There's no La Leche League Group in my town. Can I hold meetings on my own?

How wonderful that you would like to help mothers breastfeed by starting an LLL group! There are many ways that La Leche League can help you achieve your goal of supporting breastfeeding mothers. However, only accredited La Leche League Leaders can hold LLL meetings. If you are interested in becoming an LLL Leader, see How can I become an LLL Leader.

Become an LLLI Member. Anyone interested in supporting and promoting breastfeeding can join LLLI. We urge you to attend a La Leche League Group and become a member. To find a Leader and Group near you see How to Find a La Leche League Leader Near You. If there is not a group near you, contact the closest Leader for information about joining or see How Can I Join La Leche League or Contribute to Its Mission?

When you live too far from the nearest LLL Group and want to help breastfeeding mothers, you might be interested in starting your own breastfeeding support group, much like LLLI's Founders did more than 40 years ago. Women interested in supporting each other with breastfeeding knowledge get together on a regular basis to talk about breastfeeding. To enhance your support group, consider subscribing to the LLLI Breastfeeding Resource Center (BRC). Included in this subscription are:

a membership to LLLI
a copy of LLLI's THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING
a copy of LLLI's BREASTFEEDING: PURE AND SIMPLE
a subscription to BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS
10 each of selected informational pamphlets and tear-off sheets

A local pediatrician or health agency may be willing to sponsor your support group's subscription as it is such a valuable resource to your community.

A BRC is not the same as a La Leche League Group, as an LLL Group can only be led by an accredited Leader. However, a support group fills a need in communities where there is no LLL presence. A support group that is also a BRC will have access to the most up-to-date information for its members. Mothers who have support are better able to breastfeed their babies. Eventually, a member of the support group may become a La Leche League Leader, which would mean the community is even better served.

We look forward to you joining us in our mission to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and the mother.

Our FAQs present information from La Leche League International on topics of interest to parents of breastfed children. Not all of the information may be pertinent to your family's lifestyle. This information is general in nature and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise. If you have a serious breastfeeding problem or concern, you are strongly encouraged to talk directly to a La Leche League Leader. Please consult health care professionals on any medical issue, as La Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners.

Last updated Friday, July 21, 2006 9:46 AM by sjs.

Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:18 UTC 2007.