La Leche League of Charleston, South Carolina

February Meetings for La Leche League of Charleston

2012-01-27T17:17:00.000-08:00

We look forward to seeing you and your baby at our next meeting. For more information go to llli.org

Friday, February 3rd:
St Andrew's in Mount Pleasant: Venning & Whilden St.
10:15 am - 11:30 am
When you enter the church go downstairs and we are in the room directly in front of you. If you have a stroller and are going in the elevator, turn right when you come out.
For more info on this meeting contact Kimberly at 843-814-1322

Friday, February 17th:
10:15 am - 11:30 am
John Wesley United Methodist Church: 626 Savannah Hwy in West Ashely
When you enter the main doors of the church, pass the office and enter the glass doors. We are in the room next to the gymnasium.
For more info on this meeting contact Beth at 843-469-4404

Tuesday, February 21st:
Roper Mount Pleasant Hospital: 17 North
9:30 am -11 am
When you enter the hospital on the ground floor, we will be in classroom #3 near the hospital's cafe.
For more info on this meeting contact Brittan at 843-478-0468

January 2012.

2011-12-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all our families in the Charleston area!

La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.

Here is our January schedule. We are looking forward to some great meetings and some new Leaders in 2012!
* all phone numbers are 843 area code unless specified otherwise.
Remember all meetings are FREE and no registration is needed.

Friday, January 6th:
St Andrew's in Mount Pleasant: Venning & Whilden St.
10:15 am - 11:30 am
When you enter the church go downstairs and we are in the room directly in front of you. If you have a stroller and are going in the elevator, turn right when you come out.
For more info on this meeting contact Naomi @ 388-5895 or Marlo @ 278-1688

Tuesday, January 17th:
Roper Mount Pleasant Hospital: 17 North
9:30 am -11 am
When you enter the hospital on the ground floor, we will be in classroom #3 near the hospital's cafe.
For more info on this meeting contact Carissa @ 654-1240 or Elizabeth @ 971-6632

Friday, January 20th:
10:15 am - 11:30 am
John Wesley United Methodist Church: 626 Savannah Hwy in West Ashely
When you enter the main doors of the church, pass the office and enter the glass doors. We are in the room next to the gymnasium.
For more info on this meeting contact Mandy @ 270-9845 or Sarah @ 206-999-9629

In generations past, many mothers had plenty of support for breastfeeding their babies because their mothers, grandmothers and sisters had breastfed. Now many of us live far away from our families and most likely, they didn't breastfed. Breastfeeding is natural, but it is a learned art. Attending an LLL meeting and seeing other mothers breastfeed their babies helps new and expectant mothers learn how to nurture their babies too.

What are the meeting topics? In-depth information on breastfeeding is presented through discussions on the following topics:

The advantages of breastfeeding. Mothers are amazed to hear about the many remarkable qualities of human milk, their bodies fantastic ability to produce milk as well as the positive impact breastfeeding has on families, the environment and society.

Adjusting to life with a new baby. This meeting focuses on the first six weeks and offers tips to make the transition into being a family as smooth as possible.

Overcoming difficulties. Leaders and mothers have excellent ideas to help mothers overcome roadblocks that may impede breastfeeding progress.

Nutrition and weaning. Pregnant women enjoy this topic so they can optimize their unborn baby's health. Mothers learn how to start solids for their babies. Nutritious options for family meals are shared.

December Meetings for LLL of Charleston

2011-11-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

December 2nd Meeting: 10:15 to 11:30 will be at St Andrew's Church, 440 Whilden Street in Mount Pleasant, SC
For more information call Brittan at 478-0468

December 16th Meeting: 10:!5 to 11:30 will be at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Hwy in West Ashley, SC
For more information call Carissa at 654-1240

The 3rd Tuesday Northern Mount Pleasant meeting will be CANCELED for December due to the holidays.
We will resume January 17th for this meeting.

Don't forget to check out our LLLI Toolkit for some great handouts to print out!

Room change for North Mount Pleasant meeting

2011-11-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

All breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding are welcome to come to our meetings or call one of our Leaders for breastfeeding help or information. Babies are always welcome at our meetings.

La Leche League of Charleston/North Mt. Pleasant - meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 9:30 AM at Mount Pleasant Hospital, 3500 North Highway 17, Mount Pleasant SC.

This month we are excited to announce that we will be meeting in a new classroom provided by the hospital. It will be in classroom #3 near the hospital's cafe. This is easily accessible on the ground floor and will be roomier for our growing group.
We hope you can make it!

As always, meetings are free. There is no need to register ahead. Please feel free to bring a friend.

For more info on this meeting please call Elizabeth at 971-6632

You can go dairy free!

2011-11-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Lauren for guest posting. This information can be very useful for someone needing to go dairy free because your baby has allergic signs or reflux. Not every nursing mother will have issues with dairy.

**Disclaimer...I am not a medical professional or a LLL leader. This is info I gathered through my own research (on the internet, talking to other mamas, Lactation Consultants, our pediatrician, etc). Please do your own research, contact professionals, and use common sense when it comes to your health and the health of your child!**

When Crawford was born, I was speaking with the LC one day and mentioned that I hadn't breastfed Wesley for very long, and that he had been labeled a "happy spitter" until I switched him from milk-based formula to soy formula. She suggested I go ahead and limit the amount of milk/dairy in my diet, as it sounded like he may have had an intolerance and Crawford likely would too. She gave me a few handouts on "hidden dairy" which I glanced over, then promptly forgot about.
Well, by the time C was between 10 days and 2 weeks old, it was obvious that there was some kind of problem. She was having an excessive number of dirty diapers a day, which were very runny, mucoussy, green and extremely smelly. She was generally a very happy, content baby, but she would suddenly scream out in pain and tense up whenever she was about to pass gas or had a bowel movement--this would even happen when she was in a deep sleep. She spit up often (although not as much as W had!), almost always had a red bottom, and had some dry patches appearing on her skin. The conversation with the hospital LC started ringing in my head. I went ahead and cut out all obvious sources of dairy and planned on speaking with our pedi at C's check-up the next day. Maybe it was my imagination, but I swear she seemed to be more comfortable even just 24 hours after I eliminated the multiple glasses of milk, cheese, ice cream, etc. out of my daily diet.
I spoke with the pediatrician about what I was observing, and he agreed that it sounded like a milk protein intolerance. He was a bit worried about an elimination diet because (as he said) if I don't eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, my child won't, and also because I was recovering from major surgery (c-section). I decided, though, that I was willing to really monitor my diet to ensure that I stayed healthy, while also ensuring the health of my child. For the next week, I cut out all obvious and hidden sources of dairy, and saw a marked change in Crawford...she was more comfortable, her stools were less frequent and a bit more normal, the dry patches on her skin were smaller. I had read a statistic, though, that the majority of babies who have a milk-protein intolerance also had soy-protein intolerance, so I realized that I needed to go ahead and "bite the bullet" and cut out soy as well. Also, proteins can stay in mom's system for about a week and a half, and in baby's system for another week an a half, so it takes up to 3 weeks to really see if there is a dramatic change with an elimination diet. I felt like I should go ahead and cut out the two suspected sources, and see how she did.
Fast forward a few weeks, and WOW, what a change! Normal stools, no more tense, screaming baby, no more diaper rash, no more rough spots on her skin. I remained dairy and soy free until Crawford was around 8 months old ("testing" every month to six weeks or so with a small amount of milk or cheese...and seeing the negative reactions very quickly) at which point she was able to handle small amounts of dairy and soy in my diet.
Here is some information and websites that I found very helpful in the months I was dairy and soy free.
• There is no simple test to determine a MSPI, nor is there a "quick fix" or medication for it. The way to test and to treat is to eliminate the suspected cause. Your pediatrician may want you to bring in a stool sample to test for blood (mine did) as this can be an indicator of a MSPI.
• MSPI is NOT the same as an allergy, and is not the same as being "lactose intolerant". Most MSPIs are outgrown by baby's first birthday.
• One important thing to remember is that labels won't just include the words "milk" or "soy"...there are so many different names for milk-based and soy-based ingredients.
Dairy ingredients: http://www.kellymom.com/store/freehandouts/hidden-dairy01.pdf.
Soy ingredients: http://foodallergies.about.com/od/soyallergies/a/List-Of-Soy-Ingredients-To-Avoid-When-Following-A-Soy-Free-Diet.htm
• I found conflicting information on butter and also soy lecithin. Some sources said they were fine because they are fats not protein, some sources I found said that they should be avoided because they were made from dairy/soy. Personally, I was able to have *small* amounts of both without Crawford showing any adverse reactions.
• Milk-Free Mama (http://milkfreemama.blogspot.com/) is a personal blog that appears to have lots of good information.
• Bean Mom (http://www.beanmom.com/nomilk.html) has a great list of resources, although some of the links appear to be outdated.
• MSPI Guide (http://www.mspiguide.com/helpfulinfo1.cfm) has quite a bit of helpful info, as well as a cookbook that can be purchased (I didn't purchase it so I can't speak for it's helpfulness)
• The No Milk Page is a great resource (http://nomilk.com/)
• Someone suggested (why didn't I think of this?!) that when you're out to eat, make sure to tell the waiter that you're allergic to milk and soy, and have them help you and/or speak with the chef about what is safe for you to eat. For me, I basically stopped eating out at all, or would get something like a salad with no cheese, no creamy dressings, etc.
• I didn't know how I would survive without my morning cup of coffee and my (way too often) evening bowl of ice cream. I found that for coffee, heating a mug of vanilla rice milk and then adding a generous spoonful of instant coffee was a good substitute. For ice cream, I preferred rice-milk desserts rather than the coconut ones.
• Just because something says "non-dairy" (like coffee creamer) does not mean it's dairy free.
• Eating a dairy and soy free diet actually helped me cut out many of the processed and/or pre-prepared foods I had gotten used to eating. I made basically everything I ate from scratch...and we had many, many, many meals of grilled/roasted chicken, grilled/steamed/roasted veggies, and whole wheat pasta or rice. I'm sure you can get much more creative than I did :)
• Many chain type restaurants have allergy info on their websites that you can consult before dining out.
• Once C was able to tolerate me eating milk/soy ingredients for a few months, I began to slowly introduce milk/soy into her (solids) diet. Unfortunately, it did NOT go well. Many of the same symptoms from those first weeks were cropping up, although they weren't nearly as severe. Now at 15 months old, she can handle very small amounts of dairy/soy ingredients (ex. a small sprinkle of Parmesan on pasta, soy sauce used in a marinade on meat/chicken, etc) but cannot eat large amounts of yogurt/cheese/milk/edamame, etc. Our pediatrician feels that she will outgrow this by 18-24 months old.
I hope that this information has been helpful. I promise, if your child has MSPI, going dairy and soy free is not nearly as hard as it seems in the beginning. And, it's all worth it to have a happy, healthy, thriving nursling!!
~Lauren

November Meetings

2011-11-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

November 4th 10:15 to 11:30 am - St Andrew's Church on Whilden Street, Mount Pleasant
For more info call Marlo at 278-1688

November 15th 9:30 to 11 am - Mount Pleasant Hospital on 17 North, Mount Pleasant
For more info call Beth at 469-4404

November 18th 10:15 to 11:30 am - John Wesley United Methodist Church on Savannah Hwy, West Ashley
For more info call Mandy at 270-9845

Meetings are always FREE. Pregnant moms are encouraged to attend. Babies and children always welcome!

