Avoiding Holiday Weaning

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

Shared via AddThis

LLL of Summerville SC Changes Day

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.