New Beginnings - La Leche League

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new
Issue 4
Beginnings
2010
lllusa.org
Reluctantly
Weaning
Whole Foods for
the Whole Year
Your Breastfed
Baby at Night:
Facts and Fiction About
Your Nocturnal
Newborn
When to Stop
Pumping at
Work
new
Beginnings
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Page [04]
Your Breastfed Baby at Night:
Facts and Fiction About Your Nocturnal Newborn
[08]The Womanly
Art of Breastfeeding:
How It Impacted
the Mothering of
Martha Quinn &
Martha Sears
[14] Making It Work
[20] Book Review
When to Stop Pumping at Work
The Family Bed by Tine Thevenin:
A Look Back at a La Leche League
Classic
[16] Eating Wisely
Whole Foods for the Whole Year
[22] World
Breastfeeding Week
Celebration
“In the Pink” for WBWC
[10] Mothers’ Stories
[10] To My Son
[11] Reluctantly Weaning
More Good News from Rock County
[12] Toddler Tips
Gentle Weaning When Feeling
Touched Out
[18] Formula Fed
America
[24] To Honor and
Remember
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2 New Beginnings | Issue 4 | 2010
new
Editor’s Note
Beginnings
lllusa.org
Issue 4 | 2010 | Volume 34
Number 4 © 2010,
La Leche League International, Inc.
Managing Editor | Amy Nelson
Contributing Editors | Brenda Carroll,
Cathy DeRaleau, Gina Kruml, Winema Lanoue,
Norma Ritter, Lesley Robinson, Karen Smith, Sara
Walters
Review Board | Alice Barbiere, Diane Jeffer,
Judith Gibel, Fran Dereszynski, Gwen Gotsch,
Carol Kolar, Judy Torgus, Kathleen Whitfield
Art Director | Ronnelito Larracas
Cover Photo | shutterstock.com
Advertising Manager | ReNata Bauder
Web Development | Ronnelito Larracas,
Dave Davis, Shelly Stanley
Acceptance of paid advertisements does not
constitute an LLLI endorsement of the product
advertised.
Mailing Lists: LLLI sometimes makes its mailing list of members
available to reputable outside groups. If you
prefer not to receive these mailings, notify LLLI.
Please include your mailing label or copy your
name, address, and codes exactly as they
appear on the label.
La Leche League International fully supports the
WHO (World Health Organization)
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes. LLLI Board of Directors,
How many new mothers feel they
are prepared for breastfeeding?
As a new parent, you may find your waking moments filled with thoughts of sleep. Is your baby
sleeping enough? Too much? When will you be able to sleep more? Is it okay to nurse your
baby so many times throughout the night? Would your baby sleep longer if you gave her a
bottle before bed? Susan E. Burger addresses these questions and more as she explains how
breastfeeding is the perfect complement to a good night’s sleep for both mother and baby. Oh,
and that bottle before bed idea? Burger explains how that myth began and why it’s exactly
that–a myth.
Our “Mothers’ Stories” include two touching tributes from mothers who have weaned for the
first time. In “Toddler Tips” mothers share how they survive that “touched out” feeling that comes
with frequent day and night nursing. When is it okay to stop pumping at work and still maintain
your milk supply and nursing relationship? Mothers tell us what worked for them in “Making It
Work”. Lesley Robinson makes mouths water in “Eating Wisely” as she walks us through a year
of cooking with Whole Foods for the Whole Family.
Can’t get enough of the latest edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? Settle in to read how
the mothering experiences of author Martha Sears and original Music Television Video Jockey
(MTV VJ) Martha Quinn were affected by the previous edition of this LLL cornerstone. While we’re
on the topic of classic LLL reads, two mothers pay tribute to author Tine Thevenin and her book,
The Family Bed.
To round out this issue, we also read about how a tricky start to breastfeeding inspired one
mother to create a documentary about the use of formula and what impact everything from free
formula samples to misinformation may be having on breastfeeding mothers. We also learn how
one LLL Group raises awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding as they celebrate World
Breastfeeding Week.
I’m thrilled to bring this issue to all of you and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed
helping to create it. I’m always eager to hear your story and your voice, so please share with us
at nbeditor@lllusa.org.
(1981,1988,1993,2006)
Amy Nelson
New Beginnings (ISSN-8756-9981, USPS #010-853) is
published by La Leche League International Inc., 957 N.
Plum Grove Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Telephone 847-519-7730 (9 AM to 5 PM Central Time).
Visit our Web site at www.llli.org.
Amy Nelson is a La Leche League Leader in the small Missouri River town of Yankton, South
Dakota, where she lives with her husband, Cory, and four children: Accalia (11), Cole (8),
Ella (4) and Tylan (2).
Supporting members of Canada should contact LLL Canada
at PO Box 700, Winchester, ON K0C 2K0, Canada, or
go to www.lalecheleaguecanada.ca with any questions
about issues.
2010 | Issue 4 | New Beginnings 3
Susan E. Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC
Your Breastfed Baby at Night:
Facts and Fiction about Your Nocturnal Newborn
The phrase “sleep like a baby”
often conjures up the blissful
image of a baby sleeping deeply
without a care in the world.
How many sleep-deprived adults
envy that image? Yet, if babies
sleep so well, why are there
so many books to train them to
sleep differently? In fact, most
healthy newborns do get plenty
of sleep; it is parents who need
help adjusting to the perfectly
normal, but irritatingly intermittent,
newborn sleep cycles.
We Get More Sleep
Than We Think
First, let’s take a quick look at
sleep perspective versus reality.
Adults often forget how long
they slept when they wake up in
the morning. As reported in a
New York Times article entitled
“The Sleep-Industrial Complex,”
“insomniacs almost invariably
overestimate how long it took them
to fall asleep and underestimate
how long they slept.” Even
some sleep researchers are prone
to evaluating sleep within the
framework of their own cultural
norms. For these reasons, studies
relying on self-reported sleep
often reflect popular beliefs
about sleep rather than actual
sleep patterns.
The Sleep Gap
If adults without a newborn to
care for at night feel as if they
are receiving less sleep than
they actually are, it’s no wonder
that new parents feel even
more sleep deprived. This may
explain why many new parents
are eager to take the advice of
well-meaning friends and family
when they suggest giving baby
a bottle of formula to help them
sleep longer at night. If you’ve
thought there might be a grain
of truth behind this advice, the
results of one recent study may
surprise you. The researchers
objectively measured sleep by
using wrist monitors. Parents of
three-month-olds who breastfed
at night slept 40–45 minutes
longer than parents who fed
formula to their three-montholds at night.2 Or alternatively,
parents who fed their threemonth-old babies formula at
night had a sleep gap of 40–45
minutes. Both mothers and
fathers experienced this sleep
gap.
If you’re skeptical, let me walk
you through the whys and hows
of the early days of breastfeeding,
frequent wakings and feedings;
how you can make the most of this
time in terms of quality sleep, and
then explain why the myth that
formula helps babies sleep arose.
The Continual Feed
Plan
While you are pregnant, you
don’t need to do any extra work
to feed your baby; just eat healthy
foods yourself. The nutrients in
your blood stream will continually
flow through the umbilical cord
to your baby. Once the umbilical
cord is clipped, the real challenge
begins.
Brain Versus
Stomach
Human intelligence forces us into
a physiologic compromise when
it comes to our babies. Your baby
must leave your womb before her
head grows so large that it won’t
fit through your birth canal. As a
result, she must enter the world
while her stomach is still very
small and immature. After birth,
her brain needs a continual source
of fuel, especially during the first
three months when it completes
25 percent of its growth. She
will need to constantly refill her
small stomach to fuel her big
brain. Normal healthy newborns
typically feed for 20 to 50 minutes
at a time and eat about eight to
12 times in a 24-hour period.
Stomach Stretching
The amount of time a newborn
spends feeding often feels as if
it consumes the entire day and
night. Bear in mind, though, that
she will spend less time feeding
as she grows and develops. At
birth, her stomach will only hold
five to seven milliliters (one to oneand-one-half teaspoons). If you
tried to put 60 milliliters (about
two ounces) of milk into her tiny
stomach right after she was born,
she might feel about the same as
you would if you tried to drink
nine liters of water. She should
store enough fat during your last
trimester of pregnancy to carry her
through the first few days. As she
emerges from the relative sterility
of your womb into an environment
filled with germs, the first thing she
needs will be the antibodies in
your milk.
Take heart. As she learns to
feed, her stomach will rapidly
balloon to 11 times its original
size. By day 10, her stomach will
comfortably hold 60-81 ml (about
two to two-and-two-third ounces).
Your stomach will still be 13 times
larger than hers. So don’t push
your luck by trying to supersize
her feeds so she will sleep longer.
Indigestion may wake her up even
more frequently. Furthermore,
super-sized feedings may override
her ability to regulate her own
appetite, setting the stage for
weight problems later in life.
Nocturnal Feeders
In addition to frequent feedings
day and night, parents also have
to adjust to the fact that babies
are nocturnal at birth. While you
are pregnant, you may feel your
baby move more frequently at
night than during the day when
you are active. One theory is
that she is being rocked to sleep
during the day and becomes more
active when you are still at night.
My personal theory emerged
when my son’s pet mouse,
P
arents of three-month-olds who
breastfed at night slept 40–45
minutes longer than parents who
fed formula to their three-month-olds at
night.
Hannah, delivered a litter within
seven days of her purchase. The
pet store did not warn us that she
might already be pregnant. She
was nocturnal, foraging for food
at night while she left her pups
behind. Her pups fed more often
during the day when she slept.
