Venue change for 22 Sept

The coffee morning on 22 September will be at Charlie's house (39 Hamilton Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1PA) and not Jenny's this month. Please spread the word. Thanks.

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Meeting today

Thanks so much for those of you who came to the meeting today, it was lovely to see you all and to hear your comments.

Here is a link to lots of more detailed information on the ways in which breastfeeding supports the normal and healthy development of both babies and mothers: http://www.llli.org/NB/NBbenefits.html

If you are interested in finding out more about the new edition of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding you can download a chapter here: http://www.llli.org/thewomanlyartofbreastfeeding

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Meeting on 8 Sept

We are looking forward to seeing you lovely people this coming Wednesday 8 Sept at 39 Hamilton Rd. We'll be talking about 'How important is breastfeeding' but there will be plenty of time for your questions and other topics.

With love from Charlie and Vicky.

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Floredia

We would very much like to hear from you if you have been supported on your breastfeeding journey by Bristol Leader Floredia. Floredia is currently taking a break from La Leche League activities but she has been a long-standing presence in the Bristol LLL group. She was running the group with Janet Griffiths when April arrived 11 years ago and had previously worked with other LLL groups. Her wonderful warm personality has been a godsend to many a mother and baby so do get in touch if you have a memory to share. I personally remember ringing Floredia as early in the morning as I thought was decent (I think it was 7am) after having been up all night with Theo (my second) on his first night failing to get him to feed. She was absolutely amazing and immediately focused completely on me and my worries and listened with such empathy and kindness and respect. She then managed to make me laugh and reassured me with just a few words and gave me renewed confidence. I can’t remember exactly what she said but her words worked magic and I relaxed enough to be able to almost immediately sit down and Theo latched on and fed. Oh the relief and joy, it makes me cry to think about it now! Email me at charliestokes76@blueyonder.co.uk

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Guest post: Who says we need support?

Who said we need support? Written by Catherine, an ex-Bristol Leader currently in Perth, Australia. Cath writes about the kindness and friendship she found at LLL meetings. Taken from LLL Bristol's recent newsletter.

I am always stuck for words when a mum comes to me not seeing how a breastfeeding support group could help her, not seeing that a LLL meeting is much more than just listening to a theoretical talk on ‘how to’. Why should she need such a group? She had no problem at all breastfeeding, it was all very natural to her. However often as the discussion unfolds I realise she would have loved to know more about natural weaning or breastfeeding through pregnancy, or just hearing another experienced mum reassuring her on a specific behavior of her son. Is that not all that you can find at a LLL meeting?

Being quite a strong headed and self confident person, one would assume I am not the kind of influence-able person who would easily change her mind or attitude because of others. However I have come to realise how invaluable my network in Bristol was and how it helped me and supported me in my journey into parenting. Not just for breastfeeding or night time parenting, no, it helped me in much more ways than one could imagine and on so many different levels.

Today I want to write to all those women I met in Bristol, to let them know how invaluable their input, their sharing, their teaching, their softness and their smile has meant to me, today I want to tell them that I keep them in my mind everyday, when I feel challenged, when I see my girls happy, when I see how they are blossoming through gentle parenting.

Today I want to thank them.

I feel so grateful I came across LLL at the start of my journey. So blessed I have met women and mums like April, Floredia and Kate who were all LLL leaders when my first one was born. They were such a role modeling for me, such an inspiration in gentle parenting. There was also all the mums, some of them who became my best friends who always had the right words or funny attitude that would lift my hearts on those challenging days. I could make a long list of all those beautiful moments, those special times when we were all in awe of our new babies and completely exhausted from the broken-broken-broken nights. This has created such a strong bond between us, such a treasurable unique smile in my heart. Naively I thought that sort of network was available everywhere, in any city with mums and babes. How wrong was I! This is such an amazing network, such a beautiful group, and even if I know the mums are probably not the same, there is that core group and the leaders who are just so precious. Make the most of it, use it, observe, listen, share, welcome others ways of doing without judging. Just appreciate the difference, enjoy the companionship, embrace the different ways of mothering. Patience is just such a quality I admire. A quality I have truly discovered through other mums going to the meetings in Bristol.

After more than 10 years in Bristol we have decided to move on to different shores (less muddy, more sunny ;-) Everything here is different to UK. Birth, much more medicalised, breastfeeding more discreet, mums groups being very few and mainly organised via the hospital. All our parenting choices which I felt very supported through in Bristol suddenly sound very extreme and slightly coming from another planet. Thankfully I had gained confidence before moving here, thankfully I am very supported by my partner!

Now we have settled down here I so much want to recreate that sort of group, a place where mothers with their babes and their toddlers will find a supportive group to share and chat, to be and to sit back, may be even to learn something new or just be reminded of something gentle. I so wish to give that back as it has been such a major part of my journey, something I would always be grateful for.

To all of you beautiful inspiring mamas: Thank you!

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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - new edition

Here is a review of the latest edition taken from LLL Bristol's latest newsletter.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International, 8^th edition, 2010. Diane Wiessinger, Diana West & Teresa Pitman

This new edition is a complete reworking of the LLL classic breastfeeding book. It has been written by three great women who between them have many years experience of both breastfeeding their own children and helping women to breastfeed their babies.

The book is funny and easy to read and contains practical information on every aspect of breastfeeding with some lovely clear illustrations. There is an extra chapter about the new approaches to positioning with simple descriptions of ‘laid back’ breastfeeding and tips to get mum and baby working together, as well as help with the more traditional positions. The book covers what you need to know when pregnant, has a chapter on birth and implications for breastfeeding, through to concerns in the early weeks and what to expect feeding an older baby and toddler. Sections on sleep and starting solids are packed with up to date research and myth busting facts.

There are a couple of great sections in the back of the book. One is called Tech Support and gives you concise information on common difficulties that can occur such as colic, jaundice and blocked ducts. The other is called Tear-sheet Toolkit and has a key tips on a subject on one page that you can tear off (or print from the website) and stick on the fridge and refer to until you get the hang of it or that phase has passed, eg Feeding Cues, Waking a Sleepy Newborn, Mastitis, Milk Storage etc.

Each section has mother’s stories in it and internet references for further details including LLL forums. Every LLL Leader relies on this book when helping mothers to breastfeed and leading meetings and it is a source of comfort and reliable information that would be of invaluable support to every breastfeeding woman.

Have a look at it here: http://www.lllgbbooks.co.uk/product/425/the_womanly_art_of_breastfeeding_8th_edition/default.aspx

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