La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.

October Meetings

2011-10-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

October meetings in the Charleston and Summerville areas.
Our meetings are always free and baby friendly. We welcome any woman interested in learning or sharing about breastfeeding. Pregnant moms are encouraged to attend.

First Friday - October 7th
10:15 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant
Contact Brittan at 478-0468

Third Tuesday – October 18th
9:30 a.m. at Mount Pleasant Hospital, 3500 North Highway 17, Mount Pleasant Please go to the Volunteer Lounge
Contact Marlo at 278-1688

Third Tuesday – October 18th
7:00 p.m. at the Summerville Church of Christ, 413 Old Trolley Rd, Summerville
Contact April at dnapetrey@gmail.com

Third Friday – October 21st
10:15 AM at the John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway, Charleston
Contact Beth at 469-4404

Books on Breastfeeding for Pregnant or New Moms

2011-10-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

We seem to be getting a lot of emails and phone calls from pregnant or new moms who are looking for basic information on breastfeeding. A little knowledge goes a long way...information will help you make the right choice for your family.

Some moms find themselves reading many pregnancy books or birth books and not realizing they may not find the time to read when the baby or babies arrive. Think of it this way...you will be pregnant for 9 months and a parent the rest of your life. :)

Here are some of our favorites:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding 8th Edition by LLLI

Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Nancy Mohrbacher, and Jack Newman

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving Guide to Breastfeeding by Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman

The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk by Diana West and Lisa Marasco

Nursing Mother, Working Mother: The Essential Guide for Breastfeeding and Staying Close to Your Baby After You Return to Work by Gale Pryor

Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada

There are many others out there - some with good research and some full of one person's opinion. Some are good for special circumstances. We can recommend further reading when you come to a meeting or contact us. Enjoy and happy reading!

Interesting in volunteering or learning more about Leadership?

2011-08-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston, SC will be holding a meeting to discuss interest in volunteering opportunities and possible Leadership within LLL of Charleston.

This meeting will take place at St Andrew's Church just after the usual Mount Pleasant meeting on September 2 and will begin at 11:45 a.m. This will be a short discussion on LLL Philosophy and volunteer job opportunities in the group.

La Leche League of Charleston, SC is in need of some of the following (with a time commitment of one meeting series or 4 months)

Secretary - gather information from moms and help with email reminders or mailings, perhaps even calls new moms to remind them of the next meeting

PR - distribute meeting notices to the community, including physicians and Moms Clubs etc.., help with media and community calendars

Group Greeter/ hostess - welcome mothers, help create and maintain new mom packets & small gifts for new Members, introduce new comers to Leaders and other moms

Librarian - maintain book collection, display library at meetings, keep track of borrowing, may present short book reviews

Website administrator - we are in the process of updating our STATE website and looking for volunteers to help with updating it as well as creating a way to add memberships through the site.

Fundraising Committee - possible leads for ways to support our growing group needs

Enrichment Coordinator -
plan meeting topics, contact possible speakers, help with advertising events, could host or find locations

If you are interested in finding out what a Leader for La Leche League does or in becoming a Leader yourself please see the link below:

Thinking about La Leche League Leadership? Click HERE

La Leche League is a nonprofit, non-governmental, and non-sectarian organization. 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.

September La Leche League

2011-08-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

September is a BUSY Month for La Leche League of Charleston, SC

This month we have a meeting at St. Andrew's Church in the Old Village. It will be the first Friday of the month (9/2) and will start at 10:15 and run until around 11:30 a.m. The church is on the corner of Venning and Whilden Streets in Mt. Pleasant. This meeting will focus on the advantages of breastfeeding. We will discuss the impact on society, the home & family, and of course the mom and baby. As always, the meeting will take on a life of its own depending on the direction of the moms and babies that attend.

On Saturday, September 10th many of us will be at Roper St. Francis Baby Fair. If you are pregnant or nursing, come by our table and say hello. We'd love to meet you and give you our flyer and any other info we can. This is always a fun time and there are always great prizes too!

Our West Ashely meeting will be held the third Friday of the month (9/16) and will start at 10:15. The meeting is held at John Wesley United Methodist Church on US17. Please don't worry if you won't be on time. We understand "baby time"! Come and have your concerns answered and meet like-minded moms! Come in the front entrance of the church and go through the set of double glass doors to the room near the gymnasium. This meeting will focus on the benefits of breastfeeding as well but as always the moms decide the tone and direction of the meeting so don't be afraid to come and ask anything on the topic of breastfeeding and baby care.

Our Northern Mount Pleasant meeting will be the third Tuesday of the month (9/20) at Mount Pleasant Hospital. Any new attendees please know it is simple to find us. Simply ask the people at the front desk to direct you to the La Leche League meeting and they will escort you to the meeting room. This meeting will be focusing on adjusting to life with a new baby. We will especially be discussing the first six weeks and the family transition but any age nursling is welcome to any meeting.

As always, all meetings are FREE. We love it if you can buy a membership if you've felt supported by the group but we never expect you to be a member to attend or call us. Babies and children are always welcome to meetings...it really helps for us to see you nursing if you have a challenge. We love to meet you while you are still pregnant so you can avoid some of the "booby traps" so come in pregnant OR nursing. Feel free to bring a friend or even your mom or mother-in-law with you! Hope to see you in September!

Membership to La Leche League of Charleston, SC

2011-08-11T11:11:00.001-07:00

If you have found LLL of Charleston helpful to you and would like to buy a membership which will benefit your local group please read on...

Optional Membership payment that will benefit our local Charleston, SC Group!

The best way is to join through a local Group, so that funds will be available in YOUR vicinity to help mothers and babies. With your membership, your local group can receive a small portion of the funds to be able to purchase new pamphlets, books and other resources for your Group.

To join your local Group, sign up with a Leader at your next meeting. If you can’t make another meeting soon, but are still interested you can simply email or call your local Leader.

Membership is $40 payable to La Leche League of Charleston, SC. We also have a financial hardship option if $40 is too high. This is also a tax deductible donation to a non-profit.

La Leche League meetings are always free. You do not have to be a member to attend LLL meetings or to call or email us.

Thank you for your support!

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Beth, Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, & Naomi

La Leche League is a nonprofit, non-governmental, and non-sectarian organization. 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.

Thanks for being counted!!

2011-08-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Big-Latch-On is a way to share love and joy of breastfeeding while also trying to break a world record for simultaneously breastfeeding at one time. Today we had 35 moms, (32 nursing mom/baby sets) and one dad come out for the event. We couldn't have had such a successful and fun event without the people who volunteered time and energy today to spread the word, put up flyers, add it to their social pages, make posters, email moms, and bring balloons, clip-boards and pens! Thanks to all the Leaders and Members of La Leche League who were part of this event and thanks to all the moms who attended to make the day extra special. Thanks also to Kimberly, C.J. and Susan who were our witnesses & counters! Have a great weekend!

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC
Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, & Naomi

August Meetings and Events

2011-07-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

It is amazing it is already August! Meetings are always free and nursings and other small children are always welcome. We encourage pregnant moms to attend and for you to bring a female friend or family member if you would like extra support.

Our first meeting for August is in Mount Pleasant and is always the 1st Friday (August 5th) at 10:15 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church in the Old Village. This meeting is downstairs when you come in the church after parking on Venning St.

The very next day is Saturday, August 6th and we are excited about our BIG LATCH ON event. We will be meeting at 10 a.m. at the Richard L. Jones Center on 391 Egypt Road in Mount Pleasant!! Please see our latest post on the event or call a Leader for more information.

Our Tuesday meeting is at Mount Pleasant Hospital off of US 17 in the northern part of Mount Pleasant. This is the 3rd Tuesday of the month (August 16th). This meeting is held at 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 and when you come into the lobby of the hospital the person at the Reception will open the doors for you.

Our West Ashley meeting is the 3rd Friday of the month (August 19th) at 10:15 a.m. at John Wesley United Methodist Church on US 17. This is in West Ashley. When you come into the church, just walk on past the front office and through the glass doors and we are in the room near the gym.

Hope to see you at a meeting!

BIG LATCH ON August 6

2011-07-31T17:06:00.001-07:00

On Saturday August 6th 2011 at 10:30am local time in locations across the USA, nursing mothers will gather to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and try to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously!

We will be meeting at 10 a.m. at the Richard L. Jones Center on 391 Egypt Road in Mount Pleasant!!
http://lllusa.org/wbw/BigLatchOn.php#Events

Even if you are no longer a nursing mom please feel free to join us or spread the word. Ways you can help include: writing about it on your blog, sharing on your social network, putting up flyers at venues you know moms will be near, coming to help as a witness or helper next Saturday.
Thanks so much!

See you then!

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, & Naomi

July 2011 Meetings

2011-07-13T14:55:00.002-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston, SC has THREE meetings that are always FREE each month. Babies and children are welcome. These meetings are fun and social but also full of info. They are not classes that you need to register for. Feel free to come late or leave early as you and your nursing need.

This July our first meeting is in Mount Pleasant and is always the 1st Friday (July 1) at 10:15 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church in the Old Village. This meeting is downstairs when you come in the church after parking on Venning St.

