The Year of the LLL Group
Nancy Spahr
Peru IN USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 4, July-August 2004, p. 139
Thirty-one years ago I gave
birth to my first baby. Both my husband and I had been fortunate enough
to be breastfed in an era when breastfeeding rates were at an all-time low.
We knew breastfeeding was
best for our baby, and it made plenty of sense for us financially, as
my husband was a law student at the time.
Tim was born healthy and
with a strong suck. Soon I had sore nipples. After some mismanagement,
I finally solved the problem with the help of my pediatrician and The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. My family was nearby and supportive, and
I didn't feel the need to contact a Leader or attend an LLL meeting.
Three years later I was pregnant
again. We were living in a small town of 2,800 where I had few friends,
and none of them were breastfeeding their babies. Then I read in our
weekly newspaper that an LLL Group was forming. That sounded like the
perfect opportunity to meet some nursing mothers and find the support
I was looking for.
At the meeting, I was surprised
to discover that there were so many breastfeeding mothers in the area
and that the local Leader was nursing a toddler! All the mothers were
so friendly and welcoming. Soon, I felt right at home and was prepared
for the upcoming birth with lots of information, encouragement, and
support. The birth went well, and I was thrilled to be able to attend
the next meeting with my newborn in arms, tell her birth story, and
receive all the congratulations.
I continued to attend meetings,
for at that Group I found much more than breastfeeding information and
support. I discovered a philosophy of breastfeeding and parenting that
felt so "right" and like-minded mothers who helped me in many
ways through the mothering maze.
I became an LLL Leader in
1976 and have found a variety of ways to say "thank you" to
the organization that has been a mainstay for my parenting journey.
As I reflect on all these years, I realize that it was my experience
in the LLL Group that helped me make choices and decisions I still feel
happy with now.
Today my LLL work brings
me in contact with people from all over the world. I find that many
mothers have had experiences similar to mine.
Last updated Tuesday, October 24, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:43 UTC 2007.
