LLL censored my emails about raw milk

[queensmommy]

I've been subscribed to a local LLL email group for a while. It's been a good experience until recently. I recently posted a question about raw milk on my local LLL group. I asked if anyone knew where I can get some raw milk. The leaders of the group pounced on the email and immediately discredited the research behind the benefits of raw milk and the hazards of pasteurized milk. I didn't think too much of it and left it alone.

This week I had an interesting experience with breastfeed I wanted to share with the rest of the ladies. This will be the first time I'm writing to the group after the raw milk email. But when I sent out the email it was not posted to the group. Normally it goes immediately. This time it took 4-5 days before I saw my email posted to the group.

They probably did not like me asking about raw milk that time and flagged my email address. All I was doing was ask if anyone knew where I can get some.

I soon unsubscribed - telling them I did not appreciate being censored.

Am I overreacting? It makes me pretty angry.

[KnitLady]

Hmmm, that's odd. We've had raw milk discussions on my local LLL group with no problems.

I could understand if the leaders wrote in and said something about LLL not having a position on raw milk, or even writing in about what they believe the risks of raw milk are. However, I do think it was a bit over-the-top to start moderating your emails.

It's possible that they decided to start moderating ALL emails. If so, that may or may not even be related. I think it would be worth contacting them to get clarification about what is going on. It could have even been an online glitch.

[annettemarie]

I'm not censoring you but this isn't about promoting breastfeeding, so I am going to move you to Traditional Foods.

[mama2mygirl]

Hmm. We've actually had a discussion about raw milk at a meeting before. Two of us said our piece--we believe it's safe and give raw dairy to our children. One leader felt differently and one brought up a newspaper article about the safety of raw milk.
I'd ask if they were only censoring you.

[kangaroomum25]

I wonder if LLL has any opinions on the difference between pastuerized breastmilk and raw breastmilk.

[paquerette]

: I'd be tempted to ask if they pasteurize it as it comes out of their breasts.

[Dillpicklechip]

Originally Posted by paquerette

: I'd be tempted to ask if they pasteurize it as it comes out of their breasts.

Now how would that work...

[pampered_mom]

I don't really attend the local LLL meetings b/c they're far too cliquey for my tastes, but I am on the email list. We've had lots of folks post about raw milk (cow and goat) on our list. Of course...that could be because both LLL leaders are TF friendly...

[mamaverdi]

LLL is a very diverse group. Nationwide and Internationally. They are also a single-issue group: breastfeeding. Some groups are more friendly, some more information-centered.

I'm sorry to hear you had a disappointing experience with this particular group/leader.

[MyLilPwny]

LLL is against traditional foods, so its not a surprise. Sally Fallon gave the "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by La Leche League International a thumbs down review because (I'm quoting Sally here...) "the dietary advice in this book is terrible, so wrong that it is likely to undermine all the good that is intended in giving baby breast milk instead of commercial formula."

[Freefromitall]

Was it a yahoo group? B/c a lot of my yahoo lists I'm on have been having trouble with mail delivery. Things don't show up, or show up late, or out of order. Reeeallly annoying.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Funny, it was my LLL leader who turned me one to raw milk and traditional foods.

[cmb123]

I was a LLL leader for a long time. My co-leaders and I were all very "radical" in a lot of things that we did (do) in our personal lives, but we were all very commited to making sure that when we had our LLL "hats" on that we stuck to LLL guidelines, which is mother to mother support for breastfeeding.
To engage in conversations about other topics- circumsision, vaccines, diapering, or raw milk-whatever- can and does alienate many from LLL who are seeking support for breastfeeding.
As much as a lot of us would like to spread the word, or just have conversations about other topics when surrounded by potetially like minded people, the place for that is not within an area that has the LLL name on it.
Maybe the tactic of censoring you right away may not have been the kindest, or really necessary, the people moderating may just be trying to be really careful about protecting the forum from getting sidetracked from off topic discussions. They really can take over like wildfire.

[cristeen]

I don't know where you are, but is raw milk illegal in your location? If it is, that may be the reason for the censoring.

Just a thought.

[mama2annabelle]

Just to clarify...it was not "LLL" that is censoring you...but rather the *particular Leaders of your particular group*.

For what it is worth, I am a LLL Leader and I am also a raw milk advocate and know several other Leaders who are as well. I have been drinking raw milk and giving it to my children for years. One has nothing to do with the other.

[MyLilPwny]

Originally Posted by cmb123

Maybe the tactic of censoring you right away may not have been the kindest, or really necessary, the people moderating may just be trying to be really careful about protecting the forum from getting sidetracked from off topic discussions.

I can see how vaccines, circumcision, etc. are off-topic, but as I quoted above about LLL's book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", I think that is the problem with LLL--that they ignore the importance of proper nutrition in order to make healthy breast milk. Raw milk is part of the proper nutrition that helps create healthy breast milk, so really, its not off-topic because even LLL has their own chapter on "nutrition" in their book, and what LLL says about nutrition very much conflicts with traditional dietary principles.

[guestmama9904]

Originally Posted by paquerette

: I'd be tempted to ask if they pasteurize it as it comes out of their breasts.

well, cows milk is not essential to the human diet, whereas human breast milk is, so i don't think one necessarily relates to the other.

in regards to LLL's stance on not discussing other issues it does seem strange to me. circumcision, for example can very negatively affect a breastfeeding relationship due to the physical pain the baby is experiencing, the possible emotional guilt the mother may have over her choice to circ, and the spiritual effect of having one's new body cut and maimed in the first few days on this planet.

[cmb123]

Originally Posted by ThereseReich

...and what LLL says about nutrition very much conflicts with traditional dietary principles.

LLL doesn't claim to be a "traditional foods" group. It is mother to mother support for breastfeeding. When I was an active leader (and indeed up until very recently) I was vegan- so I didn't agree with thier nutrition info either, BUT that is not what I was there for, and it would not have been appropriate for me to talk about vegan eating, or my food co-op, or eating organic or anything else.

[cmb123]

Originally Posted by arismama!

in regards to LLL's stance on not discussing other issues it does seem strange to me. circumcision, for example can very negatively affect a breastfeeding relationship due to the physical pain the baby is experiencing, the possible emotional guilt the mother may have over her choice to circ, and the spiritual effect of having one's new body cut and maimed in the first few days on this planet.

Circumcision can and does often have a negative effect on breastfeeding. So do lots of other things. A Leaders job is to help the mom through whatever breastfeeding issues she has, not judge, lecture or hold court on-line or in a meeting about circumcision. There are lot of parents who breastfeed that choose not to circ. But there are lots that do. LLL cannot alienate mothers who come to them for breastfeeding support.
Anti-circumcision discussions should be kept under other forums.
I know many women find like minded people in LLL, but we have to remember that just because someone is at an LLL meeting it doesn't mean they subscribe to any other beliefs that some of us may have. I thnk a lot of times people want to hijack thier LLL group and make it a forum to spread thier own ideas. LLL has lasted and has grown as much as it has by avoiding that, and sticking to a single purpose.
There is always time after a meeting has closed to connect and share ideas on other topics. If there wasn't I wouldn't have learned a lot of what is dear to me today.