The next one is the 3rd Friday of the month (July 15) at 10:15 a.m. at John Wesley United Methodist Church on US 17. This is in West Ashley. When you come into the church, just walk on past the front office and through the glass doors and we are in the room near the gym.

The newest of our meetings is now held in Mount Pleasant Hospital off of US 17 in the northern part of Mount Pleasant. This is the 3rd Tuesday of the month (July 19). This meeting is held at 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 and when you come into the lobby of the hospital the person at the Reception will open the doors for you.

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.

Big Latch-On August 6th

2011-07-13T14:55:00.001-07:00

Have you heard about the Big Latch On?

The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC would like to invite you and your friends and nurslings to join us for this year's BIG LATCH ON.

This is a celebration of nursing and is also an event being held to beat a world record. Feel free to post this info on your social media page or to invite any friends or family who are nursing along.

This will take place on Saturday, August 6th at the Richard L. Jones Center: 391 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant.
Please come by 10 to sign in and get ready. Latching on at 10:30!

For more info please check out:

http://www.biglatchon.org/

http://lllusa.org/wbw/BigLatchOn.php#Events

We look forward to seeing you at this fun event!!

:) Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, & Naomi

JUNE Meetings

2011-05-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston, SC has THREE meetings that are FREE each month.

This June our first meeting is in Mount Pleasant and is always the 1st Friday (June 3) at 10:15 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church in the Old Village. This meeting is downstairs when you come in the church after parking on Venning St.

The next one is the 3rd Friday of the month (June 17) at 10:15 a.m. at John Wesley United Methodist Church on US 17. This is in West Ashley. When you come into the church, just walk on past the front office and through the glass doors and we are in the room near the gym.

The newest of our meetings is now held in Mount Pleasant Hospital off of US 17 in the northern part of Mount Pleasant. This is the 3rd Tuesday of the month (June 21) and it will sometimes fall before our West Ashley meeting and sometimes fall after that meeting. This meeting is held at 9:30 a.m. and when you come into the lobby of the hospital the person at the Reception will open the doors for you.

There is also an evening meeting run by La Leche League of Summerville the 3rd Tuesday of each month as well. This meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Summerville Church of Christ on Old Trolley Road.

We often hold our meetings in churches because the donated space is free and keeps our costs to a minimum. La Leche League is a nonsectarian nonprofit.

Free meeting May 5th

2011-05-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Come join us for La Leche League of Charleston / Mt. Pleasant!

The First Friday of the month: Friday May 6th, 2011 at 10:15 am at St. Andrew's Church Mt. Pleasant 440 Whilden Street. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend.

Tuesday Morning La Leche League Meeting

2011-04-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Come join us this Tuesday for our NEWEST meeting time and location!

The Third Tuesday of the month: April 19th, 2011 from 9:30-11:30am

Our new additional location is Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital (near Wando High School)
3500 US Hwy 17 North, Mt. Pleasant. Meetings are held in Room 1750. Check in at the main entrance reception desk for directions.

This month’s topic: The advantages of breastfeeding. During this meeting, moms can openly talk about the many remarkable qualities of human milk, their bodies fantastic ability to produce milk as well as the positive impact breastfeeding has on families, the environment, and society.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend.

La Leche League Friday April 15th

2011-04-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

Have you been thinking about making some like minded mom friends who know what you are going through? Are you pregnant and wondering how breastfeeding will work for you? Are you nursing a toddler and things are going well? La Leche League is a wonderful place to support each other and to make friends while learning something new about mothering.

La Leche League meetings are free. Babies and children are always welcome. Some moms bring their friends or even their moms along. There is no registration.

This month our topic will be nutrition and weaning. Come and share recipes, learn about nutrition for you and your baby or discover new ways to think about weaning.

LLL of Charleston/West Ashley meets on the third Friday of the month at 10:15 AM at the John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway (US17), Charleston/West Ashley.

See you then!

New Edition of to Meetings at Mt Pleasant Hospital

2011-03-08T07:26:00.001-08:00

We are pleased to announce that La Leche League of Charleston is expanding our meeting locations.

Starting this APRIL our newest location will be Mt. Pleasant Hospital! Please go to the Volunteer Lounge, Room 1750
(1st floor near gift shop, check in at Reception Desk)

We meet on the following 3rd Tuesdays in 2011: 4/19, 5/17, 6/21, 7/19, 8/16, 9/20, 10/18, 11/15, 12/20

Time: 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

As always, meetings are free and pregnant moms are encouraged to come. Babies and children are welcome.
Please share this with your friends who may be interested.

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.

Free La Leche League Meeting in West Ashley

2011-02-16T05:37:00.001-08:00

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston / West Ashley

The Third Friday of the month: Friday February 18, 2011 at 10:15 am at the John Wesley United Methodist Church 626 Savannah Hwy

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

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.

La Leche League in Mount Pleaant

2011-02-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston / Mt. Pleasant!

The First Friday of the month: Friday February 4th, 2011 at 10:15 am.

Our location St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend.

La Leche League this Friday!

2011-01-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston / West Ashley

The Third Friday of the month: Friday January 21, 2011 at 10:15 am at the John Wesley United Methodist Church 626 Savannah Hwy

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

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.

La Leche League is a nonprofit, non-governmental, and non-sectarian organization. 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.

Reasons to Wean? Or not?

2010-12-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

As La Leche League Leaders we are often called or emailed when a mother has questions or concerns about weaning. We are hoping to discuss some of them at our Mt. Pleasant meeting this morning.

Here are a few of the most common ones.

Sometimes the mother and nursling will decide it is indeed time to wean. Other times the mother will find strategies or information to help her continue nursing her nursling and meet her breastfeeding goals.

• I have to have a medical procedure such as an MRI, X-ray, CAT scan, ultrasound, mammogram.

• I need to take a radioactive drink for a test in the hospital.

• My baby is sick and requires hospitalization.

• I need to be hospitalized due to an illness.

• I resent nursing all the time and want my body back!

• I want my child to eat more. The doctor advises that we wean to improve appetite.

• I need to get my baby on more of a schedule and nursing isn’t working into our schedule.

• The baby has a rash or colic and I think is allergic to my milk or something in my milk.

• I need to lose/gain weight or I am losing/gaining weight. I want to begin an exercise program or diet plan.

• I want to be able to have a drink of alcohol with dinner and to go out with friends and drink.

• I am getting a lot of pressure about weaning from my close relatives/friends/neighbors.

• I have a business or vacation trip planned in the near future.

• The dentist tells me that I must wean because nursing is causing cavities.

• My child is xyz weeks/months/years old so I think it is time to wean.

• I am having a surgical procedure or other medical procedure that requires anesthesia.

• I am going back to work or school soon and can’t or don’t want to pump while at work or school.

• My partner is jealous of nursing time and wants to spend more time with me.

• I am anxious about nursing in public at this age and the reaction of strangers.

• I need to take a medication so the doctor said I need to wean.

• My toddler is starting a new daycare/my child is starting preschool.

• My baby is teething, has teeth or has bitten or I am afraid will bite me!

• My pediatrician/friend/mother says I need to start solids because the baby weighs xyz.

• My friends who have babies have weaned by now. My sister weaned her children by this age. My mom or mother-in-law weaned her children by this age.

• My 6-9 month baby keeps getting distracted and seems to be self weaning.

• I feel like a human pacifier! I feel touched out.

• The baby suddenly refuses to nurse. Is this a nursing strike or is it time to wean?

• Nursing is taking up a lot of time in my life. I can’t get things done that I need to do.

• Nursing is not going well! I am in pain, I have mastitis/thrush/blisters/etc.

• I am trying to get pregnant and am concerned that I won’t have fertility.

• I am pregnant and am not sure if I should wean.

• What does “don’t offer, don’t refuse” mean? When can I start this?

• My child is a mamma’s boy/clingy girl, too shy.

• I am exhausted and need to sleep. Should I night wean or just stop nursing?

• I feel guilty that I enjoy nursing too much.

• I have to start a chemotherapy in the near future.

Friday December 3rd Free LLL Meeting

2010-12-01T09:21:00.001-08:00

Come join us this Friday at the NEW permanent location!

The First Friday of the month: Friday December 3rd, 2010 at 10:15 am.

Our new permanent location is St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend.

Thank you

2010-11-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who attended our Autumn Harvest. We had a wonderful time and ate some terrific food. The kids all had so much fun. It was nice to see so many toddlers toddling around and babes in arms of moms or dads. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

LLL of Charleston West Ashley November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

2010-11-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston / West Ashley

The Third Friday of the month: Friday November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am at the John Wesley United Methodist Church 626 Savannah Hwy

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

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.

How do you know your newborn is doing well?

2010-11-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING 8th Edition

Chapter Six: The First Two Weeks: Milk!

Pg 110: How to Know Your Baby’s Doing Well

• Weight gain. Look for a return to birth weight by two weeks. An average gain after that is roughly 1 ounce (30 g) a day, but your baby may gain somewhat more or less.

• Diapers. Look for at least three “okay” (thumb and forefinger circle size) diapers each day during the first month or so.

• Your breasts. Look for comfortable nipples, a milk release within a minute (usually much sooner), and noticeable softening by the end of most nursings.

• Nursing behavior. Look for open eyes when the feed starts, periods of slow (about one per second) sucks with periodic pauses, and finishing within a half hour at most feeds.

• Disposition between nursings. Look for the baby falling gently asleep toward the end of the nursing (or contentment for at least a while before he nurses again), limp hands, and an unworried expression most of the time.

• What doesn’t matter. How many minutes on each breast, whether he falls asleep at the breast at the end of the feeding, or whether he nurses long enough to “get to the hindmilk.”

La Leche League of Charleston November 5

2010-10-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant meets on the first Friday of each month at 10:15 A.M. In November that will be the 5th.

Our new permanent location is at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend. Meetings are always free and we encourage you to come while pregnant and to bring your nursling to meetings.

November 20 Autumn Harvest Potluck

2010-10-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

Autumn Harvest Breastfeeding Celebration

La Leche League of Charleston, SC is thankful for our moms and little ones!

We’d like to celebrate together by inviting you and your families for a potluck harvest in celebration of breastfeeding.

Please bring some type of food to share with others that your family enjoys eating.
In addition, if your child or children don't mind sharing, feel free to bring outdoor toys, balls or bubbles.

