• You are expecting a baby and want to know more about breastfeeding
• You are already breastfeeding and want help with challenges
• You need information on starting solids or weaning
• You want to meet other breastfeeding mums to share support and experiences
• You are interested in reading more about breastfeeding, birth and parenting
• You are a health professional interested in learning more about breastfeeding
• You want to find out about peer counselling programmes
• You want to help other breastfeeding mothers

Welsh New Groups Project

The Welsh New Groups Project is getting underway and we are looking for mothers who are interested in becoming La Leche League Leaders. Visit Welsh New Groups to find out how you can become part of this exciting new project.

Our thanks to the Oak Foundation for giving us this wonderful opportunity to provide La Leche League mother-to-mother support in Wales.

Anthology Fundraising Project

The ISIS (Infant Sleep Information Source) site is now officially live!

ISIS is a collaboration between Durham University Parent-Infant Sleep Lab, La Leche League, NCT, and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, funded by a grant from the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council). ISIS provides information about normal infant sleep based upon the latest UK and world-wide research.

This information is for:

• parents who wish to make informed choices about infant sleep and night-time care,
• health professionals who wish to share evidence-based information with parents about infant sleep.

Please have a look at this super new site http://www.isisonline.org.uk/ and feel free to share widely!

Response from La Leche League to:
A Serial Qualitative Interview Study of Infant Feeding Experiences: idealism meets realism

The article published today by the British Medical Journal addresses important issues concerning the challenges many parents face in the early days of breastfeeding. Scientific evidence shows that exclusive breastfeeding for six months has many advantages for both a baby and mother. Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for at least the first six months of life. It is a living substance and adapts to fit the needs of each baby and it complements and boosts the immune system for as long as it is offered. If a baby has solids before he can digest them properly, at around six months, it can cause tummy problems and the nutrients will not be fully utilised. First foods are often low in iron and so are simply replacing the perfect food for babies with ones with fewer nutrients.

However, we live in a society in which breastfeeding is often perceived as difficult and although women “try” to breastfeed and think breast is best, formula is often seen as the norm. The report highlights the fact that some women do not get accurate breastfeeding information or enough support in the early days, and that when difficulties arise giving a bottle is often seen as the solution. LLL agrees that many women are often not prepared for the reality of the early days of breastfeeding and mothering. Many new mothers have never seen anyone breastfeed and are worried about how breastfeeding will fit into their lives. Women who attend groups run by breastfeeding support organisations get the chance to see other women breastfeed and talk about what life with a new baby is like, and often feel better prepared when difficulties arise.

The decision to breastfeed needs to be made by parents based on good information and once that decision is made, and for exclusive breastfeeding for six months to become the norm, women need good support afterwards. Six months can seem a very long time to a new mother and setting smaller goals along the way can be helpful. Sadly, many women decide to stop breastfeeding because of early difficulties, before they experience the benefits of breastfeeding and the pleasure it can be to exclusively nurse a child. For breastfeeding to become the norm in our society we need to have information on breastfeeding presented in schools as the normal way to feed a baby, accurate information about the realities of parenting and support and acceptance of breastfeeding in public spaces. In an ideal society women would not feel pressurised to breastfeed but would make a positive decision to do so, and feel supported in their choice. Although that may not yet be a reality for all women it is important to aim for it to become so.

Written by Anna Burbidge, on behalf of La Leche League GB March 14 2012

A Serial Qualitative Interview Study of Infant Feeding Experiences: idealism meets realism.

LLLGB Chair, Anna Burbidge, featured in The Green Parent

Anna gives an insight into life in the Burbidge household, juggling her role as wife and mother with her many roles in La Leche League GB. A day in the life - Anna Burbidge.

Ten New Groups Evaluation Launch

In July, a launch meeting was held in London to celebrate the success of the Ten New Groups Project and was attended by the Project Team, new group Leaders and prominent people from the breastfeeding community. The main part of the event was to see how the Project had impacted on the new Leaders and the mothers who had attended their groups. Visit 10 New Groups Project to read the summary and access the full Evaluation Report

Fundraising and Volunteering

People have been asking for ways that they can get involved with LLL, by fundraising and volunteering. We have set up some pages of ideas to get you started. Look under How you can help and Getting involved. Read about how some of our fundraisers and volunteers have got on.

We are being approached by more and more people who are looking for a career in midwifery and are enquiring about paid posts or volunteering with LLLGB. We do not have any paid breastfeeding support posts, but you if you would like to volunteer with your local group, you can contact them via our Local Groups page. We appreciate all the help that you can give!

Thank you from mothers everywhere.