A Life-Changing Experience
Joya Matheus
Medina OH USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 20 No. 1, January-February 2003, p. 14
I spent more than two years
with my local La Leche League Group and it was the single greatest peer
group experience I have ever had. Not only did it permanently change
my life, but also it was a wonderful and satisfying experience for me.
I love La Leche League!
Although I came to La Leche
League already breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and carrying my baby much
of the day, my Group gave me much-needed and enthusiastic support for
my parenting choices. The Leaders and members respected my right to
decide what was best for our family.
At each monthly meeting my
commitment was recharged after weeks of being "encouraged"
by well-meaning family, friends, doctors, and society to be more conventional.
La Leche League supported my breastfeeding choices from nursing a premature
infant to nursing through infertility treatments. Beyond that, I became
exposed to alternative child-rearing practices and options through people
I met at LLL meetings.
I am deeply grateful for the breastfeeding support I received from the
hospital lactation consultant, Lynn, who helped me to breastfeed my
three-and-a-half pound baby. I am also very thankful to my local LLL
Leaders, Mary and Karen, whose leadership, support, and love have enabled
me to have a long and enjoyable breastfeeding relationship with my daughter,
Emma. I benefited tremendously from the participation of such a diverse
group of mothers who were breastfeeding infants and toddlers under many
different circumstances, including nursing while pregnant and tandem
nursing. Without my LLL Group, I'm not so sure I would have nursed Emma
as long as I have. She says, "Mom, I love your drinks! Your milk
tastes the best!" I am hopeful she will remember this throughout
her life.
And although Emma is still
breastfeeding, I am working with a lactation consultant to increase
my milk supply so that I may breastfeed an infant we will soon be adopting.
The breastfeeding and parenting lifestyle I established through LLL
meetings is serving me well. I look forward to reading New Beginnings
every other month. LLLI is an exceptional organization. I'm so grateful
for its existence and I plan on financially supporting it long after
my breastfeeding days are past. Thank you, La Leche League!
Last updated Friday, October 27, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:13 UTC 2007.