Perhaps our babies are designed
for a time before we developed
agriculture; a time when we
probably spent much of our day
foraging for food and our babies
had to feed when our breasts
were more available at night.
Don’t despair. The melatonin that
rises in your milk at night helps to
regulate your baby’s natural body
clock and may help her transition
to sleeping more at night. She
will not remain nocturnal forever.
Restorative Sleep
If you believe that adults must
have eight hours of continual
sleep, you may feel anxious when
your hungry newborn wakes you
at night. Yet historians claim that
up until a couple of centuries ago,
the sleeping pattern in Western
society was not eight uninterrupted
hours of sleep; it was two shifts of
sleep with an hour or so of activity
in the middle of the night. The use
of artificial light may have driven
us into an abnormal pattern of
condensing our sleep into one
period of eight hours to cope
with extended wakefulness during
the day. This leads many of us to
assume falsely that it is our babies
who have abnormal patterns of
sleep.
Don’t focus on one long block of
sleep. Instead, establish routines
that help you feel more restored.
After you give birth, your body
is primed to garner restorative
sleep from shorter intervals.
Breastfeeding is an important
mechanism, which is designed
to help your body recuperate
after giving birth and maintain
its stamina while you adjust
to mothering your baby. The
following tips (recommended
by the American Academy of
Pediatrics ) will help you establish
breastfeeding and get more
restorative sleep:
Proximity
You and your baby will find
it easier to synchronize your
biological rhythms when you are
in close proximity. Just as adults
usually adjust their sleep rhythms
to each other when they share
a room, so will you and your
baby. When she is nearby, you
will become accustomed to her
many noises and intuitively begin
to rouse from light sleep when
she needs you. This is much less
disturbing than being jarred by an
alarm out of deep sleep.
All aspects of your baby’s care,
including feeding, are more
convenient if she is nearby. At
night your response time will
be faster if she is nearby. This
will also make it easier for you
to get back to sleep again. She
will develop trust as her needs
are consistently met, and she will
be less likely to wake you with
strident crying.
You can derive comfort from the
fact that she will be at a lower
risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS) when she sleeps
in the same room with you. One
study found that 36% of SIDS
cases were attributable to babies
sleeping in a separate room,
while only 16% were attributable
to bedsharing.
Skin Contact
As your baby emerges from
your warm, all-encompassing
womb, she must cope with a
rapid change in temperature,
exposure to light and sound, and
tactile sensations. When her skin
first comes directly into contact
with your skin, that contact will
stabilize her body temperature,
heart rate, and respiration.
She will be calmer if she is
physiologically stable.
As your skin first comes into
contact with her skin, you
will experience a surge in the
hormone oxytocin. Think of
oxytocin as your “love drug.” It
facilitates bonding and will also
help you feel calmer and more
relaxed. Her initial contact with
your skin will also stimulate her
feeding reflexes. She will be able
to wiggle and crawl to your breast
on her own. Continued contact
with your skin will reinforce these
feeding reflexes, enabling her to
adjust to the loss of the free flow
of nutrients from the umbilical
cord.
A
fter you give
birth, your body
is primed to
garner restorative sleep
from shorter intervals.
Frequent Feeding
You may find that your breasts
start to tingle at the touch, sound,
sight, or scent of your baby. This
may intensify when she suckles
from your breast. You may begin
to feel relaxed and drowsy as
oxytocin is released. You are not
being drained of energy. Quite
the contrary, the relaxed drowsy
sensation will help you rest so you
can recuperate from giving birth
and maintain your stamina as you
adjust to your new baby. Think of
oxytocin as doing double duty as
your safe sleep drug.
Each time she feeds, you will
experience a spike in the hormone
prolactin. The more often she
drinks milk from you, the faster
your prolactin levels will increase.
Think of prolactin as your
“performance-enhancing drug”
for milk production. Just as you
are more likely to build muscle
with regular exercise than with
infrequent exercise, you are more
likely to build your milk supply
faster with regular breastfeeding
than if you skip feedings.
Origin of a Myth
If a frequently waking and
feeding newborn is biologically
normal, why are so many parents
convinced that formula will
improve this biological norm and
help their babies sleep longer?
This myth has its roots in the
era when women were actively
discouraged from breastfeeding
and from trusting their own
observations and responding to
their babies’ needs. Policies and
practices that separated mothers
and babies were institutionalized.
Hospitals implemented rigid
feeding schedules to minimize
how often their staff had to feed
babies or bring babies to their
mothers for feeding. Infrequent
breastfeedings deprived many
babies of sufficient calories and
many mothers of the relaxing
effect of oxytocin.
If a baby wasn’t allowed sufficient
time to drain his mother’s breasts,
his mother might become painfully
engorged. Her engorged breasts
might be so taut with milk that
his lips might slip and slide.
In frustration he might chomp
down with his gums. She might
experience such severe pain
that she would take him off her
breast while he was still hungry.
Her overly full breasts would
tell her body to slow down milk
production. If she resorted to
giving him a bottle of formula, he
might fall asleep merely because
he finally received the calories
he needed. She would believe
that the formula made him sleep
better. Yet he would have slept
just as well if those calories came
from her milk. Neither had the
opportunity to get into sync with
each other.
Contingency Plans
We are gradually starting the
transition back to more normal
feeding and sleeping routines
for babies. While we are in
transition, many women still
don’t receive as much support as
they need to get breastfeeding
off to a good start. Sometimes
medical conditions complicate the
process as well. With a pragmatic
attitude and a few tips, you can
often mitigate the impact of such
complications.
of milk you release rather than
stressing about any gaps between
your production and her needs.
Most importantly, if things go
awry, find someone who is
appropriately supportive and
qualified to assist you towards
getting back in sync with your
baby and with breastfeeding.
Mooallen, J. The sleepindustrial complex. New York
Times 2007 Nov. 18.
2
Doan, T. et al. Breast-feeding
increases sleep duration of
new parents. The Journal of
Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing
2007 July/September; 21 (3):
200-206.
3
Illnerova, H. Buresova
M. and Presl, J. Melatonin
rhythm in human milk.
Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism
1993; 77: 838-841.
4
American Academy of
Pediatrics. Section on
Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding
and the Use of Human Milk.
Pediatrics. 2005; 115(2): 496506.
5
McKenna, JJ and McDade,
T. Why babies should never
sleep alone: a review of the
co-sleeping controversy in
relation to SIDS, bedsharing
and breastfeeding. Pediatric
Respiratory reviews. 2005;
6:134-152.
6
Carpenter, RF. Igrens,
LM. Blair, PS et al. Sudden
unexplained infant death in
20 regions in Europe: Case
control study. Lancet 2004;
363:185-91.
1
Separation
If you and your baby are
separated from each other, keep
a picture of her with you, look
at the picture frequently, and
remember that bonding is a
process, not an event. If you can’t
have contact with her, encourage
your spouse, partner, or trusted
family member to provide skinto-skin contact until you are able
to do so yourself. If you cannot
feed her from your breast, express
milk at least as many times as
she is supplemented. If you are
separated from her at night, drink
lots of water before you go to
sleep. Express milk when you
wake up to use the bathroom.
You tend to wake up in light sleep
when you need to urinate, which
is less disruptive than an alarm.
When you are reunited, give her
lots of extra time snuggled next to
your skin.
Supplementation
If your baby cannot feed from
your breasts or is having trouble
drinking enough to meet her
caloric needs, establish and
maintain your milk supply,
express milk at least as many
times as she is supplemented.
Human milk has just as many
calories as any artificial substitute
plus antibodies that no substitute
can provide. So supplement her
with as much human milk as you
can provide. Cherish every drop
Free online!
Tear-Sheet Toolkit,
Chapler 20, from
The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding
8th edition
llli.org
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding:
How It Impacted the Mothering
of Martha Sears & Martha Quinn
the pages of The Womanly Art
Of Breastfeeding I’d found a
philosophical home on which
to hang my parenting hat.
Martha Quinn
When I was pregnant with my
first child, I was lucky enough
to find myself reading The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
It was recommended to me by
pediatrician Paul Fleiss.
With each page, I couldn’t
believe my eyes. I read that
“breastfeeding works best
when the baby is fed in
response to hunger cues, not
on a schedule.” I learned that
responding to baby’s cues not
only helps him to feel secure,
but that more time at the
breast aids in establishing and
maintaining your milk supply.
This was revolutionary to me.
Most of my pregnancy I’d
been warned by well-meaning
friends and family that babies
“manipulate” their parents. That
never felt right to me and within
When Annabelle was born,
philosophy gave way to many,
many questions. I needed The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
more than ever now that I had
an actual baby to feed! What
do I do with these engorged
breasts? Page 54. How do I
know if she’s eating enough?
Page 74. How do I know if my
baby is ready for solid foods?
Page 231.*
In The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding, I read about
La Leche League meetings. It
took me about eight months
to attend one in my area,
Hollywood, California. What
took me so long? La Leche
League meetings gave me a
chance to see ideas discussed
in The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding put into practice.
It was amazing to connect with
like-minded mothers in this
environment of support.
The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding became much
more than a how-to guide for
delivering nutrition to my child;
its philosophies became my
passions and unshakeable
beliefs. Those passions and
beliefs led me to becoming a La
Leche League Leader in 1999. By the
way, I now tell any pregnant mother
I meet to attend a La Leche League
meeting before she gives birth. Seeing
breastfeeding in action is extremely
helpful, and you can meet other
mothers that you can reach out to in
those early weeks.