Saturday, November 20th
1 - 4 pm

RSVP to Brittan at tgotbeter@gmail.com for the location and directions.

This event will be held only in weather suitable for outdoor activities.
Please check back to our blog that morning for any updates if inclement weather.

Location Change for Mt P meeting

2010-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston/Mt. Pleasant meets on the first Friday of each month at 10:15 a.m.
This meeting will now be at St. Andrew’s Church at 440 Whilden St. Mt. Pleasant.

This will be our new permanent location starting in November.

Hope to see you there! Friday November 5th.

La Leche League of Charleston Meeting October 15

2010-10-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Please join us at our next La Leche League Meeting in West Ashley. Our next meeting will be October 15, 2010.

This group meets on the third Friday of each month at 10:15 AM at the John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway (US17), Charleston/West Ashley.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support.

At Group meetings La Leche League volunteer Leaders and other mothers share experiences, give suggestions and offer support and encouragement. La Leche League meetings are ideal for learning from and making friends with other mothers.

Women interested in breastfeeding are welcome to attend La Leche League meetings. Women are encouraged to begin attending meetings as soon as they know they are pregnant or before, if they are interested! Babies and children are always welcome and meetings are always free.

Abbott Recalls 5 Million Units of Similac

2010-09-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know is supplementing with Similac baby formula please read this information and pass it along.

‎5 million units of Similac are being recalled. The formula contains the beetles or their larvae. Watch babies for "symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat".

For more information please check out these links.

Similac Recall: Beetles Concern Prompts Infant Formula To Be Recalled

Abbott recalls beetle-tainted Similac baby formula

Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Similac® Brand Powder Infant Formulas That Did Not Meet Its Quality Standards

If you are supplementing with formula, you may find this information from the World Health Organization helpful.

Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula GUIDELINES

September 17th W. Ashley Meeting

2010-09-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston in West Ashley meets on the third Friday of the month at 10:15 AM at the John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway (US17), Charleston/West Ashley.

Meetings are always free and you can come pregnant or nursing or just thinking it over. Babies and children are always welcome.

La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche League International to help mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding.

They are available by phone or email whenever you have breastfeeding questions or concerns. See you there!

Books for New Moms & Dads

2010-09-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

We had a super great meeting today in Mount Pleasant and we talked a lot about books. We believe that moms know their babies best and they really just need to trust their baby.

We often say "watch the baby, not the clock" and similar expressions because we really believe if you watch your baby, he or she will give you the answer more than any book. But we do have ones that we really feel help mothers and fathers to find their way to trust themselves.

Information is power for you to make the best choices for your family.
Here are a few of our favorites!!

Naomi Stadlen has written a gem of a book for all new moms entitled "What Mothers Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing." Get ready for some tears and feeling that she legitimizes what we do all day. It is more than you give yourself credit for. This is a must read for all new moms!

Kathy Kendall-Tackett has written two wonderful books that many new moms will find helpful at some time or another: “The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood” and “Depression in New Mothers.” If you are feeling more that just those few weepy days of baby blues don't hesitate to please pick one of these up and give us and your health care practitioner a call.

"The Breastfeeding Cafe: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges, and Secrets of Nursing" by Barbara L. Behrmann is filled with stories from moms in their own words about their feelings about breastfeeding and mothering...from love, to ambivalence, to dislike. You will feel like you are at a meeting like ours reading it.

Most of our moms have heard of William and Martha Sears. They have so many books..."The Baby Book", "The Baby Sleep Book", "The Breastfeeding Book" and many more. One thing that many moms like about these books is the encouragement to follow your heart and not always follow their books. You may find you like bits and pieces of their ideas and you may find you've heard many of them at an LLL meeting before!

I can't forget to mention "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding New 8th Edition" By LLLI. This new edition is wonderful, warm, up-to-date, modern info for today's mom. You will love it. We feel it is a meeting in a book!

All new families go through that sleep deprivation stage. It is a badge to be proudly warn! Yet we all need to take care of ourselves too. Here is the book we talked about today. It is entitled "The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night" and it is by Elizabeth Pantley. She gives lots of research based information for those of us who just feel letting a baby cry themselves to sleep is wrong but just don't know what else to do. She is gentle and non-judgmental and has a ton of ideas. Some may work for your sleepy family.

Here are a few great ones for new dads too:

While on a Sears kick, I'll add a couple for the dads. One popular one in the LLL circle is "Becoming a Father: How to Nurture and Enjoy Your Family". My favorite for dads that I buy for gifts for family and friends is "Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know" by William and Martha's sons James Sears and Robert Sears. It is a great little book that is fun and quick to read. My husband even read it and liked it!

Leave the book by your bed or next to one of the chairs you nurse in or pump in and read a chapter at a time or a page at a time. Happy reading!

LLL of Charleston September 3rd Meeting MOVED

2010-08-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

This meeting is usually at the library but we need to move because the library has scheduled an event.

Please let anyone know that usually makes this meeting that we are moving.

The meeting will begin at 10:15 but don't worry if you are going on baby time and running a little behind. We know there will be some moms coming later from the library as well.

Meetings are always free. Bring a friend if you want.

St. Andrew's Church, Mt. Pleasant
440 Whilden St. (it's in the old village)
Mount Pleasant, SC

Pool Party Rain Date August 27th

2010-08-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Come out for some relaxation and fun with like minded families to swim & socialize together.

Please bring whatever your family likes to drink and $ to order pizza. Fun for the whole family!

Leaders will supply fruit/veggies and dessert.

Meet at 5 PM and we'll be there until around 8 PM

Friday August 27th @ Park West Neighborhood Pool

Contact Elizabeth at ewillis22@comcast.net

No glass containers please.

If it is possible, please RSVP to the hostess so we can get an estimate to order the pizza.

See you there!

The Leaders of LLL of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara :)

Pool party will be rescheduled

2010-08-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Due to severe thunderstorms tonight we are going to go ahead and cancel the pool party. We will post a rain date ASAP.

Mt P meeting & Tonight's Pool Party.

2010-08-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

We had such a great turn out today for the Mt P meeting! It was great to see so many new babies and so many toddlers in the room. What fun.

The library has an event in September when we usually have our meeting so we will either be changing the day/time or location. Please check back in about a week and we'll post more about this.

Also, an FYI about tonight's pool party...keep your ears and eyes on the sky. It looks like it is storming now in places near the party. If it passes, we will be there but we many cancel if the weather keeps grumbling or it is pouring. Thanks for understanding.

Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA

2010-07-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Fact Sheet #73: Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA

This fact sheet provides general information on the break time requirement for nursing mothers in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), which took effect when the PPACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010 (P.L. 111-148). This law amended Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Go to http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.pdf to read the rest of the sheet.

LLL Pool Party! August 6, 5-8 PM

2010-07-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Come out for some relaxation and fun with like minded families to swim & socialize together.

Please bring whatever your family likes to drink and $ to order pizza. Fun for the whole family!

Leaders will supply fruit/veggies and dessert.

Meet at 5 PM and we'll be there until around 8 PM

Friday August 5th @ Park West Neighborhood Pool

Contact Elizabeth at ewillis22@comcast.net

No glass containers please.

If it is possible, please RSVP to the hostess so we can get an estimate to order the pizza.

See you there!

The Leaders of LLL of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara :)

Ten Things Not to Say to a New Breastfeeding Mother

2010-07-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is from THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING 8th Edition, Chapter Two entitled "Building Your Network"...

1. Is he eating again?

2. He's just using you for a pacifier.

3. Here, I'll feed the baby a bottle and you can go get some housework done.

4. Maybe your milk isn't good enough.

5. We've never made enough milk in our family.

6. Can breasts that size really make enough milk?

7. If you're going back to work, shouldn't he get used to having some of his feedings from other people?

8. You look like a cow attached to that pump.

9. I feel like your breasts really belong to me, not the baby.

10. Don't let him fall asleep at the breast - he'll get into bad sleep habits.

Breastfeeding Today Issue 2

2010-07-05T17:16:00.001-07:00

BREASTFEEDING TODAY

Follow this link to see the latest issue of Breastfeeding Today!
This is a new on-line magazine from La Leche League International.
Feel free to pass the link on to your mama friends!

Breastfeeding in the Workplace Survey

2010-05-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know has RECENT EXPERIENCE COMBINING BREASTFEEDING AND EMPLOYMENT, including pregnant women who plan to breastfeed after returning to work, please consider responding to this survey via the attached link. It was designed by a
Xavier University (XU) graduate student in Industrial-Organizational
...Psychology, and has been approved by XU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). The
survey should take 15 minutes or less to complete.

This survey is intended to gather information from women with RECENT EXPERIENCE COMBINING BREASTFEEDING AND EMPLOYMENT (including pregnant women who plan to breastfeed after returning to work).

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R7RKZYL

May 8th La Leche League Spring Pot Luck

2010-04-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

La Leche League of Charleston, SC is hosting a Spring Pot Luck on May 8th from 1 PM to 4 PM.

All family members are welcome to attend so please bring your partners and children as well.

Please bring a food item to share with others.

It will be at Elizabeth's home in Mount Pleasant.

For directions and to RSVP please call or email Elizabeth at 971-6632 or ewillis22@comcast.net

$13 Billion Guilt

2010-04-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this article in the Huffington Post entitled Peaceful Revolution: Motherhood and the $13 Billion Guilt by Melissa Bartick
Posted: April 14, 2010 12:15 AM

Health Care Reform & Employed Breastfeeding Mothers

2010-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Health Care Reform Boosts Support for Employed Breastfeeding Mothers

Frequently Asked Questions answered from the United States Breastfeeding Committee

World Health Day, April 7, 2010

2010-04-08T14:57:00.001-07:00

World Health Day, April 7, 2010:
*1000 Cities, 1000 Lives*
Join La Leche League International (LLLI) and the World Alliance for
Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in Celebration of World Health Day 2010.

This year’s World Health Day theme addresses the challenges surrounding the
growing urban population. The World Health Organization is calling upon
cities across the globe to be counted among the “1000 cities” dedicated to
improving the health in urban areas.

Please go to the WABA website www.waba.org.my to view the LLLI/WABA World
Health Day Joint Statement.

Health care bill establishes a right to pump at work in entire U.S.!

2010-03-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

Check out Motherwear Blog today. No matter which way you lean about the health care bill, thanks to Carolyn Maloney for adding this provision for all pumping moms with babies up to one year old!!

