LLL lactivism & challenge!

[motherearthdancer]

I want to start an on going thread for those of us active in LLL groups to discuss what we have done this month as LLL lactavists!

2nd...a challenge to everyone to find a group and attend the next meeting. Share your experiences. What did you like? What could be improved? If you attended more than one what were the differences? Did you try to start your own?

I really feel like LLL is a great resource and as activists for lactation we should challenge ourselves to be more involved! What do you think?

[CEVmommy]

This week I was buying some maternity pants at the maternity store, and the checker started asking me about BF. You know, they ask you a ton of questions when you buy stuff there, and they asked if I was planning to nurse, to which I replied "absolutely" and when they asked if I would like to receive some coupons in the mail I replied "depends on what they are for - I don't want any formula coupons". I guess the checker figured that I was the one to ask about BF after that!

So she tells me that she is 6.5 months pg and that she wants to BF, but that everyone she talks to says that it's too hard and not to do it. I was shocked that that's all she's heard! I talked to her for a little while about my experience and then told her about LLL. I invited her to come to our meeting, and specified that she could certainly come while pregnant to see what it's all about. She wanted to know if it was a class and if it cost money so I told her about how it works. She seemed very interested and asked me to write down the info on the meeting. I hope to see her there next time!

I was just sorry that I didn't have a series sheet on me at the time! (I do have a stack in my car, but we had taken DH's car)

[motherearthdancer]

That is awesome!

[annie_noah]

I like attending LLL meetings when I can, but I find the evening are always so hectic and I really like focusing on my kids, so it is hard to make it out to meetings. I do go every once in a while and share my experiences, but I also talk in the meetings about the places I go online for support and activism.

I talk about my own blog, where I do a lot of lactivism posts. The most recent one was What does support look like? What to do and not do to support a breastfeeding mother, but I've also written many others (see lactivism tag).

I also talk about the online communities that I go to, including this one and others.

Mostly I talk about setting a strong, confident example for other mothers. I breastfeed in public whenever I can and exude confidence when I do it. I hope that it will help others to see that it is normal and help them to be confident doing it too.

[elizaMM]

I think those are two great ideas! It sounds like they should be two different threads though. And why limit it to LLL Lactivism? It would be fun to be able to share and applaud all our lactivist moments!

I would like to be more involved in LLL but the meetings for my area are pretty far away. I could go to the next county over which has meetings that are closer to me.... maybe I'll try to do that. :-)

Lactivism (I know, I said it should be two threads, but I can't help it.) The other day, I talked openly about breastfeeding challenges with my dad. I've done that before and I find myself thinking "wait, I'm talking to my Dad about this? wait, why not?" He is totally cool with it. Thank goodness.

[motherearthdancer]

I found myself talking about it with my FIL & he told me I was obcessed. I corrected him saying I was passionate about educating people! Lol!

[BnInTheOvn]

I have been attending meetings since Annalise was 5 weeks, and haven't missed one since. I enjoy the help/helping everyone else out, but I also enjoy the relaxed companionship. I had joined a Moms Group a while ago, which I quickly dropped because they weren't my kind of people... I feel like at LLL we talk about breastfeeding, but that everyone there is genuinely NICE and down to earth, and fun. I feel a lot closer with those people, who I see once a month, than the moms I was seeing once a week in the Group.

I am a younger mom (almost 24) and feel like sometimes my "non-baby" friends and people in my age group are shocked and a little weirded out that I not only nursed but that I did extended toddler nursing as well. Most likely because most people my age are at the bar....
I felt like LLL was open to anyone and everyone who breastfeeds, and have made lots of friends through it.