An original Music Television
Video Jockey (MTV VJ), Martha
Quinn appeared on NBC’s “The
Weakest Link” to raise money for
La Leche League. She and her
husband, Jordan Tarlow, live in
Malibu, California. They have
two children, three dogs, two
hermit crabs and one leopard
gecko. When Martha’s not being
a disc jockey (dj) on satellite
radio, she can be found cooking
vegetarian dog food, driving her
kids around, mountain biking
with her husband, or collapsing
on the couch.
*Editor’s Note: Page references are
taken from the Seventh Revised Edition
of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
Army. I remember thinking how
special it was that she would send
me her own book. I loved reading it,
and it’s fun to see what things I had
highlighted. I was taking a course in
childbirth education in Toronto. I had
not been exposed to La Leche League
before that, so I learned a lot from The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I’m
sure that’s why I was not in a hurry to
wean that baby; he was nursed for
18 months instead of eight months as
were my first two children. By the time
we had our fourth child, (Hayden,
the “Fussy Baby”) I was hooked on
La Leche League, experienced my
first meeting in 1978, and went on to
become a Leader in 1980.
Martha Sears is a registered nurse
and a lactation consultant. She
is married to Dr. William Sears.
Together they are co-authors
of books in the Sears Parenting
Library. They are the parents
of eight children and have nine
grandchildren. Martha became
an LLL Leader in 1980. She
currently serves on the Board
of Directors of Attachment
Parenting International.
national
bestseller!
Martha Sears
I first heard of The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding and La Leche League in
nursing school (1962–1965). When
we were expecting our third baby, in
1974, I received a copy of the “blue
book” (which I still have) from a friend
who was living in Germany, where
her husband was stationed in the
The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding
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2010 | Issue 4 | New Beginnings
9
Mother’s Stories
To My Son
My son recently
weaned. In the back
of my mind, I looked
forward to this time as
a time of growth and
new beginnings. I never
thought I would get so
emotional about the end
of breastfeeding. While
I knew breastfeeding
was the best I could
give my son, there were
many struggles the two
of us faced. My milk
supply was always low,
he nursed on demand
except during the three
months when I worked,
and until two months
ago, he co-slept and
nursed through the night.
I sat down and wrote a
letter to my son to help
me sort through the
emotions I am feeling
now that he is no
longer breastfeeding.
I would like to share it
as a positive testament
that even though
breastfeeding is not
always easy, it is a
treasured experience.
Dear N,
Tonight is the third night in a row
that you have gone to bed without
nursing to sleep. It has also been
more than 48 hours since you last
nursed.
On the one hand, I have been
looking forward to this day. When
you were first born, you would
nurse from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. In
those early days, I would need a
break so bad and your dad would
try to soothe you in his arms, but
soon you would be back in my
arms, happily snuggled up to me.
Nursing stressed me out so much
as a new mother. Is he eating
enough? Does he really need
to nurse this long? Should I let
him fall asleep nursing? (On the
last one, I really had no choice
because up until now, you rarely
fell asleep in a bed without
nursing). He just ate 20 minutes
ago; does he really need to nurse
again?
When I first decided to breastfeed
you, I knew that “breast is best”
plus I knew it would save us
money, so I was happy to try it
out. I honestly believed I would
breastfeed you for three months
or so and that would be sufficient.
Then I had you and found out that
recommendations were for at least
six months and up to a year of
breastfeeding, with anything over
a year being great!
What was I in for? Once I
realized this wasn’t as temporary
as I thought, I bought every
nursing gadget and product
out there, from the pump to the
“breast bottle” to the nursing
cover.
We’ve gone through so many
hurdles in the past 20 months. I
showed up to my first La Leche
League meeting 30 minutes early
and filled with questions. I read as
many books as I could and talked
to as many people who would
listen. I wanted to do the best for
you, but there were so many small
mountains to climb.
I felt awkward leaving the house
with you. What was I going to do
if you needed to eat and we were
out in public? I remember the first
time I nursed you in public. It was
in a restaurant in Jacksonville,
North Carolina. I had your dad
there and I’m certain no one
could see anything, but I was so
self-conscious about the whole
thing. Then I dared to go to a
local book store, and a mother
passing by commented, “I never
got my child to lay (sic) still under
a cover.” Little did she know if
you moved that cover a millimeter,
our nursing session would be in
jeopardy. I think you knew better
than to try. My proudest moment
was at the space shuttle launch in
Florida. The weather was hot and
I felt bad for having you under
the cover so I let it flutter in the
breeze. Afterwards, a woman
came up to me and commended
me for the wonderful start I was
giving you.
You also bit me while nursing. A
lot. And I took the advice I was
given. “Say no sternly but lovingly
so they still enjoy nursing.” “End
the nursing session if he doesn’t
stop.” “It is probably teething.”
On and on and on.
When I went back to work, the
bottle and pumping saga began.
I never felt like I could pump
enough for you, but you took to
the bottle so easily. I think you
were just comforted by what was
in it and not concerned with the
method. It was something that kept
us connected even when we were
apart.
I never, in a million years, thought
I’d feel this emotional about the
ending of our nursing relationship.
I always thought I would be free
from the “milk factory,” able to
have wine whenever, eat whatever
and finally (hopefully) lose the last
bit of pregnancy weight.
But here I sit, crying and mourning
the end to something only my
baby and I shared.
I realize with the end of nursing
comes a new chapter. You’re more
independent today than you were
three days ago. That means you’re
growing up. There were days
when I would sit at home with you
and think, “When is he going to
roll/crawl/walk/talk/etc.?” Those
days really do go by fast and are
fleeting. I miss those days, and
with the end to breastfeeding
I am profoundly reminded that
these days and moments do go
by swiftly.
A few days after you were born,
your dad and I realized that
each family does what works for
their family. We did what we
had to do for our family, for you.
I breastfed you for 20 months
because it’s what worked for us. I
have no regrets for giving you 20
wonderful months. I can only hope
that I can do the same or better for
any siblings you have.
Thank you for letting me give you
the best start that I could.
Love always,
Your Mommy
Beth Favor, Swansboro, North
Carolina, USA
Mother’s Stories
Reluctantly Weaning
I
took a long time weaning her gently,
being careful of Nadiya’s feelings and
establishing other enjoyable naptime
and bedtime routines for her.
I miss nursing my firstborn,
Nadiya. A month ago, when she
was 17-months-old, she weaned
with gentle coaxing from me,
because I’m currently more than
six months pregnant with our
son. I didn’t think I would miss it.
I thought I’d enjoy a break from
nursing, some “me time” before
our son would be born later in
the summer. I am enjoying it to a
certain extent since I’m no longer
in pain. The reason I slowly,
gently urged Nadiya to wean
was because nursing became
completely unbearable after I
became pregnant. My nipples
and sometimes whole breasts
would hurt so badly I would grit
my teeth-toes curled, my whole
body tense-during the entire
nursing. I would dread our nursing
sessions because of the pain and
annoyance.
I went to local La Leche League
Series Meetings almost in tears,
feeling terrible about the emotions
I was having, since I used to enjoy
nursing so much. The Leaders
were very compassionate and
understanding, telling me that
pain, discomfort and negative
feelings sometimes come hand in
hand with nursing while pregnant.
I realized that I had two choices:
one, keep nursing her through
the pain and negative feelings;
or two, wean her at least until the
new baby comes and nursing
would feel normal again.
After a lot of thought, I decided
to wean her because my feelings
about nursing weren’t fair to
her (or me), and the pain I
experienced regularly was
intolerable. Nadiya also was
nursing only for naptime and
bedtime, and sometimes not at all.
I took a long time weaning her
gently, being careful of Nadiya’s
feelings and establishing other
enjoyable naptime and bedtime
routines for her. Despite the
discomfort, I took a longer time
weaning her because I realized
part of me still didn’t want to
wean her at all. She’s been
wonderful and has handled it very
well, and has developed a love
for our rocking chair, snuggle,
and reading times. Happily, my
husband, Syed, has been a source
of love and support as I explored
different options and worked
through my feelings about nursing
and weaning.
It’s been nearly a month since
Nadiya has nursed. I find myself
looking back on our nursing
relationship wistfully, taking out
her newborn photos and baby
blankets as I prepare for my son’s
birth. I look at how much she’s
grown, watch her run around
more independently, and find
myself missing those nursing days
with her. Breastfeeding was so
important to her for so long, and a
big part of our relationship. She’s
a very loving, demonstratively
affectionate child, and I attribute
part of that to nursing her the
way I did, as long as I did.
We still enjoy a very physically
affectionate relationship, lots of
hugs and kisses, and co-sleep
together with Syed at night. Due
to pregnancy fatigue, I’ll often
snuggle with her during naptime
to catch some extra shut-eye
myself. She is a joy.
I’ve decided that when my son
arrives (and I will, of course,
breastfeed him!), if Nadiya wants
to try nursing again I will do my
best to accommodate her needs,
as she’s accommodated my need
to be free of nursing right now.
Of course, that will depend on the
situation when it arises, Nadiya’s
needs, and my feelings about
whether I can actually handle it.
I’ll do what’s best for my family
and me.
Laura Abdi, Washington,
D.C., USA
“Mothers’ Stories” are edited
by LLL Leader Brenda Carroll, who
lives in Shawnee, Kansas with her
husband, Scott, and their three
sons, Ian, Noah, and Kyan. She
is an International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant in private
practice.
