of me...

I don't think it's sad at all!

I go to my LLL groups - one for all ages and one for toddlers. I enjoy them both. It's lovely to be around other women feeding children past a year who understand what it's like. No one bats an eyelid when dd wants to feed standing up & I've had great advice on issues relating to continued bf.

I am applying for leadership actually - that's how keen I am on LLL!

Have fun!