Just some idle chit chat today....

For some time now I've been thinking about joining La Leche League. I've got a full plate, brimming actually, but experiences I've had both recently and in the past have compelled me to give it serious consideration. Over the past few years I've helped women who were having serious doubts and or issues with breastfeeding their babies. Most recently, I assisted a friend who gave birth to a healthy baby boy in January and didn't think she could get the hang it. After several failed attempts and much frustration in the first few days, her husband called us over and I helped her get the latch technique and holding position correct. She had actually gone so far as to make a bottle of formula and was in tears at the prospect of having to feed her son with it. With a little coaching and support I've seen a few mothers meet with success. Usually it boils down to a lack of confidence or fear that the baby is not getting enough. I battled my way through these same "demons" and know that every woman is truly capable, if willing.

There's no doubt that it's frustrating business but mothers needed to overcome these obstacles before formula was invented. Sadly, studies show that only 30.5% of women in the U.S. breastfeed their babies exclusively to the age of 3 months. Having breastfed both my boys for 9+ months, 6 of which were exclusively from the breast, I know the challenges involved and would like to share my experience with others who face the same obstacles. One of my hurdles included being in NICU when my first was born and having to demand that I be allowed to breastfeed him exclusively. I found myself constantly having to fend off nurses who wanted to give him formula from a bottle for their own convenience. I learned with this experience that the difficulties of breastfeeding can be exacerbated by the fact that the entire world is not necessarily hospitable to the notion.