Please send your stories to
mothers.stories@lllusa.org
957 North Plum Grove Road • Schaumburg IL 60173 USA
847.519.7730 • fax 847.969.0460 • 800-LALECHE
About Weaning:
Because Breastfeeding
Is More Than Milk
Ideally, the breastfeeding
relationship will continue until the
baby outgrows the need
another drug if he knows the mother
wants to continue nursing. Sometimes
a recommended course of medical
treatment or specific procedure can
be modified or delayed. La Leche
League Leaders have information on
incompatible with breastfeeding,
she still has the option of continuing
to express her milk and returning
to breastfeeding after treatment is
completed.
love, mother-baby bonding, comfort, security,
safety, warmth, attention, connection, quiet,
centering, relaxation and suckle The need for
comfort suckling or non-nutritive suckling
may last for several years as witnessed by the
use of bottles, thumbs and pacifiers by many
toddlers and preschoolers. Each weaning is
as unique as your baby or toddler and your
family’s circumstances. And it is for this reason
The baby also has special needs
that La Leche League International emphasizes
that weaning should be done gradually and
with love.
other than nursing. The baby’s father, the
mother’s partner, and other family members
Weaning is a process that begins
with the first introduction of a
substance other than breast milk
Avoid abrupt weaning whenever
possible
In American culture, the word “weaning”
is usually associated with something we
Abrupt weaning is the most difficult for both
the mother and the baby and should be
are giving up. However, weaning is not the
cessation of breastfeeding, but rather the
addition of other foods to the breastfeeding
avoided if at all possible. Serious drawbacks
of abrupt weaning include physical discomfort
and potential health complications for the
child. Rather than an event, weaning is a
process that can last days, weeks, months
or years. When we talk about breastfeeding
and natural weaning, we are talking about
fulfillment or satisfaction. Natural weaning
occurs when your baby’s need for nursing has
mother. Because breastfeeding is a source
of comfort and closeness as well as food, an
abrupt weaning may be emotionally traumatic
for the baby. A planned gradual weaning is
preferable because it allows a mother to slowly
substitute other kinds of extra loving attention
been fulfilled.
and affection to compensate for the closeness
they shared while nursing. Eliminating one
daily feeding every two or three days allows
can be a great help during this time.
the mother’s milk supply to decrease slowly,
with little or no fullness and discomfort.
Since nursing takes care of a wide variety of
needs, the most effective way to lead babies
through weaning is to guess accurately what
When abrupt weaning is
recommended for medical reasons
the child’s current most pressing needs are
and then meet those needs with something
If a mother tells her doctor that she’d like to
continue nursing or be given time to wean
© October 2010, La Leche League International
No. 10341
to be one of the few drugs that are
incompatible with breastfeeding, the
doctor may be able to substitute
the compatibility of specific drugs
with breastfeeding. Even when a
mother must take a drug that is
Breastfeeding addresses numerous needs
in the baby and toddler including, but not
limited to: hunger, thirst, nutrition, skin-toskin contact, touch, eye contact, engagement,
The optimal approach to
weaning matches the needs and
requirements of the child.
gradually, alternatives can usually
be found. For example, if a drug that
is prescribed for a mother is found
during an abrupt weaning. The baby’s
doctor should be consulted about
what foods to substitute for mother’s
milk, which may vary depending
on the baby’s age. The baby will also need
lots of extra holding and focused attention
from loving family members. Although many
mothers feel the urge to distance themselves
from their babies while weaning for fear the
child will insist on nursing, what a baby needs
most during weaning is reassurance that he is
still loved.
Planned Weaning of a Younger Baby
The practical details of a planned weaning
will depend upon the age of the child. Always
consult your doctor about what to give your
baby in place of mother’s milk. For the very
young baby, weaning involves finding an
appropriate substitute for mother’s milk and
then replacing breastfeeding with bottles. If
the baby is close to a year old, already eating
other foods, and drinking well from a cup,
a mother may be able to forgo the bottle
entirely.
For the younger baby, the first concern during
weaning is nutrition, since breastfeeding is
first and foremost a method of feeding that
also provides closeness and comfort. In order
to gradually wean a young baby, substitute a
This informational sheet may not be reproduced in any manner
without written permission from La Leche League International.
For more information
llli.org
Toddler
Mother’s
Situation:
My 19-month-old
wants to nurse all
day and night. I have
really enjoyed our
nursing relationship
but I am beginning
to feel overwhelmed
by my son’s constant
need for my breast. I
originally intended for
him to self-wean but
am now wondering
if I might encourage
him to nurse less often.
How have other mothers
coped with feeling
“touched out” and what
tips can you suggest to
work toward a gentle
weaning?
Response
I can only imagine all the mothers
reading your situation would nod
their heads because some are
right there with you experiencing
the exact same “touched out”
feelings, while others are
reflecting back to when they were
there themselves. You are not
alone! Your “touched out” feelings
are normal.
However, I like to think of these
feelings as warning signals that
the body sends to us saying that
it is time to take a break. Not
necessarily from breastfeeding;
rather, time to do something for
yourself. Similar to the warning
that the flight attendants give to us
in case of an emergency to place
your oxygen mask on first and
then assist your children you will
Setting limits can be very
easy, especially when dealing
with a toddler. You can tell
your son he can nurse but
only until you count to 10 on
each side. For night weaning
you can say no nursing until
the sun comes up.
Another thing you can do
is get involved with local
LLL Toddler Meetings, play
groups, library story times,
etc. I found that getting out of
the house helped both of us.
Delainey Casey, Lake
Worth, Florida, USA
be of no help to them if you are
passed out from your own lack of
oxygen.
These “touched out” feelings are
signals that it is time to make some
changes and refuel. When is the
last time you did something just for
you? It does not have to be huge
or expensive. It does not even
have to be every day, although
that would be ideal. Call up some
girlfriends and schedule a time
to meet for lunch, check out what
free or inexpensive night classes
the local high schools offer, start a
new hobby, go for a walk.
Be creative and have fun. Even if
you can only arrange something
once a week, or even once a
month, that is better than nothing,
and it is something you can look
forward to during the day. Just
knowing that some downtime is
coming soon can help greatly.
You mentioned that you originally
intended to let your little guy selfwean.
You can still do this. I strongly
suggest that you read Mothering
Your Nursing Toddler by Norma
Jane Bumgarner. A few key points
I like of hers are: do not offer,
do not refuse; determine whether
your son is asking to nurse due
to a need or a want, and set
appropriate limits.
“Do not offer” is simple and selfexplanatory; however, “do not
refuse” does not mean you have
to give in every time the child
wants to nurse. This is when you
will need to determine whether
this time is because of a need or
a want.
What is the difference between
a need and a want? If your
little one can be happy with a
distraction-such as a snack, a
story, a puzzle, etc., then it was
just a want and many times these
wants are caused by habit or
boredom. During these times let
the distraction take the place of
the nursing session. This is the
natural weaning process.
If he cannot be distracted then it
is a need. Sometimes the need
is very clear: he is sick or hurt or
tired, other times it is not so clear.
Either way, go ahead and nurse
him. Meet that need, or if you are
really ready to completely wean,
then this is the time of trial and
error of finding other ways to meet
his needs.
Response
I can relate both to the desire
to wean, as well as the urge to
sometimes say no to a 19-monthold.
When my first baby was this age,
I was halfway into my second
pregnancy and nursing started to
feel “icky” to me. Pulled in both
directions, I compromised by
saying yes most times he asked,
but timing him. Initially I allowed
him about three minutes per side,
and then told him it was time to
go play or have something else
to eat or drink. Soon, it got down
to one minute per side, and he
stopped asking quite as much.
I will always remember the last
time I offered him my milk, as
it was also our last nursing. It
was a comfort nursing, and he
appreciated it. He just didn’t
happen to ask again after that.
Donna Dietz, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA
Response
I am convinced that between 16
and 18 months is a developmental
milestone. I don’t know what it
is but I think it starts around 16
Toddler Tips
months and by 18 months many
mothers throw in the nursing
towel.
I did several things. I instituted
the countdown. You can count
forward, backwards, or use the
alphabet. When I got tired (or
didn’t want to sit on a bench in
the mall any longer) of a nursing
session, I would say so and begin
counting backwards from 10.
At 10, unlatch your child. You
can use this discipline technique
for so many other issues: letting
them know it’s time to put shoes
on or leave a friend’s house. Try
to keep it a fun game. Once my
son got used to it, I would switch
languages on him.
The other thing I have found was
to take time to sit down as if I
was trying to figure out a puzzle.
Try to find the core problem in
a situation and what you can
do about it. When my son was
18-months-old, I realized my
biggest challenge was his
nursing every two hours at night,
every night. I could no longer
sleep through the nursing session.
Translation: Mommy needs sleep.
My husband and I created a plan
for night weaning. For a week or
two, I would sleep by myself and
Daddy would wake up with my
son on those nights.
La Leche League has good
articles about weaning that can
be applied to night weaning
only. I also found Elizabeth
Pantley’s advice in The No-Cry
Sleep Solution helpful: the way
a child falls asleep is what they
will want most when they need to
resettle at night. That meant not
nursing down to sleep at bedtime,
although we were able to continue
nursing down for naps. It took
us six months to eliminate night
nursings.
I think a crucial point is that we
made a plan addressing how to
meet everyone’s needs and didn’t
have a timetable. Consistency and
cues will go a long way to helping
any relationship. Adequate sleep
helps, too!
Dr. Lori Flanagan, Broad
Run, Virginia, USA
Response
I could have written this question
about eight years ago when my
first child, Liam, was a toddler
and nursing like a newborn. Like
you, I fully intended on child-led
weaning. However, total sleep
deprivation from being awakened
every one to two hours at night to
nursing eight to 10 times during
the day was causing me to feel
like I was on the verge of a
nervous breakdown.