New Beginnings Issue 1, 2010

2010-03-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

New Beginnings Issue 1, 2010 is here!

There are articles about fitness, bipolar disorder, breastfeeding myths, slow-cooking recipes, helping siblings connect and much more.

Check it out and let us know what you think.
Have a nice week.

Optional Annual Membership

2010-02-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL – Annual Memberships

Did you know that La Leche League meetings are always free and you never have to be a Member to attend meetings? Did you know you can become a Member and give back to your local Group?

Memberships are vital for the running of our local Groups, so we can continue to provide library books and handouts to mothers, as we may have done for you. They also help keep the state organization running, which educates and supports our local volunteer Leaders, the Division which supports the state organizations, and finally, LLLI which provides all of us with the most up-to-date information.

Levels available: $25 regular, $40 sustaining, or $100 premier level for one year of membership. All Members are eligible to receive an international e-newsletter, and a discount at our online store and Members of $40 or more also receive an online version of New Beginnings.

The best way is to join through a local Group, so that funds will be available in YOUR vicinity to help mothers and babies. La Leche League of Charleston, SC Memberships are accepted at Group meetings.

All La Leche League meetings are free and moms are always welcome to attend meetings with or without membership. If you can afford membership, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for considering helping us with your new or renewed membership paid to La Leche League of Charleston, SC.

Thanks so much for your support!

The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

February Meetings in 2010

2010-02-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston!

The FIRST Friday of the month: February 5th at 10:15 AM
Mount Pleasant Regional Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant

The THIRD Friday of the month: February 19th at 10:15 AM
John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Hwy, Charleston

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

LLL of Charleston/ West Ashley Friday January 15

2010-01-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

La Leche League of Charleston Series Meeting

West Ashley Friday January 15, 2010 at 10:15 am
John Wesley United Methodist Church 626 Savannah Hwy

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

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.

Thinking About Leadership or Volunteering with LLL?

2010-01-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Moms!!

We are excited to invite you to a special meeting for moms interested in volunteering or becoming Leaders with La Leche League.

If you feel that La Leche League philosophy is something you believe in and you've breastfed (or are planning on continuing to breastfeed) for at least one year, then becoming a La Leche League Leader may be something for you!

No pressure... come and ask questions and find out if it may interest you.

Of course, as in all things LLL babies and young children welcome.

If you are interested in joining us, please check out this link.
http://www.llli.org/LAD/TaLLL/TaLLL.html

Please join us on Friday January 22nd at 10:15 am at the Mt Pleasant Branch Library 1133 Mathis Ferry Road.

LLL philosophy is summarized in the following ten concepts:

* Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
* Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.
* In the early years, the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
* Breast milk is the superior infant food.
* For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth.
* Ideally, the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need.
* Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
* Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby’s father. A father’s unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child’s development from early infancy.
* Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
* From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.

We hope to see you there!

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

La Leche League of Charleston / Mount Pleasant

2010-01-06T06:15:00.001-08:00

La Leche League of Charleston / Mount Pleasant

We will be meeting in January the SECOND Friday January 8th
at 10:15 AM at the Mount Pleasant Regional Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant
http://www.lllusa.org/web/CharlestonSC.html

We will resume our 1st Friday of the month schedule in February.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please share this blog with them. See you there!

Avoiding Holiday Weaning

2009-12-18T05:07:00.000-08:00

It is holiday time! This is a wonderful and happy time for some and a busy time for most. During the holidays, LLL Leaders often find we get calls or emails about babies who are "weaning" earlier than hoped or expected. Often, little things here and there add up to clues as to why a baby weans this time of year with out meaning to wean.

This article was in a recent NEW BEGINNINGS 3-09 issue. It is entitled Holiday Weaning. Check it out for some ideas to help you out with the holidays.
Happy Holidays!

LLL of Charleston evening meeting canceled

2009-12-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

La Leche League of Charleston is sorry to inform you that we are discontinuing our evening Daniel Island meeting until further notice. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
We will remain available via phone or email support along with our Mt. Pleasant and West Ashley daytime meetings.

If you are interested in evening meetings, there is a meeting the 3rd Tuesday evening of each month in Summerville at 7:00 PM at the Summerville Church of Christ at 413 Old Trolley Road.

For more information on LLL meetings in SC go to http://www.lllusa.org/SC/

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

http://www.llli.org/
http://www.lllusa.org/SC/
http://www.llleus.org/forums/

La Leche League is a nonprofit, non-governmental, and non-sectarian organization. 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.

Find us on Facebook!

2009-12-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

Interested in chatting with other local moms on Facebook? Come write on our wall or join our discussion board.

This group is invite only to protect mom's privacy. Send a request to join and we'll add you as a member.

LLL of Charleston in Mt P 2nd Friday in Dec. & Jan.

2009-11-29T19:16:00.000-08:00

La Leche League of Charleston-Mount Pleasant usually meets the first Friday of the month but we had to make some changes for December and January.

The library is having an event on the 1st Friday in December so the meeting will now be the SECOND Friday which is December 11th.

New Year's Day the library will be closed so our January meeting will also be the SECOND Friday which is January 8th.

We will resume our regular schedule in February.

These meetings are at 10:15 AM at the Mount Pleasant Regional Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant. Hope to see you soon!

Autum Harvest

2009-11-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful time at our autumn harvest celebration. Thank you to Brittan for hosting and to all and families who came to spend the afternoon together. There were some wonderful potluck dishes shared along with wonderful conversation. The kids had fun playing trains, jumping in the bounce castle, playing on the swings and hanging out. We hope that all that attended had as nice a time as we did.

LLLI | Maternal Medications and Breastfeeding

2009-10-31T06:12:00.000-07:00

LLLI | Maternal Medications and Breastfeeding

Check this out when you get a chance. Some things to think about with medications and breastfeeding this cold and flu season.

Autumn Harvest Breastfeeding Celebration

2009-10-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Autumn Harvest Breastfeeding Celebration

La Leche League of Charleston, SC is thankful for our moms and little ones! We’d like to celebrate together by inviting you and your families for a potluck harvest in celebration of breastfeeding.

Please join us for food, fun and fellowship!

Saturday, November 7th
1 - 4 pm

RSVP to Brittan at tgotbeter@gmail.com for location and directions.

See you there!
Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

This event will be held only in weather suitable for outdoor activities.
Please check back to our blog that morning for any updates if inclement weather.

LLLI | What Goes on at Those La Leche League Meetings?

2009-09-29T19:00:00.001-07:00

LLLI | What Goes on at Those La Leche League Meetings?

Shared via AddThis

LLL of Summerville SC Changes Day

2009-09-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our co Leaders April & Sue in Summerville have changed their meeting day. The Summerville meetings will now be the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm (same time) at the Church of Christ (same place). This is effective this month (October) and every month thereafter. If you attend this meeting or have friends that do, please pass this info on to them.

October Meetings

2009-09-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

For more information on meetings please go to www.lllusa.org/SC/

As always, meetings are free, babies and young children are welcome and we encourage you to bring a friend!

Friday, October 2 – Mt. Pleasant at 10:15 am

Friday, October 16 – West Ashley at 10:15 am

Tuesday, October 27 – Daniel Island at 6:30 pm

The Daniel Island meeting is the last evening meeting of 2009 due to the holidays in November and December so if you want to make an evening meeting, this is the one to attend! These meetings will resume in January.

Pool Party Canceled

2009-08-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

The August 28th pool get together has been canceled to to inclement weather. We are sorry to have to cancel! Have a great weekend.

LLL of Charleston/ Daniel Island canceled in August.

2009-08-18T05:29:00.001-07:00

LLL of Charleston/ Daniel Island is canceled for August.
We are sorry about the inconvenience. If you know someone who was planning on attending, please pass this on to them. We will resume our regular Daniel Island evening meeting in September.
If you are looking for a meeting this month, check out our West Ashely meeting this Friday the 21st.

Hope we see some of you Friday the 28th for the pool gathering. :)

World Breastfeeding Week 2009

2009-07-30T08:32:00.001-07:00

In emergencies, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, illness and death.* La Leche League International (LLLI) would like to thank you for your advocacy and support of breastfeeding because on some level you have helped prepare mothers and babies for unpredictable situations.

This year's World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme, Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response — Are You Ready?, reinforces the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergency response worldwide.

La Leche League International invites you to spend this Week, August 1-7, encouraging your friends and fellow breastfeeding advocates to support breastfeeding before and during emergencies.

Here are some of the ways you can help today:

Spread the word! — Send a FREE eCard from La Leche League International!

Download and distribute WBW materials
Action Folder — Calendar — Poster
Available in several languages.

To order these items (free plus the cost of shipping) visit llli.store.org

Materials courtesy of www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=cqLHIXNBLeIRK9J&s=hkJUK3PNIjIVJ8NMJoF&m=fhIKJ4NHKhJ3F)

Invite your Facebook friends to "attend" World Breastfeeding Week through the LLLI Facebook logo Group! Not a group member? Join today!

Make a pledge to host an event or find a local event.

"Breastfeeding is a shield that protects infants in an emergency."
— World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
WBW Calendar Announcement

* World Health Organization and UNICEF. Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. 2003, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Our Mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support and information, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Welcome Mary Caroline!

2009-07-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

Please join us in welcoming our co-Leader Elizabeth's newest addition to her family!!

Mary Caroline was born Tuesday, July 21 at 10:34 pm. She weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce and is 19 inches long.

Congratulations Elizabeth and family!

July Mt. P meeting cancelled

2009-06-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

The Mount Pleasant Library is closed on Friday, 7/3/09. Therefore the regularly scheduled, first Friday of the month meeting is cancelled. Please make a note and pass on to any friends who may not be part of our email list.

We will meet on the first Friday in August, as scheduled.

Hope to see you in West Ashley on the Third Friday.

http://www.lllusa.org/web/CharlestonSC.html

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009

2009-06-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (HR2819 / S1244) was introduced in
Congress on June 11, 2009 by Representative Carolyn Maloney and Senator Jeff
Merkley.

This bill will bring breastfeeding mothers under the protection of the 1964
Civil Rights Act, require employers with over 50 employees to provide a
private space and unpaid time off during the workday for mothers to express
milk, and set standards for breast pump manufacture. It also will provide
for tax incentives for employers that establish private lactation areas in
the workplace and tax credits for nursing mothers.

