I have invited a few friends to come to La Leche League meetings with me over the course of the past year that I have been attending as member. I have invited pregnant friends, my sister-in-law who has successfully breastfed three kids (and plans on breastfeeding #4 one day), friends having trouble breastfeeding, and friends NOT having trouble breastfeeding. When I invite them to come along they have all asked, "What do you do there?".
Well, here's my answer for anyone who is considering going to a meeting but just doesn't know what to expect:
Expect to be welcomed.
Expect to learn.
Expect NOT agree with everything you hear.
Expect to meet a new friend.
Expect to hear something you've never heard before.
Expect to laugh.
I experience all the things listed above at every meeting I attend. I really enjoy hearing all the suggestions and viewpoints from all the other moms. Babies and children are, of course, welcome and encouraged to attend with their Mom's. With the children playing laughing, making noises only they can make, the atmosphere is more familial -the Moms talk over them. And other Moms I observe tend to their children as needed, changing diapers, nursing, consoling them after a fall, bump or bruise… all while the meeting is going on.
The biggest misconception I've heard is that La Leche League members are all "granola" or health nuts or extreme naturalists. I'm sure some are, but the variety of moms I've met couldn't be greater. Moms that stay home, moms that work, moms with twins, families that sleep together, families with dads that stay home, vegetarians, junk food junkies, you name it. So no matter what niche you fit into in society, rest assured you'll be comfortable. And no, you don't have to wear Birkenstocks!
As for what you do… there will be at least one Leader who has been trained and passed tests designed by La Leche League International who will guide the meeting. Each meeting will have a discussion topic. Typical discussion topics include:
Getting started,
Introducing solids,
Toddler nursing, and
The A, B, C's of Breastfeeding.
Although I'm sure all groups operate somewhat differently, most groups have a lending library of parenting and breastfeeding books for check out, sell slings and books as a fund raiser, have a member bring a healthful snack to share.
I hope this takes some of the anxiety out of attending your first La Leche League meeting. I'm confident that if you make it once, you'll be sure to return.