It was heart wrenching, but I
decided to night-wean my son.
I was at a point where it was
reduce the nursing so that I could
maintain some sense of sanity or
stop nursing altogether because I
dreaded the next time I’d have to
sit down to nurse him.
We were blessed with a fairly
easy transition. It may not be the
solution for you, but perhaps by
sharing what worked for us, you
can get some idea of what you
might want to try with your own
toddler. I decided that for me,
having him learn to sleep without
nursing all the time was the ideal,
so that hopefully during the day
I could allow him to nurse on
demand as usual and enjoy the
experience again.
My husband worked nights so
we chose a holiday weekend,
and he took a few extra nights
so that we had about five nights
in a row when he was home. I
nursed our son to sleep and then
I went into another room. We set
up guidelines: if Liam couldn’t be
calmed by my husband, then my
husband would bring Liam in to
me and we would try again the
next time he woke.
By the third night, he wasn’t
crying for more than a minute
or two if at all. The fourth night,
I went back into the family bed
and worked on having Liam wake
up with me and not expect me to
nurse him. That part took a little
longer, and I would end up sitting
out in the living room rocking him
a few times a night.
At the end of a week, though, he
was settling quickly without the
expectation of nursing. While
it was several months before
he started sleeping for a longer
stretch, I still felt more rested and I
enjoyed nursing him more.
a bit of stress. I think he picked
up on my feelings and nursed
more to be sure he could maintain
that closeness. When I was more
relaxed and not stressed about
how much I had to nurse him, he
relaxed and nursed less during
the day.
That’s what worked for us. Many
toddlers really have a hard time
with that kind of night weaning,
and you may find that you want to
do it more gradually. I hope that
you can find a solution that works
for you.
Margo Trueman, Southern
California, USA
New Mother’s Situation
My toddler is into EVERYTHING!
We’re still nursing, so I can meet
her needs for reassurance and
help her fall to sleep with nursing,
but the rest of the day she’s
running me ragged just keeping
up with her! She’s very curious
and very busy. I’m a more calm
and quiet person. I’m having
difficulty with the mismatch in our
energy levels. Any suggestions?
Help!
“Toddler Tips” is edited by LLL
Leader Karen Smith in St. Charles,
Illinois, USA. She and her
husband, John, have two children,
Liam and Anastasia. Karen speaks
and writes on parenting topics as
well as writing fiction.
Please send responses
and new situations to
toddler.tips@lllusa.org.
I also noticed that he nursed a
little less during the day. I think
that my dread of having to nurse
him so much caused him to feel
Making It Work
Mother’s
Situation:
I have been pumping a
couple of times a day at
work for almost a year.
I am fortunate that my
employer supports my
decision to breastfeed
and provides a suitable
room for me to pump
while I’m at work.
However, I am tired of
pumping. I miss having
lunch with friends or just
getting out of the office
environment for a walk.
If I do stop pumping
at work, will my baby
wean? Do other working
mothers stop pumping
and still continue to
nurse their toddlers?
it was worth every second! But
when my baby, Joe, was about
11 months old, I went from two
pumping sessions during the
average work day to only one
session. Then, gradually, over
several weeks, I pumped for
shorter and shorter periods of
time. Eventually, I weaned off that
one pumping session and found
I could go without nursing all
day without any engorgement or
discomfort.
done, go to lunch with my friends,
and go home early to see my
baby.
milk anymore. So, I stopped
pumping and only nursed at
home.
The best part is that Joe continues
to breastfeed on demand on
weekends, and even though I
don’t pump during the week, he’s
perfectly happy with my supply on
weekends. Breasts are magical!
The milk is always there when he
wants it.
For over a year, she nursed in the
mornings, when I got home and
before bed (three times per day
and one more daily on weekends
at nap time). When she was
about two-years-old, she dropped
the after work nursing session
and went down to nursing twice
daily and three times per day on
weekends. Around two-and-ahalf-years-old, she dropped the
morning nursing session and was
down to once daily during the
work week and twice daily on
weekends. That lasted about a
year.
Inder Khalsa, Oakland,
California, USA
At three years, three months, she
weaned on her own. We started
reading books instead of nursing
at nap time and nighttime. It was
so easy and smooth and now we
are done.
So, no, you do not have to
continue pumping to continue your
nursing relationship. I nursed for
two years after I quit pumping at
work!
Response
First of all, great work
breastfeeding your baby and
pumping for your baby for a
whole year! That’s wonderful!
Once your baby is about a
year old, you can absolutely
stop pumping while continuing
to breastfeed at home during
evenings, nights, and on
weekends, indefinitely. After a
year of breastfeeding, your supply
should be very well established
and also flexible. You can lunch
with your friends and nurse when
you are with your little one-the
best of both worlds!
I pumped two to three times a day
for eight months after I returned
to work from maternity leave, and
Amy Pederson, Austin, Texas,
USA
This is so freeing! I treasure
breastfeeding, especially because
I am a working mother. It makes
our time together so much sweeter.
But I don’t have the same positive
feelings towards my pump!
Pumping always felt a bit like
“work.” So pump-weaning means
I get to enjoy more of the fun and
bonding, but I am less tied down.
On a practical level, I love not
having to carry a pump around
and clean the parts every day. I
can now focus on getting my job
Response
I went back to work when my
younger daughter was six weeks
old, and she was able to be with
me at work until she was four
months old. Then I pumped three
times per day, every day, and
nursed at home.
When she was 16-months-old,
I was down to one to two times
pumping per day, and she really
wasn’t taking the expressed breast
Response
I have had to work full time while
nursing both of my children. I
currently have a three-and-a-halfyear-old son and a nine-month-old
daughter.
With my son, I weaned him from
the pump starting at 14 months
and took two months to do so.
I started stretching the three
pumping sessions out into two
sessions and then dropped to just
one.
Making It Work
He never missed a beat with
nursing. He continued to nurse
through my pregnancy and selfweaned at just over three years.
With my daughter I am not as
stressed out with pumping as I
was the first time around and am
planning on the same approach
with weaning from the pump, only
I don’t know if I will wait as long.
It was such a smooth transition
the first time, and we continued a
wonderful nursing relationship for
so long after! I couldn’t have been
happier.
Try not to stress too much over it!
I did and I wish I hadn’t. I should
have just let things go with my
baby’s flow. He adjusted so well;
it was me that was stressed! Enjoy
your nursing time together, and
as long as you are nursing upon
demand when together, there will
probably no weaning until she is
ready!
Kelly Markou, Kingston, New
York, USA
Response
You might not have to totally quit
pumping at work. You could skip
the lunchtime session just one or
two days a week so that you can
still go for your walk or have lunch
with friends.
Nancy Dudek, Blacksburg,
Virginia, USA
Response
I went through this just a few
months ago!
When my son turned one, I cut
back to pumping once a day and
my husband gave him a bottle
around 4 p.m. after picking him
up from daycare. He no longer
wanted a bottle during the day.
When he was about 14 months
old, I stopped pumping altogether
and nursed him immediately after
I got home at 5:30 p.m. It was a
nice way to reconnect after being
separated during the day. And
it was so nice to be free of the
pump! My son is now 20 months
old and he continues to nurse in
the evenings and occasionally at
night even though I don’t pump
during the day. He often nurses
a bit more frequently on the
weekends than during the week,
but my supply seems to be enough
for him. Good luck!
Korine Kolivras, Blacksburg,
Virginia, USA
Response
Here’s what we did: I went back
to teaching a year after my first
child was born. Daddy stayed
home with my daughter and he
would sometimes bring her to me
for a quick snack, but it wasn’t
often easy with my schedule. I
pumped for a couple of months
trying to make that work, but
she was too hungry, I was too
uncommitted to pumping, and
while she was eating solid foods
aplenty, we did not want to
give up the benefits of long-term
breastfeeding.
So we changed the way we
thought about our schedule.
Here’s where keeping baby close
at night (ex. family bed) can really
benefit nursing mothers. Her day
was a toddler’s day: up to play,
eat solid food, play, nap, snack,
play. Then I’d come home, nurse,
go on with evening routines, then
bedtime. During the night, we
all slept together and she would
nurse on demand. I’d feed her
before I got up for work, and then
we all started our day.
New Mother’s Situation
My baby is almost three-monthsold and I have to return to work in
about two weeks. I am concerned
about my milk supply, as I have
had to work very hard to keep
a sufficient amount (using herbs
and feeding him often) because
of not getting off to quite the
right start. I feel like I have been
successful, and I’m very proud of
both of us because he is healthy
and growing well, but I’m really
worried about what will happen to
my milk supply when I am working
all day! I expect to be able to
pump several times per day but I
still am a little nervous. How have
other mothers kept their supply up
when working?
“Making It Work” is edited
by LLL Leader Winema Wilson
Lanoue. A writer and avid knitter,
she lives with her husband, Eric,
and two boys, Ezra and Zeb,
outside of Blacksburg, Virginia,
USA.
Please send responses
and new situations to
making.it.work@lllusa.org.
We did this successfully for two
more years and she tapered off
naturally, until she had her last
breastfeeding at the end of her
third year. There were nights that
I could have used more sleep,
but there were many other nights
when nursing was not disruptive at
all. Looking back, I think we made
the most of the situation by being
flexible with our schedule.