Keep reading! There are fast easy ways to support this bill (even if you
don't remember who your current Congress people are!):

Rep. Maloney's press release:

http://maloney.house.gov/ index.php?option=com_content&
task=view&id=1862&Itemid=61
mid=61>

Easy email tool from the United States Breastfeeding Committee that
in 60 seconds allows you to enter your name and address including zip
code+4 and have the USBC send emails to the appropriate
representatives and senators asking them to co-sponsor the bill.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5162/t/6359/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=16
97

Letter that can be mailed or faxed to ask your state representatives
and senators to co-sponsor the bill:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=13479&post=108912&uid=101879159975#/
topic.php?uid=101879159975&topic=13479

Facebook group that can be joined by your members to support the bill
and spread the word to their friends about the above email tool and letters:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101879159975

Summer Family Fun with LLL of Charleston

2009-06-01T07:43:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it is already June?

LLL of Charleston, SC is excited to again be having our family fun pool parties this summer.

Save the dates...the 4th Friday of each month, June 26th, July 24th and August 28th.

If you are not on our email list, email us to be added now at lllcharlestonsc@gmail.com and you will be sent more information.
We never give out your info to anyone.

Hope to see you there!

:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

Welcome Zachary!

2009-05-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Please join us in welcoming our co-Leader Naomi's newest addition to her family!!

His name is Zachary and he weighed 9 pounds, 12 ounces; born Wednesday the 20th.

Congratulations Naomi and family!

Employed Mothers and Business Bottom Line

2009-05-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

LLL Breastfeeding Helpline—US and the Department of Health and Human Services Join Forces to Help Employed Mothers and Business Bottom Line

May 13, 2009—The La Leche League (LLL) Breastfeeding Helpline—US, in conjunction with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is initiating a program to expand its nationwide outreach to breastfeeding mothers with the goal of focusing on the special needs of employed mothers. The new outreach will assist mothers with breastfeeding management help and provide information on securing employer support for their decision to breastfeed.

Now more than ever with recent influenza outbreaks, mothers are concerned about the health of their babies, and breastfeeding has been shown in numerous studies to promote health in infants. This new program is designed to help mothers demonstrate to employers that healthier babies translate into significant bottom line benefits for companies. It is particularly important to note in these tough economic times, that for every dollar spent on lactation support, employers save $3.

Breastfeeding employees help the business bottom line in numerous ways:

Lower medical costs and health insurance claims for breastfeeding employees (up to three times less for breastfeeding employees); Reduced turnover rates (86-92% of breastfeeding employees return to work after childbirth when a lactation support program is provided compared to the national average of 59%); Lowered absenteeism rates (up to half the number of one day absences); and Improved productivity, employee morale and company loyalty.

The LLL Breastfeeding Helpline—US is toll-free (1-877-4-LALECHE) and staffed around the clock, seven days a week by trained lactation counselors. As part of the new program, the helpline counselors have been given additional training in assisting mothers and breastfeeding specialists so that they can help callers demonstrate to their employers the benefits of supporting breastfeeding employees.

While all nursing mothers need information and support, employed mothers also need to know how to approach their employers about their needs. New mothers may feel wary about approaching their supervisors or colleagues about their special needs, which may include a place to express milk in privacy; flexible breaks and work options, education, and support.

The Department of Health and Human Services has produced a toolkit to help these mothers. The Business Case for Breastfeeding toolkit is a comprehensive resource kit that is designed to help employers create a breastfeeding friendly work environment. It includes booklets for business and human resource managers to use to support breastfeeding employees and also an employee’s guide to breastfeeding and working. Also included is an outreach and marketing guide with reproducible resources and a CD-rom.

In addition to direct telephone help those who call the helpline will be directed to other resources. A link will direct them to additional breastfeeding information, including information on the LLL Breastfeeding Helpline—US’s web site http://www.lllusa.org/helpline.php, and to the free, downloadable “Easy Guide to Breastfeeding” http://www.4woman.gov/pub/BF.General.pdf , and a free tool kit that can be used in presenting the Business Case for Breastfeeding to employers
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/programs/business-case/.

It is estimated that 15% of US mothers who are planning to return to employment do not even begin breastfeeding because of the anticipated difficulty of combining breastfeeding and employment. One study found that in the month a mother starts work, her odds of weaning are 2.4 times the odds of a mother who did not start working that month.

“When working mothers call the LLL Breastfeeding Helpline—US and receive information and support, they are then able to explain to their employers why breastfeeding not only benefits babies, but also companies," said Susan Prado, BA, LLLL,IBCLC,RLC, coordinator of the Helpline. "From their knowledgeable employees, employers are then able to realize the bottom line benefits of establishing a lactation program. As a result, breastfeeding duration rates for employed mothers will increase.”

How Can I Get Some Sleep?

2009-05-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sleep is one of the number 1 issues we talk about at meetings. It is no surprise to any new parent that they will be tired, but sometimes it can seem overwhelming!

Here is a bit of information that will hopefully help you to get some rest or at least, some peace of mind. (if you aren't too tired to read that is!)

Breastfed infants need to breastfeed at least eight to twelve times every 24 hours, usually every two to three hours. Most babies will gradually sleep for longer stretches at night, but they will continue to need night feedings for months.
A baby's immature digestive system isn't ready for solid food until sometime around the middle of the first year, and solids given too early may actually upset a baby's tummy and disturb sleep. Giving your baby cereal will not necessarily encourage sleeping longer at night.

La Leche League International FAQ on Sleep
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBsleep.html
The University of Notre Dame Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Lab
http://www.nd.edu/~jmckenn1/lab/
Durham University Parent Infant Sleep Lab
http://www.dur.ac.uk/sleep.lab/

Books that may interest you…

• Sweet Dreams: A Pediatrician's Secrets for Baby's Good Night's Sleep ~ Paul M. Fleiss
• Helping Your Baby to Sleep: Why Gentle Techniques Work Best ~ Beth Macgregor and Annie Gethin
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night ~ Elizabeth Pantley
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers ~ Elizabeth Pantley
• Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep ~ William Sears, MD
• Crying Baby, Sleepless Nights: Why Your Baby Is Crying and What You Can Do about It ~ Sandy Jones
• Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving...or Missing Sleep? ~ Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
• Sleeping With Your Baby: A Parent's Guide to Cosleeping ~ James J. McKenna, PhD
• Good Nights: The Happy Parents' Guide to the Family Bed (And a Peaceful Night's Sleep) ~ Jay Gordon, M.D. and Maria Goodavage

Some Studies that may interest you...

Sleep Duration From Ages 1 to 10 Years: Variability and Stability in Comparison With Growth
Oskar G. Jenni, MD, Luciano Molinari, PhD, Jon A. Caflisch, MD and Remo H. Largo, MD
Child Development Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Published online October 1, 2007
PEDIATRICS Vol. 120 No. 4 October 2007, pp. e769-e776 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3300)
* Sleep duration during early and middle childhood shows large variability among children, as well as trait-like long-term stability and state-like yearly fluctuations within children. An individual approach to the child's sleep behavior is needed; expectations in terms of appropriate sleep duration of the child should be adjusted to the individual sleep need.

Breast-feeding Increases Sleep Duration of New Parents
Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing. 21(3):200-206, July/September 2007.
Doan, Therese RN, IBCLC; Gardiner, Annelise; Gay, Caryl L.; Lee, Kathryn A. PhD, RN, FAAN
* Parents who supplement their infant feeding with formula under the impression that they will get more sleep should be encouraged to continue breast-feeding because sleep loss of more than 30 minutes each night can begin to affect daytime functioning, particularly in those parents who return to work.

And here is an article that explains why controlled crying or "cry it out" isn't as healthy as we may have been lead to believe.
http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/pinky_mckay.html

* Disclaimer – LLLI does not necessarily endorse the above. Please use your judgment when deciding which book or website may be useful to your family. As we say in all of our meetings, please take what works for you and leave the rest.

Cancelling Toddler Meeting for LLL of Charleston, SC

2009-05-13T08:21:00.001-07:00

Due to low attendance we have decided to cancel the La Leche League Toddler Meetings in Charleston, SC for the summer months.

This meeting has been held the 2nd Friday of each month but we will not be holding it in June, July or August.

We will revisit the idea of a toddler meeting this fall.

For questions or concerns, please email or call any of us.
You can find our contact information at
http://www.lllusa.org/SC/

Check out our blog from time to time as well.
http://lllcharlestonsc.blogspot.com/

Happy Summer!
:) The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

For more breastfeeding resources on line go to:
http://www.llli.org/

For Mom 2 Mom support forums go to:
http://www.llleus.org/forums/

Books on Personal Breastfeeding Experience

2009-05-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

Here are 3 books to share with you all. These books are compilations of many stories about breastfeeding experiences, some positive and some negative but all deeply personal and thought provoking. Check them out next time you find time to read. :) It is almost as good as sharing a LLL Meeting with other moms all sharing their tales.

Follow the links to find out more about each book.

In The Breastfeeding Café: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges & Secrets of Nursing, sociologist and author Barbara L. Behrmann addresses these issues and more. Part cultural critique, part support group, Behrmann weaves together stories with information, insight and facts.

Hirkani's Daughters: Women Who Scale Modern Mountains to Combine Breastfeeding and Working Edited by Jennifer Hicks is a compilation of inspirational tales from women around the world, Hirkani’s Daughters tells the stories of modern employed mothers who have overcome various obstacles to continue breastfeeding. Each woman shares how she evaluated her options, and took the path that worked best for her family.

Unbuttoned: Women Open Up About the Pleasures, Pains, and Politics of Breastfeeding By Dana Sullivan and Maureen Connolly
Nursing a baby—it’s the most simple, natural thing in the world, right? Then why is it so fraught and freighted for so many women? In Unbuttoned, a collection of essays edited by Dana Sullivan and Maureen Connolly, 25 women share their thoughts and feelings about breastfeeding, all from the standpoint of personal experience.

New Beginnings - Electronic Publication

2009-05-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Those of you who receive New Beginnings as a benefit of membership of LLLI or who subscribe to the print magazine New Beginnings in the mail may have seen the recent announcement about New Beginnings going electronic.

All current subscribers will be given the option to receive the remaining issues of their subscription in either electronic or print format. All new subscriptions purchased after March 31, 2009 will be distributed in electronic format.

