If you are pregnant or a nursing mother and would like support or the opportunity to make new friends, the Teays Valley La Leche League is inviting you to join them.
The group, which meets at 10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month at the Putnam County Library in Teays Valley, welcomes anyone who is interested in breastfeeding information, needs encouragement, or just wants a social network of support, said Tina Mullins, one of the group leaders.
"We really encourage women who are pregnant to come. They can receive support and get answers before the baby comes," Mullins said.
The group is part of La Leche League International, whose mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement and education. In addition, they strive to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother, Mullins said.
According to La Leche member Janie Greene of Milton, members pay $40 a year. Although a small part of the money stays local, the majority goes worldwide to help mothers in third-world countries receive and distribute breastfeeding information.
"When you become a member, you are helping mothers around the world," she said.
However, the group stresses that no one is required to join. Mothers may come to the meetings whether they become members or not.
"You don't have to join, and you can come as often as you like," Greene added.
Mullins said mothers from areas such as Huntington, Barboursville, Hurricane, St. Albans, and Charleston have come to the meetings. In addition, many working mothers come to Teays Valley because the meetings are on Saturday mornings when it is more convenient.
If you have small children, Mullins said they are most welcome. Although the group meets mainly in the library, she said during warm weather, they sometimes meet at the park.
The La Leche League has been in existence for a half century. According to the La Leche League International Web site, the group was founded in 1958 because breastfeeding rates had dropped.
Mullins said the meetings are designed around four different topics: Advantages of breastfeeding, bringing home baby, overcoming difficulties, and nutrition and weaning.
"We have lending information. We discuss various topics with a La Leche philosophy. We tailor them to whomever is in attendance," Mullins said.
Mullins said breast milk is formulated to meet the baby's needs. If a baby is premature, the body will compensate and formulate the milk to meet the premature baby's special needs. She said breast milk aids in optical development. It contains human DHA and ARA that is known to improve vision. It will quiet the baby and lower the occurrence of colic, and they might cry less. Breast milk is easier to digest. Breast feeding causes uterine contractions and promotes healing. Mothers typically use 500 calories a day by nursing; consequently, it helps the mother get back to pre-pregnancy weight. In addition, it promotes upper jaw development.
Greene said joining a group such as theirs can be helpful because when one has a baby, they sometimes find themselves with a whole different social group.
"When I had a baby, my friends changed. I made new friends," she said. She also was encouraged to nurse longer than she had with her other children.
"The encouragement and knowledge helped me to continue longer," she said.
Mullins also includes the entire family. She said the loving help and support of the father enables the mother to focus on mothering so that together the parents develop close relationships which strengthen the family and thus the whole fabric of society.
"As a woman grows in mothering, she grows as a human being, and every other role she may fill in her lifetime is enriched by the insights and humanity she brings to it from her experiences as a mother," Mullins said.
The Teays Valley La Leche League anyone interested to their next meeting June 7.
"We would like to invite all pregnant and nursing mothers to come out and join us for information, support and friendship," Mullins said.
If you are interested and want more information, or you have questions and concerns, call Janie Greene at 304-743-5850, Sarah Degroff at 304-562-6040, or Vicki Shawl at 304-543-7470.
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