All About La Leche League
Our Mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
History
La Leche League International was formed in 1956, in Franklin Park, IL by a group of seven mothers who wanted to provide breastfeeding help and support to interested women. As LLLI has grown into an international organization, the primary focus has remained on the personal one-to-one sharing of information and encouragement that provides a new parent with the confidence they need to breastfeed their baby.
La Leche League Philosophy
Our Vision is to realize, deepen and share the love and wisdom found in the breastfeeding relationship.
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Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
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Human milk is the natural food for babies, uniquely meeting their changing needs.
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Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
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Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying breastfeeding relationship and reliable milk production.
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Breastfeeding is enhanced by the loving support of the baby’s father, a co-parent, a partner, and/or close family members who value the breastfeeding relationship.
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In the early years, the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
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For the healthy, full-term baby, human milk is the only food necessary until the baby shows signs of readiness for complementary foods, about the middle of the first year after birth.
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Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
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Ideally the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the child outgrows the need.
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From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.