If you have questions about your subscription, please call your local Leader and we will do our best to help you. You can also call LLLI at 847-519-7730 9 AM to 5 PM Central Time.

Breastfeeding Recommended to Protect Infants During Swine Flu Outbreak

2009-05-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

Breastfeeding Recommended to Protect Infants During Swine Flu Outbreak

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Washington, DC - As the nation monitors the intensifying "swine flu" outbreak, the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) recommends breastfeeding as a critical strategy to prevent infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance today on H1N1 (swine) flu considerations for pregnancy and breastfeeding, stating that: "Infants who are not breastfeeding are particularly vulnerable to infection and hospitalization for severe respiratory illness. Women who deliver should be encouraged to initiate breastfeeding early and feed frequently."

Medical experts agree with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recommending exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life and beyond. USBC Chair Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC, affirms the importance of breastfeeding in emergency situations: "Research clearly shows that breastfeeding provides a safe, reliable food source, full of disease-fighting cells and antibodies that help protect infants from germs and illnesses. Mothers exposed to influenza produce specific protection for their infants and transmit this through their breast milk. Infant formula does not provide these specific infection fighting properties. Unnecessary formula supplementation should be eliminated so the infant can receive as much benefit as possible from maternal protective antibodies and other immune protective factors."

Please click the link above for the full article.

For more information on the United States Breastfeeding Committee go to
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/

Swine Flu and Breastfeeding

2009-04-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

We are all hearing about "Swine Flu"...
Here is a link to the CDC website on Swine Flu with regards to being pregnant or breastfeeding.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/clinician_pregnant.htm

"Women who are breastfeeding can continue while receiving antivirals.
However, women who are ill with swine influenza A (H1N1) should take
steps to reduce the risk to their infants, such as frequent hand
washing and possibly wearing a mask (see below). The risk for swine
influenza transmission through breast milk is unknown. However,
reports of viremia with seasonal influenza infection are rare.

Efforts to identify the risk for pregnant women from swine influenza A
(H1N1) during 2009 are underway. Enhanced surveillance for
hospitalized patients with swine influenza A (H1N1) has been
initiated."

**
Please remember that mothers have breastfed their babies through a variety of illnesses, from colds and infections to chronic conditions including asthma and diabetes. Your baby is exposed to any illness you have before you know you are sick. One of the beauties of human milk is that when your body makes antibodies to combat an illness, these antibodies are passed directly into your milk, giving protection and disease-fighting abilities to your baby, too.

If you are wondering if you can take a medication while breastfeeding, check out this link... http://llli.org/FAQ/medications.html and for more information, call or email one of us. Most of us have access to Dr. Hale's book MEDICATIONS AND MOTHER'S MILK and can read you that information directly or even email it to you!

Making More Milk

2009-04-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?

Once mother's milk comes in, usually on the third or fourth day, the baby should begin to have 6-8 wet cloth diapers (5-6 wet disposable diapers) per day. (An easy way to feel the weight of a wet disposable diaper is to pour 2-4 tablespoons of water in a dry diaper.)

In addition, most young babies will have at least two to five bowel movements every 24 hours for the first several months, although some babies will switch to less frequent but large bowel movements at about 6 weeks.

A baby that is sleeping rather than feeding every 2-3 hours or is generally lethargic may need to be assessed by a health care provider to make sure that he is adequately hydrated.

These are additional important signs that indicate your baby is receiving enough milk:

* The baby nurses frequently averaging at least 8-12 feedings per 24-hour period.
* The baby is allowed to determine the length of the feeding, which may be 10 to 20 minutes per breast or longer.
* Baby's swallowing sounds are audible as he is breastfeeding.
* The baby should gain at least 4-7 ounces per week after the fourth day of life.
* The baby will be alert and active, appear healthy, have good color, firm skin, and will be growing in length and head circumference.

The physical act of breastfeeding is more than the quantity of milk that is supplied, as you will find once you hold your baby in your arms. Breastfeeding is warmth, nutrition, and mother's love all rolled into one. Understanding and appreciating the signs of knowing when your baby is getting enough to eat is the one of the most important things a new mother can learn. If you have any concerns regarding your baby, they should be addressed with your health care practitioner.

** For those moms out there who are not sure if they are making enough milk or if they KNOW they aren't making enough milk, there is a book for you!! It is called Making More Milk by Diana West, BA, IBCLC and Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC. It is a wonderful resource for moms with different issues of supply. This book will help you play detective and figure out the best solution for your situation.

Here is a recent book review on Celebrity Baby Blog about MMM. Check it out or tell a friend about it. You'll be glad you did!

Human Milk Donations

2009-04-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Have a stocked fridge of breast milk that you think you'll never use? Are you making enough for twins or more while nursing a singleton?
OR in need of donor milk due to adoption or medical reasons?

Have you heard about the Human Milk Banking Association of North America?

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) is "a multidisciplinary group of health care providers that promotes, protects, and supports donor milk banking."

There is an interesting history and lots of facts on human milk banking in a full article from Leaven... click here.

Save Lives - Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies

2009-04-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

To celebrate World Health Day (WHD), sponsored by the World Health
Organization on April 7, LLLI and WABA are pleased to announce a joint
statement that features the role of breastfeeding in relation to the WHD
theme "Save Lives - Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies."

The PDF of the LLLI/WABA statement can be found at the following link under the subheading "Documents and Statements" - http://www.llli.org/advocacy.html.

* World Health Day
2009 - Save Lives - Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies.

You can also link directly to
http://www.llli.org/docs/WorldHealthDay2009.pdf

Time did not allow for translations of the statement, but please do follow
up with a translation to your language if it is possible to do so. The joint
statement is also posted on the home page of the WABA website -
www.waba.org.my

Updated information on Memberships

2009-04-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

We have had some questions about the changes to LLLI memberships.

All memberships sold from April 1, 2009 forward will not include a print publication. New members purchasing a regular, sustaining, or premier membership will receive access to an electronic publication.

Because New Beginnings is transitioning to an electronic format, new members may receive a paper copy before the transition is complete.

If you have found LLL of Charleston helpful to you and would like to buy a membership which will benefit your local group and LLLI as well please read on...

The best way is to join through a local Group, so that funds will be available in YOUR vicinity to help mothers and babies. With your membership, your local group can receive a small portion of the funds to be able to purchase new pamphlets, books and other resources for your Group.

To join your local Group, sign up with a Leader at your next meeting. If you can’t make another meeting soon, but are still interested you can simply email or call our Leader Elizabeth.

$25 Supporting Membership
$40 Regular Membership - includes a one year subscription to NEW BEGINNINGS (now on-line only)
$100 Sustaining Membership
$250 Platinum Membership

All Membership levels includes a 10% discount in the LLLI Online Store

Thanks so much for your support!
Please remember that you don't have to be a member to attend meetings or for phone/email help.

The Leaders of La Leche League of Charleston, SC

Brittan, Elizabeth, Kimberly, Mandy, Marlo, Naomi & Samara

African-American Breastfeeding

2009-03-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

We'd like to share a fairly new organization and some wonderful links that we've found which have been of interest for some of our moms.

First of all, a mom in Maryland started a one of a kind organization for African-American breastfeeding moms. It is called The African-American Breastfeeding Alliance. Her name is Kathi Barber and she is also the author of a book entitled The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding.

You can hear a really interesting podcast which includes some great facts about the history of breastfeeding pre and post slavery with her on the Motherwear Blog. They really start to break down some of those assumptions/myths and how those turn into generalizations. Check it out when you get a chance!

Also, a couple of favorite blogs to check out are
MochaMilk and Jennifer James' Blog Black Breastfeeding.

Have a great rainy week. :)

Working with Employers - some links for you!

2009-03-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Planning on going back into the workforce soon?
A great book to check out is Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor.

Here are some great websites for moms returning to work & looking for more information for their employers.
The Business Case For Breastfeeding: Steps For Creating A Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite

To order copies or print the pdf

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action – Women and Work

Cornell University Model

Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, CA

South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition

South Carolina Breastfeeding Action Committee

And here is a great article with tips on the Politics of Pumping

Feel free to pass these along to your friends!

Myths of Breastfeeding

2009-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with my first child, I heard quite a few myths from well meaning friends and family. One in particular was that I had to rub my nipples with a wash cloth to toughen them up for nursing. Thank goodness I just thought that was silly and didn't go on with that one!

I am lactose intolerant so another one that stuck in my mind was that a mother must drink milk to make milk. A healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins is all that a mother needs to provide the proper nutrients to produce milk. Calcium can he obtained from a variety of nondairy foods such as dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and bony fish. No other mammal drinks milk to make milk!!

Another one that really bugged me was the idea that parents shouldn't hold their babies or they will spoil them. Babies who are held often cry fewer hours a day and exhibit more security as they mature. I never understood the rush to get a baby to be independent and I see looking back how nice it is to have that time to cuddle.

My two children had frequent ear infections. (yes breastfed babies do get sick) I was told perhaps the lying-down nursing position causes ear infections. I frequently nursed lying down to get some rest myself. Because human milk is alive and teeming with antibodies and immunoglobulins, the baby is less likely to develop ear infections overall, no matter what position is used.

I also had a doctor tell me that after "X" months my breast milk was of no value nutritionally. The myth that the quality of breast milk begins to decline after six months is ridiculous. The composition of human milk changes to meet the changing needs of baby as he matures. Even when baby is able to take solids, human milk is the primary source of nutrition during the first year. It becomes a supplement to solids during the second year. In addition, it takes between two and six years for a child's immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.

Once I had these facts and others in my toolkit I felt more confident to make the choices I did for my family. Feel free to comment and tel us what myths you were told and how you handled them. You can find more "common myths" by clicking here.

Have a great day!
~ Naomi

Upcoming Evening Meeting February 24th @ 6:30

2009-02-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

Come join us for information, support or just to meet other like-minded moms going through what you are too. Even if you aren't needing support now, your input is valuable to other moms.

Pregnant? It can be especially important to come now and have the information now to avoid potential issues.

La Leche League of Charleston/Daniel Island meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of every month at 6:30 p.m., at Church of the Holy Cross, 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Feel free to bring a friend.