Chris Howell, Roanoke,
Virginia, USA
Eating Wisely
Whole Foods for
the Whole Year
Lesley Robinson
Ottawa, Canada
My well-thumbed and rather
dog-eared copy of Whole Foods
for the Whole Family has always
been my favorite cook book.
The yellowed pages of my 1981
edition have provided the recipes
for countless wholesome meals for
my family over the years.
The book is based on the wisdom
and experience of thousands
of busy mothers and provides
ideas for vegetarians and for
meat-eaters, suggestions for
adventurous as well as for more
fastidious tastes, and recipes
that appeal to both debutantes
and to old hands in the kitchen.
Everything is designed around
the principle that good nutrition
consists of eating a well-balanced
and varied diet of foods in as
close to their natural state as
possible and recognizes that busy
mothers value the time they spend
with their families and appreciate
time-saving recipes.
In keeping with the principle
of eating whole foods with as
little processing as possible,
ingredients are whole grain and
natural, without artificial additives.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are
preferred to processed ones.
Frozen (unsweetened) fruits and
vegetables are a good second
choice when things are out of
season. Flours, grains and pastas
are presumed to be whole grain.
Hydrogenated fats are avoided
and butter is preferred
to margarines which may contain
artificial additives. A healthy oil
can be whipped into butter, to
reduce cholesterol content.
One terrific feature of this book
is its versatility. Many recipes
suggest possible alternative
ingredients. This helps the
novice cook learn the essentials
of cooking and encourages
creativity as well as a transition
to more healthy ingredients. It
also allows for the book to be
adapted to what is available
according to the season, so it is
possible to take advantage of
bountiful harvests, both in your
own garden and at the market,
and to make substitutions when
the season requires it. Alternative
ingredient suggestions are also
useful for vegetarians or families
with food allergies or sensitivities.
This allows cooks to focus on what
their families can eat rather than
what they can’t eat.
Another delightful feature of the
book is its extensive section on
breakfasts. Although a healthy
breakfast is known to provide
an important start to the day,
delivering nutrition and energy for
work and play, most cookbooks
pay no attention whatsoever
to this essential part of daily
nutrition. It is easy to get into a
breakfast rut, but Whole Foods
for the Whole Family offers
inspiration and variety which is
sure to please. The suggestions
of alternatives to run-of-the-mill
breakfasts are a reminder that
breakfast can be so much more
than eggs and cereal. Thanks to
the variety of breakfast recipes
in this section, families can even
consider having “breakfast” as a
time-saving and low-cost dinner!
The lunch section contains
suggestions for sandwich fillings,
soups, salads, quiches and pies,
and egg and cheese dishes. This
section in particular contains lots
of great ideas for vegetarians.
The soup section begins with a
suggestion for making your own
stock.
Collect vegetable scraps and
peelings (and optionally, bones)
in plastic containers in the freezer
until you have at least two quarts.
Cover the scraps with water in
a large pot and add seasonings
such as herbs and garlic, salt and
pepper. (Lemon juice or vinegar
should be added if bones are
used.) Bring to a boil and simmer
for several hours. This is a great
additional recycling step before
putting scraps into a compost pile.
Cooking can be a great
educational and healthy family
activity. The Kids’ Cookbook
Section, which is organized by
season, helps to keep up their
interest year round. Utensils and
ingredients are clearly listed, as
well as the skills that young cooks
will need.
The baking section of the book
contains a wealth of information
on the nutritional benefits of whole
grains and offers suggestions on
gradually making the transition
to whole foods for a reluctant
family, so that they actually come
to prefer whole wheat to white
flour! There are tips on substituting
flours in tried and true recipes
and on buying and storing whole
grain flours. The quick bread
pages of my copy of Whole
Foods for the Whole Family are
the most dog-eared of all. So
many variations are suggested
that no one in the family ever
tires of breads and muffins. The
introduction to yeast breads
provides plenty of motivation with
seven good reasons to bake your
own bread: thrift, nutrition, purity
of ingredients, quality, variety,
satiation and, last but not least,
pleasure.
There is so much satisfaction to be
gained from hearing appreciative
gasps of, “You baked this
yourself?” It is also satisfying when
grown children come home and
say how lovely it is to enjoy a slice
of “real” bread! Whole Foods
for the Whole Family contains
recipes for more than 40 different
kinds of yeast bread plus many
possible variations. There is also
information on how to get started
with sourdough, which opens up a
whole new range of recipes.
With the hundreds of recipes and
variations in the dinner section
of the book, there is enough to
provide constant variety, even
for the pickiest of families. Many
recipes work well when made
ahead or freeze well, so that
multiple batches can be made in
one go to save time and energy.
Skillet dinners are quick and easy
to prepare and are perfect for
those days when you just don’t
know what you’re going to feed
your family-the optional variations
help you to work with what you
have on hand and what your
family particularly enjoys.
Desserts are not forgotten, and
the book contains many recipes
for whole food cookies, cakes,
and pies, sweetened with fruits,
honey, or brown sugar. Whole
Foods for the Whole Family is an
excellent resource and reference
book for busy mothers who want
to improve their families’ nutrition.
Bon appétit!
Eating Wisely
A Few of Lesley’s Favorite Recipes
WHOLE WHEAT
BANANA NUT BREAD
LIVE LONGER
CASSEROLE
ZUCCHINI POTATO
SOUP
3 small zucchini, sliced
1 C. sliced mushrooms
2 T. butter
3 large tomatoes, chopped
3 C. torn spinach leaves
½ t. salt (or less)
8 oz. whole wheat pasta, cooked and
drained
6 oz. Swiss cheese, sliced
6 oz. Cheddar cheese, sliced
2 or 3 medium zucchini
2 or 3 medium potatoes
2 small onions (1 large)
4 C. broth (chicken or vegetable)
1 clove garlic, minced
½ t. salt (or less)
Dash of pepper
¾ C. plain yogurt, to garnish
Dill weed or curry powder to taste
(most dog-eared page of all)
1 C. mashed bananas (3 medium)
1/3 C. oil or melted butter
½ C. honey or brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 ¾ C. whole wheat flour
½ t. salt
1 t. baking soda
¼ C. hot water
½ C. chopped nuts
Beat oil and honey together. Add eggs,
mix well. Stir in bananas. Add sifted dry
ingredients alternately with hot water; mix
until smooth.
Bake in greased 9 x 5 x 3” loaf pan at 325°
for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool on wire rack for
½ hour before slicing. Freezes well.
Frozen Bananas: Peel and freeze unused ripe
bananas for later use.
Sauté zucchini and mushrooms in butter in
a large skillet until softened. Add tomatoes,
spinach and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Mix in pasta. Place in a 9 x 13” casserole
and arrange cheese slices on top. Heat
under broiler for 5 minutes, or until cheese is
bubbly.
Slice vegetables, simmer in broth with garlic,
salt and pepper until tender. Puree in blender
in batches. Serve hot or cold, garnished
with a large dab of yogurt, and dill or
curry. Freezes well. For a change, use ½
bunch broccoli or ½ lb. spinach in place of
zucchini.
This is a favorite summer-picnic soup, served
cold, with a salad and fresh bread, though
it’s just as delicious eaten in front of the fire
in winter.
“Eating Wisely” is edited by LLL Leader
Lesley Robinson. She lives in Ottawa,
Canada with husband, Mark. Her three
grown children have flown the nest.
Please send stories and photos to eating.
wisely@lllusa.org.
Formula Fed America
treated with antibiotic ointment, making it
difficult for her to open her eyes and look
at me. I was still trying to grasp what had
happened and nervously asked the nurse if I
could try breastfeeding. She said, “Sure, let
me get you to your room first.”
Some time had passed before I was finally
able to try and get her to latch on. When I
did, it was difficult and painful. I was unsure
that I even had milk. A nurse came in for a
quick visit, assured me that I had milk and
that the latch looked fine. I kept attempting to
breastfeed throughout the night, completely
unprepared for how often Ella would wake.
I felt even more pressure having to notate
every feed on a sheet of paper another
nurse had given me with the time, length of
feed and which breast I was using. Having
been awake the past 48 hours, this was
not an enjoyable task as I was still trying to
figure out how to even breastfeed.
Edited by Gina Kruml
Leslie’s Story
When my husband, James, and I first found
out I was pregnant, we were ecstatic. We
went out and did everything that your typical
mainstream first-time parents would do in
preparation for our child’s arrival into the
world. We had a baby registry, bought a crib
and read all the books. When it came to the
topic of infant feeding, I just assumed I would
breastfeed and it would all work out perfectly.
Then came the day of our daughter Ella’s
birth. Nothing went as I had planned, and
I was pressured into an epidural anesthetic
I did not want. My labor stalled, and as
soon as the doctor saw meconium in the
amniotic fluid, the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) team was called in case a
transfer was needed for our baby. I felt numb
throughout the entire ordeal and knew this
was not the way birth was supposed to be.
Ella was handed to me tightly swaddled in
a blanket, with a hat on her head and eyes
The next morning, things did not get better.
My pediatrician came in and basically told
me in a nutshell that my baby was hungry,
I had no milk, her jaundice was worsening,
and if I did not give her a two-ounce bottle
of infant formula, Ella would need to be
admitted to the nursery and I would be sent
home. Not only that, but she also informed
me that if I nursed longer then 15 minutes
on either breast, breastfeeding would not
work. I was so overwhelmed I cried and just
gave my baby the bottle of infant formula the
pediatrician had handed me. How could it
be that at 21 years of age, with no previous
complications, my body was failing at being
able to feed my own baby?
I went home feeling depressed and at a loss.
This was supposed to be a happy and joyous
time, but those feelings were just not there.
