La Leche League Meeting and World Walk for Breastfeeding

One of the things I looked forward to the most when my babies were babies was my monthly La Leche League Meeting. I loved going to meetings because it was a place I could go with my babies and talk to other mothers that were educating themselves about breastfeeding and parenting. La Leche League is unique in it’s structure. There is a trained experienced leader that guides the meeting discussion and offers answers to questions and resources mothers can turn to but the group is really mother-to-mother support. I have always been so grateful for the experience and knowledge the leaders had. They were often the mothers that I looked up to the most. Equally as wonderful were the mothers that came to the group. I really appreciated the honesty in sharing their experiences and what worked (and what didn’t work) for them. I learned so much attending groups that when I moved to Nantucket and there wasn’t a LLL group, I started one. I have been a leader on Nantucket for 9 years now and tomorrow is our monthly meeting.

I can’t wait to see the babies and the mamas tomorrow. They both grow so much from month to month. Watching the babies and their mamas get more confident month by month makes my heart sing. Tomorrow’s meeting is one of my favorite topics. We will talk about preventing and overcoming common breastfeeding difficulties. This is such a great meeting to come to when you are pregnant, nursing a little one, and even while nursing an older baby. Things always change and it is great to have the information to deal with the changes.

We will also start planning our annual World Walk for Breastfeeding.
The Walk is a great way to get the word out to others in the community about La Leche League. I cannot tell you how many mothers just run into the walk and smile or thank us for the work we do. It is a great way to say to other mothers- You’re not alone! In the past our group has offered free breastfeeding classes and last year Amber Hinds not only offered the class but also a pivotal training to the staff at Nantucket Cottage Hospital about the miracle hour which facilitates skin to skin contact for all babies born at the hospital and encourages breastfeeding by allowing the mother and baby uninterrupted time together immediately postpartum. This year our celebrations will be a little more modest. We will hold a walk Sat. Aug. 3 at 10am at Children’s Beach. We will walk, and participate in the annual Big Latch On .We may not break any records but it is often a lot of fun and a great way to support nursing mothers. We hope you will join us.

The Walk is also a way you can donate to La Leche League. If you would like to support the work we do, please consider making a tax deductible donation to LLL of Nantucket, 2 Greglen Ave #244 Nantucket MA 02554. We would appreciate your support to expand our library, train new leaders, and continue the work we do for the next generation of islanders.

Thank you!