Toddler Meeting this Friday

2009-02-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

Don't you just LOVE nursing your little toddler?
Please join us with your little "lovies" as we meet and socialize with our babies and toddlers just before Valentine's Day. :)

Charleston TODDLER ~ 2nd Friday of each month, 10:15 am

Seacoast Church, 2049 Savannah Hwy (US17), West Ashley

In honor of Valentine's Day approaching, we'd also like to share this link with you. It is a book review for the book Loving Without Spoiling.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding & are especially important for pregnant moms in planning ahead.
Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Hope to see you soon!

2009 World Breastfeeding Week Theme

2009-02-09T05:28:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce the La Leche League USA 2009 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations theme is Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life.

It was chosen to compliment the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action theme of Breastfeeding: a Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?

This theme focuses on the importance of nursing in an emergency as well as other aspects of breastfeeding, such as immunities, IQ, fewer illnesses, etc.

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is August 1st - 7th and celebrates the signing of the Innocenti Declaration, produced and adopted in 1990 by participants at the WHO/UNICEF meeting on "Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding." The document lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 120 countries on various dates.

Watch for more news later this summer or send us ideas for how you might like to connect to other local breastfeeding moms to celebrate this year!

Welcome Lilah!

2009-02-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Please join us in welcoming our co-Leader Marlo's newest addition to her family!!

Her name is Lilah and she weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces; born this past Thursday evening.

Congratulations Marlo and family!

Safety and Sleep

2009-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Parents are often very tired! Sometimes the best laid plans change once they have baby home with them. I am sure this is not a big surprise to most of you! Well, from time to time, moms start to call us and ask about safe sleep. Must the only place my baby sleeps be a crib? What if I want to sleep with my baby?

We can't tell you where to put your baby to sleep in your home, but we can tell you that you will know the right answer for your family when you figure out where you all get the most sleep. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep near their parents, (meaning in the same room) especially for the first 6 months. For some parents this may vary from a side-sleeper, bassinet, crib or with you. Just remember to educate yourself and do it safely either way.

There are a lot of websites and books that will tell parents it is only safe to sleep in a crib and others that will say you can only bond or breastfeed if you co-sleep. Neither is giving the full story. You may have a really high needs baby that needs to be near you and you are already co-sleeping. You may be too nervous to co-sleep and feel it is best for you all to have your own space. Sometimes, parents find a middle ground that all can live with, like sleeping with baby and moving them to a crib later or putting a baby down in a crib and then with them when they wake at 2 am.

SAFE CRIB SLEEP
If you put your baby in a crib, they should be in the same room with you. Remember to place babies on their backs when they are at an age where they can't turn over on their own. Make sure that there are no blind cords nearby and nothing is in the crib with the baby. If a light blanket is needed, tuck all sides along the bottom half of the crib, below baby’s arms. Make sure that no one smokes in or near your little one or their bedroom. Check to be sure the room is not too cold or too hot. Be sure the crib mattress is tight fitting and the bars are within safety standards (older crib bars may be too wide apart) and that the crib sheets can't be pulled loose or around the baby's head.
Dress your baby in safe sleepwear with no strings or ties to twist around on them at night.

For more crib safety info from the AAP

Check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website for more info on recalls.

SAFE CO-SLEEPING
If you are co-sleeping or "sharing sleep", there are ways to do it safely. NEVER sleep with your baby if you are a smoker, if you have taken any medications or if you have consumed any alcohol. Remember it is much safer to be in a firm bed than in a recliner or on a couch where baby can roll into a soft cushion. Exceptionally obese parents should use a sidecar arrangement (crib attached to the side of the bed) rather than having a young infant in the bed with them. Make sure that the headboard and foot-board are tight fitting with the mattress and that there are no spaces a baby can get caught in near the wall or other furniture. As with crib sleep, make sure baby sleeps on his or her back and away from any pillows, loose bedding or heavy blankets. Don't dress your baby too warmly because body heat will keep them warm and you don't want them to overheat. Do not stuff too many bodies into a bed with a small baby; a toddler or sibling (or pet) may not be as aware of their surroundings in their sleep. As with crib sleeping, dress your baby in safe sleepwear with no strings or ties to twist around on them at night.

For more on safe co-sleeping visit LLLI at this link.

You can also read more here...
Safe Cosleeping – Dr. Jay Gordon

Safe Cosleeping – Dr. William Sears

Now, get some sleep tonight! And do it safely, please. :)

Tell SC to Support Mothers in the Workplace

2009-01-11T05:51:00.000-08:00

Click here to
Tell SC to Support Mothers in the Workplace

Target: women, employers, mothers, workers, fathers, health professionals
Sponsored by: SC Breastfeeding Action Committee

Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding due to multiple health benefits to mother and baby. This method of feeding is endorsed by many professional groups including The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the USDA, and many others. South Carolina has encouraged breastfeeding and acknowledged it as a public right.
Breastfeeding support at the workplace can positively impact the bottom line by lowering healthcare costs, enhancing productivity, decreasing absenteeism, improving employee satisfaction, increasing retention and improving corporate image.
The workforce is changing dramatically. More than 50% of adult women are in the workforce. Two-thirds of new employees will be women starting or returning to work. Seventy five % of working women become pregnant during their working lives.
The proposed legislation would include:
Employers with more than 25 employees must have a written policy supporting women who want to continue breastfeeding when returning to work.
For women who need to use a breast pump at work, employers must make reasonable efforts to provide a space for using the pump. The space must be clean, private, have adequate lighting, an electrical outlet, be near the employee's workspace and not be a bathroom. It should have access to a clean safe water source and a sink.
Employee must be allowed to pump on break time.
An employer shall not be liable for storage or refrigeration of breast milk, payment for break time in addition to established breaks or payment of overtime while a nursing mother uses the pump.
Employers will be recognized as mother-friendly work places.
An employer shall not discriminate against an employee who has elected to exercise her rights.

For more information see our recent blog post from December "Breastfeeding Law in South Carolina".

Vitamin D & Exposure to Sunlight

2009-01-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

This press release went out from LLLI this past October, but we thought now would be a good time to remind families about it.

La Leche League International encourages all mothers to recognize the importance of vitamin D to the health of their children. Recent research shows that due to current lifestyles, breastfeeding mothers may not have enough vitamin D in their own bodies to pass to their infants through breastmilk.

In October 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that infants receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D, beginning in the first few days of life. Children who do not receive enough vitamin D are at risk for rickets and increased risk for infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is mainly acquired through exposure to sunlight and secondarily through food. Research shows that the adoption of indoor lifestyles and the use of sunscreen have seriously depleted vitamin D in most women. The ability to acquire adequate amounts of vitamin D through sunlight depends on skin color and geographic location. Dark-skinned people can require up to six times the amount of sunlight as light-skinned people. People living near the equator can obtain vitamin D for 12 months of the year while those living in northern and southern climates may only absorb vitamin D for six or fewer months of the year.

For many years, La Leche League International has offered the research-based recommendation that exclusively breastfed babies received all the vitamin D necessary through mother’s milk. Health care professionals now have a better understanding of the function of vitamin D and the amounts required, and the newest research shows this is only true when mothers themselves have enough vitamin D. Statistics indicate that a large percentage of women do not have adequate amounts of vitamin D in their bodies.

La Leche League International acknowledges that breastfeeding mothers who have adequate amounts of vitamin D in their bodies can successfully provide enough vitamin D to their children through breastmilk. It is recommended that pregnant and nursing mothers obtain adequate vitamin D or supplement as necessary. Health care providers may recommend that women who are unsure of their vitamin D status undergo a simple blood test before choosing not to supplement.

Parents or health care providers who want more information on rickets, vitamin D in human milk, or other information on breastfeeding issues may visit our Web site at www.llli.org.

Parenting & Employment

2009-01-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

La Leche League's core philosophy includes these statements that pertain to babies & employment: Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply. In the early years the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.

With that in mind, we thought you may find a recent piece in The New York Times called "Maternity-Leave Alternative: Bring the Baby to Work" this weekend to be of interest.

If you are thinking about maternity leave and when or if you may go back, you may find the information from Parenting in the Workplace Institute helpful to you. It is a great site to check out if you think you can bring your baby with you to your place of employment.

La Leche League International's website also has helpful information for those of you heading back to work this year. There are lots of great links from New Beginnings section "Making It Work" listed, including information on pumping at work, talking to your employers, childcare, bottles, supply and more!

Edwina Froehlich in NY Times

2009-01-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

In December, the New York Times ran a piece on 24 influential people and included Edwina Froehlich. She was one of La Leche League's seven founders.

We thought you may enjoy reading the piece, which talks about Edwina and a bit of the beginnings of La Leche League.

Traveling with a breastfed baby

2008-12-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

Since many families take trips in the holiday season, we thought this FAQ by LLLI was a good one to point mom's toward.

Are there any tricks to traveling with a breastfed baby?

It's much easier to travel with a breastfed baby than a bottle-fed one. A breastfeeding mother doesn't need to worry about packing bottles and formula or sterilizing all the feeding supplies. Your milk is always ready and always at the right temperature, and the comfort of nursing can help reduce the stress of being in unfamiliar places.

For the rest of this article click HERE.

And here is a good article from New Beginnings on Traveling with Toddlers from the Toddler Tips section.

Daniel Island Meeting canceled for December

2008-12-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

LLL of Charleston/Daniel Island Meeting is canceled for December.

Please join us on January 27th for our next evening meeting or another meeting in the Charleston area any time you can.

LLL Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International needs your stories!

2008-12-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

NEW BEGINNINGS (LLLI Member Magazine) needs personal stories from breastfeeding mothers about the normal course of breastfeeding. Tell us what helped you cope with challenges such as sore nipples, plugged ducts, frequent nursing, colic, premature birth, fatigue, or a baby with a chronic health problem. Describe how you breastfed while being treated for a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Write about your experience with breastfeeding a child older than one year or using loving guidance with your preschooler or older child.

Personal stories should be between 600 and 1000 words. Strike a balance between describing details and sharing your feelings about your experience. Color photos of your child and/or family add to the appeal of these stories. If your submission is selected for publication, all rights are assigned to LLLI and you will receive two complimentary copies of the issue in which your submission appears. Stories may be mailed to:

NEW BEGINNINGS
LLLI
PO Box 4079
Schaumburg, IL 60168-4079

Or email to the Managing Editor via our Contact Us page. Choose the publications option.