Once home I continued to feed Ella formula
with the tremendous amount of free samples I
received from the hospital. My mother offered
to pay for a breast pump, but I declined and
said that I didn’t want her to waste her money
if the doctor was right and I couldn’t produce
any milk. I attempted to get Ella to latch on
before giving her each bottle: I cringed and
Formula Fed America
dreaded it every time. My nipples
cracked and bled. I couldn’t even
wear a bra or a blouse. I was just
looking at my mother to tell me it
was okay to quit, and that I had
tried, but she didn’t!
On our daughter’s fifth day of life,
I woke up with engorged breasts!
Lo and behold, I had milk! My
mother went out that day and
bought me a breast pump, so I
pumped for the first three months
of Ella’s life. Unfortunately, I
couldn’t get much milk out with the
pump, so I was literally pumping
around the clock to be sure I had
enough milk for her next feeding.
Mastitis hit me as well. I was at
my breaking point yet again. On
most days, James would take the
car to work, and I was basically
stranded at home with a baby I
was struggling to feed alone.
I had never heard of La
Leche League or knew of any
breastfeeding support hotlines,
so I turned to the Internet. It was
there that a new door opened to
me and I enveloped myself in all
sites about breastfeeding, chatting
on forums and reading articles.
I called my mother, and she
advised me to just try to get Ella to
latch on. I thought to myself, “It’s
now or never.” I feel very lucky
that Ella finally latched correctly
at that point, and we went on to
breastfeed for 22 months and into
the first four months of my second
pregnancy.
My ordeal led me to direct a
documentary to combat the mass
of misinformation from doctors,
families and friends that new
mothers may receive when it
comes to infant feeding. I am in
the process of making “Formula
Fed America.” Even from the
title, the film raises the question,
what implications might there
be to such widespread use of
formula? Hopefully “Formula Fed
America” will bring the topic of
breastfeeding and its importance
to a larger audience. I also hope
to spark conversation for a decent
paid maternity leave established
in the United States to allow
mothers the time that is necessary
to establish breastfeeding. I would
like to see legislation enforced to
prevent formula companies from
using deceptive and unethical
marketing practices. I believe
a little advocacy can go a long
way!
Leslie Ott is a stay-at-home
mother to Ella (2). She
is a lactation educator/
counselor and director of the
documentary film “Formula
Fed America.” She and
husband James are expecting a
second daughter any day now,
and are planning a homebirth.
They live in Buckeye,
Arizona, USA. For more
information and to see a clip
from her upcoming film, visit
www.formulafedamerica.com.
James’ Story
When my wife, Leslie, said she
wanted to breastfeed, I said,
“Okay, go for it.” When she
wanted to breastfeed in public, I
looked at her like she was crazy.
I told her that was indecent
exposure and actually asked her,
“Do you want to get arrested?”
I worried so much about our
appearance to others that I would
say some hurtful things to my wife.
When she wanted to become a
lactation educator, I told her to go
for it. When I saw her expose her
breast-sometimes in public-I told
her that could be taken as sexual
harassment and that breasts were
sexual objects.
Now I look back at what I said
and did, and I am embarrassed.
Just doing a little bit of Internet
surfing and reading a couple of
paragraphs in my wife’s books,
has shown me the true purpose of
breasts. I no longer view breasts
as sexual objects. I correct my
friends and coworkers when
they make a statement regarding
female breasts.
I was only breastfed for five
months. My mother told me
breastmilk is great, but it is
inappropriate to breastfeed past
six months. I felt that this was
the “norm.” NO! This is only the
“norm” here in America. Many
men have asked the question,
“What is the role of a father in
breastfeeding?” It’s simple. We
are here to support the baby’s
mother and to help her feel
comfortable in her decision. I
barely notice breastfeeding in
public anymore because I’m not
looking for it. My wife has chosen
to nurse our daughters until they
wean on their own. I feel this is
the most responsible decision to
make with our children. I now fully
support my wife in her film-making
journey to educate families about
formula and breastfeeding with
her documentary “Formula Fed
America.” I can’t wait for the day
when this country remembers
why women have breasts, not as
sexual objects, but to feed our
children, to make a better future
for all of humanity.
James R. Ott is a disease
investigator for the Maricopa
County Department of
Public Health and a combat
medic for the Arizona Army
National Guard. He and his
wife, Leslie, enjoy attachment
parenting their daughter Ella
(2) and expect the birth of
another daughter any day
now.
Gina Krum, IBCLC, RN, BSN
edits “Focus on Fathers” and is
interested in hearing from fathers
about their experiences with their
breastfed children. Gina and
her husband, Joe, live in Sierra
Vista, Arizona, USA, with children
Sophia (13), Ambrose (7), and
Maria (4). They are expecting
their fourth child later this year.
Mother’s Milk:
A Breastfeeding
Guide The goal of this video is
to help women have a satisfying
and comfortable breastfeeding
experience. Topics addressed
include preventing common
challenges, engorgement, latchon techniques, and employment
and breastfeeding; 30-minute
DVD.
Book Review
The Family Bed by Tine Thevenin:
and courage that
she demonstrated
by writing and
publishing the first
book promoting
co-sleeping.
Anne Casey
In an issue featuring the topic of
nighttime sleep and breastfeeding,
New Beginnings also revisits the
classic The Family Bed by Tine
Thevenin.
Originally published in 1976, at
a time when even breastfeeding
was just starting to return to the
mainstream, The Family Bed
sought to validate the feelings
of parents who wanted to share
their beds with their children
and to encourage others to do
the same. Thevenin noted that
in her research she encountered
many parents who co-slept in
secret, ignoring the advice of
their doctors and prominent
parenting experts such as Dr.
Benjamin Spock. Thevenin was
often commended for the bravery
Marian Tompson,
La Leche League
co-Founder and
then president of
La Leche League
International,
wrote a preface
to the book
which asked
readers to “keep
an open mind”
about the subject,
acknowledging its
sensitive nature.
Despite any
controversy, the
book has sold
tens of thousands
of copies in three languages
and has been a part of La Leche
League Group Libraries since its
publication.
The Family Bed tells the reader
that the family bed is an extension
of a parent’s unconditional love
for a child, and that children are
happier, healthier, and more
independent as a result. Thevenin
wrote that “a child who has his
needs fulfilled will become an
independent, secure person. But
independence cannot be forced
upon someone” (page 63). This
argument was a direct response to
parenting experts and psychiatrists
who believed that co-sleeping
would cause children to develop
the bad habit of dependence
on their parents, or that it might
even lead some to develop
psychological disorders.
A parent who wishes to co-sleep
may gain inspiration from the
book. Much of Thevenin’s data
comes from a set of questionnaires
that she asked co-sleeping
families to fill out. As a result,
the book includes many true-life
stories (not unlike the mothers’
stories found in New Beginnings)
in which mothers detailed the
ups-and-downs of co-sleeping
in the 1970s. While Thevenin’s
evidence was deliberately chosen
to favor the family bed, even
those who choose not to sleep
with their children may appreciate
her focus on trusting the instincts
of motherhood, the importance
of responding to the needs of
the baby, and her belief that all
children “need our love, fully and
unconditionally.” (page 84)
Thevenin’s insistence on cosleeping might surprise some La
Leche League members because
LLL has no official position on
co-sleeping. La Leche League
encourages mothers to find a sleep
solution that is comfortable and
safe for everyone in the family,
whether that means sharing a bed,
sharing a room, or sleeping in
different rooms. A reader should
apply the often-repeated phrase
from La Leche League meetings:
“Take what works for you, and
leave the rest behind.”
When Thevenin passed away in
June, her obituary indicated that
she considered her most important
accomplishment to be her role as
a mother, despite her many, many
achievements in other areas. It
is wonderful that she shared the
insights she gained through her
experience of motherhood with
a wider audience. Thousands of
families have been influenced by
reading The Family Bed since it
was published. Many more will
still be, even unknowingly, by
reading the books of authors who
followed in her footsteps and
advocated co-sleeping.
Even more influential was her part
in conducting the bed sharing
study and encouraging parents
to respond to their children
intuitively and with love, rather
than strictly adhering to the
“rules” of any parenting authority.
Tine Thevenin’s role in helping
this parenting style gain wider
acceptance and support will be
her lasting legacy.
Anne Casey is a LLL Leader
with the Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, USA, Group.
Samantha Disch
As a busy mother of two breastfed
children, life can be hectic,
chaotic and rewarding all at the
same time! Like many mothers of
small children, time is often very
limited, so when choosing books
to read one needs to choose very
carefully. One great book that is
quite easy to read and invaluable
in my opinion is The Family Bed
by Tine Thevenin.
When my children were small,
wakeful during the night, and
nursing around the clock, I found
the information very useful in
establishing the best place for
our children to sleep based on
the needs of my family members.
This book covers a lot of different
topics related to sleep situations
as well a brief history of the
origins and evolution of bed
sharing. Other topics include the
importance of sleeping together,
Book Review
A Look Back at a La Leche League Classic
siblings, need vs. habit, and
marital relations, all of which
have become dog-eared
pages of reference for me
while I continue to meet the
needs of my family.
I think about how it all started
four years ago when I was
pregnant with my first child
and attended my first La Leche
League meeting. I tried to
gather all the breastfeeding
information I could. I never
thought about where our
baby would sleep. When
browsing through the Group’s
lending library, I came across
The Family Bed and quickly
brought it home, thinking it
might be helpful. Boy, was it a
help! After reading the book,
my husband and I completely
established a new way of
thinking about sleeping with
infants. Now that our children
are older, we still find it a
valuable resource on the
bookshelf.
This book was written, in part,
because Thevenin needed
a resource for herself and
others to look back on when
support was needed, She
wrote about how “society
tells us that family co-sleeping
is taboo, but doesn’t give
us any satisfactory answers
to bedtime problems with
children either.” Thus her
research began, and giving
birth to this book was the
answer for many mothers.
With many “confessions” in
the book made by mothers
who admit sleeping with their
babies or young children,
The Family Bed is refreshing
and personal as well as just
plain helpful, especially for
breastfeeding mothers who
may dread getting out of bed
at night to nurse their children.
Upon finishing the book
when my first child was a
little baby, I was surprised to
read it was published nearly
25 years ago! It still has
so much value for today’s
mothers. It is a refreshing
read and relevant in the
current times when mothering
can get very complicated.
Survivor Moms
For us, keeping our family
in harmony meant bringing
the breastfed babies to bed
with us and nursing while
we peacefully slept. Reading
books like The Family Bed
really reinforced our sleeping
decisions. Co-sleeping may
not work for everyone, but the
book acknowledges this and
really focuses on each mother
making the very best choice
for her family.
Beginnings
lllusa.org
When everyone is content
and peaceful in a family
using bedsharing, mothers
who read this book may find
they made the right selection
in their family’s sleeping
situations. The Family Bed is a
guide through these types of
choices and circumstances. It’s
the perfect book to read while
you’re nursing your baby on
the couch.
Find us on
facebook!
Samantha Disch is a
LLL Leader with a
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
USA Group
Mickey Sperlich, MA, CPM and Julia Seng, PhD, CNM
Learn how sexual abuse affects women during pregnancy and
childbirth and what you can do to help.
Read excerpts from 81 women’s stories of birthing,
mothering and healing after childhood sexual abuse. The
book also includes some complete narratives, suggestions for
working together during maternity care and beyond, resources
and information from current research. Suitable for both
caregivers and pregnant survivors, Survivor Moms will help
anyone whose life has been touched by sexual abuse.
Motherbaby Press, Paper, 246 pages $34.95 + S&H
www.midwiferytoday.com/books/survivormoms.asp
new
Brought to Earth by Birth
This stunning collection of black and white photographs
by one of the world’s master birth photographers celebrates giving birth and being born. Here is creation,
lived by each of us.
Through the poetry of photographs and the weaving
of words, experience what birth means to you.
Motherbaby Press, Paper, 96 pages $25.95 + S&H
www.midwiferytoday.com/books/BirthPhotos.asp
For more info and to order: motherbabypress.com
www.midwiferytoday.com
Harriette Hartigan
Tel: (541) 344-7438 (800) 743-0974 US/CAN
Fax: (541) 344-1422 E-mail: orders@midwiferytoday.com
World Breastfeeding Week Celebration
“In the Pink” for WBWC
Margot Harris, Rock County,
Wisconsin LLL Leader
business card had the Group’s name, LLL logo
and contact information. The reverse side had
facts about how breastfeeding decreases the
incidence of breast and hormonal cancer.
The WBWC Team and the WBWC Grants Team
want to thank all WBWC participants for their
efforts. WBWC funds provide the money to give
Groups like Rock County extra funds to fulfill the
LLL mission.
We participated in the Labor Day parade again
this year and passed out more literature about
LLL. Each year we received follow up phone and
email contacts from mothers in the community
who weren’t previously familiar with LLL. In
addition to the Labor Day parade, we display
WBW messages in the local library display case
and donate copies of New Beginnings magazine
to the community in August.
More Good News from Rock County
Linda Parry, WBWC Team
For the past two years, La Leche League of
Rock County has been walking in the Janesville,
Wisconsin Labor Day parade. The purpose was
to raise awareness of La Leche League (LLL) in
the community and serve as an annual World
Breastfeeding Week Celebration (WBWC). Pink
T-shirts and tank tops were made with the pink
breast cancer awareness ribbons and imprinted
with the words “Breastfeeding prevents breast
cancer.” We carried banners and signs with
pro-breastfeeding messages and passed out LLL
business cards and tossed candy to the crowd.
The husband of one of our Group members
received claps and hoots from the crowd by
wearing a T-shirt (“I like boobs”) he designed. It
matched the T-shirt his son was wearing. Many of
our children had T-shirts with the LLL logo or the
international breastfeeding logo printed on them.
The first year we had 20 families (over 60
people) participating. Mothers, fathers,
teenagers, children on bicycles, toddlers and
babies in slings and strollers enjoyed this time
together. The second year we again had a great
turnout for this event. A local printing company
donated a banner with our name and logo.
A Leader’s husband and oldest son were the
banner carriers. Group mothers had a good
time at a sign-making party to hand-letter pink
breast cancer awareness ribbons which were
stapled to the business cards. The front of the
Rock County also applied for and was awarded
a WBWC grant in 2010. Money was allocated
to help start two meetings per month in a
community with the third highest infant mortality
rate in the state.
LLL of Rock County contacted the local hospital
and received approval to include a color tri-fold
in new mother packets. Some of the funds will
be used for printing the brochures and business
cards with the new state breastfeeding law on
the back.
While not funded by a WBWC grant, Mom’s
Night Out is a popular outreach to the public,
supporting mothers of all ages by providing
pampering, socializing and relaxation for
mothers with their babies. Seventy-five mothers
attended in the first two years. This year they also
accepted pre-orders of the new The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding.
Another popular activity is movies on childbirth
and birth discussions. Husbands found this
particularly helpful.
LLL of Rock County has worked to strengthen its
relationship with obstetricians, gynecologists,
and physicians as well as with Women, Infants
and Children (WIC). WIC’s goal is to increase
breastfeeding initiation and duration rates and
reach minority mothers.
THANK YOU TO THE
WORLD BREASTFEEDING
WEEK CELEBRATIONS
2010 PRIZE SPONSORS!
PLATINUM Dual Elite LEVEL ($5,000+)
Mothering magazine
Motherlove Herbal Company
Sleepy Wrap/Boba
PLATINUM LEVEL ($4,000+)
Mother’s Milk Tea
by Traditional Medicinals
AMYTHEST LEVEL ($2500+)
ERGO Baby Carrier, Inc.
SILVER LEVEL (200+)
Platypus Media
Science Naturally!
BRONZE LEVEL (Cottage Industry)
Fresh Baby
Mama Knows Breast
Mommy Necklaces
Over the Shoulder Baby Holder
The Umbilical Card
Wrapsody
To Honor and Remember
To Honor
Tammy Brock
Faithful supporter and leader of
breastfeeding. We love you, Jim & Connie Brock,
Lexington, SC
APLs of USW
To Honor the hard working APLs of
USW in celebration of mothers day.
From Rebecca Hugh
AFCs of USW
To Honor the hard working AFC of
USW in celebration of mothers day.
From Rebecca Hugh
Mairin Barbiere
A wonderful mother, wife, and daughter-inlaw. From Alice Barbiere
LLL USA Interim Council
To Honor my hardworking sister Leaders
on the LLL USA interim council.
From Judith Gibel
Leaders in Miami-Dade County
To honor our wonderful co-Leaders in MiamiDade County. From LLL South Central Miami
To Remember
Emil L. Hopf
In memory of Emil L. Hopf, June 24, 2010
Husband to Teresa, a retired LLL Leader, and
father to Edward and Eric. He will be missed
by many. From La Leche League Dubois and
surrounding area, Indiana
Amy Donovan Perkins
In memory of Amy Donovan Perkins and all
mothers who have struggled with addiction.
From Diane Dunham Jeffer
NEW TRIBUTE Submission GuidELines!
For significant events in the life of someone you care about, have you considered a tribute gift?
You can make a donation to La Leche League USA (LLL
USA) in the name of a family member or friend to Honor or
Remember them. Your tax-deductible donation will show that
you care about them while also helping LLL USA further its
mission to help mothers breastfeed.
community whose main focus is helping mothers to
breastfeed. While we can respect personal beliefs reflected
here because of the nature of the tributes, this column is not
intended for social commentaries outside the focus of La
Leche League International.
For a minimum gift of $50, New Beginnings will publish
your special message of congratulations, encouragement,
appreciation, or condolences; limit tributes to 20 words.
Please keep in mind that La Leche League is a diverse
To submit a tribute gift, please send a check and the tribute
wording to LLL USA, 957 N. Plum Grove Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
You can help
get
the
support
donation
today.
ensure that mothers
they
need
Between
with
now
your
and
December 31, 2010, long-time LLLI donors
and LLLI Board have agreed to match
your donation dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
Your gift will enable LLLI to continue helping mothers to
breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement,
information, and education at no cost to families around the world.
Double your gift today and help mothers and babies get the best start together!
Donate Now
Toddler Tips
Crying
LANACare Organic Wool
Nursing Pads
The Nursing Pads Women LOVE!
Soothingly Soft Merino Wool – absorbs moisture,
keeping skin dry. Beneficial with vasospasms &
many common breastfeeding problems. Only 2
pairs needed by most women. Natural lanolin
content provides antibacterial properties – wash
only occasionally with lanolin-replenishing soap.
Imported by Danish Woolen Delight
Contact us for FREE brochure with wool sample!
Call toll-free 1-877-878-6089, fax (802) 878-6091
info@DanishWool.com • www.DanishWool.com
Also Importing Organic Wool Clothing
v2.1 - Aug 11 2008
APPROVED Aug 12 2008

New Beginnings - La Leche League

Transcription

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