Mama Milk

When Kirk and I first moved to Arkansas nearly 6 years ago from California we didn't know a soul, well except for our real estate and home insurance agents. It was a really weird feeling to walk our dog around the block that first night. We wondered how we would ever make friends. My mom urged me to attend La Leache League (LLL), a mom-to-mom breastfeeding support group, as I was pregnant with Hope. I waddled in to my first meeting at about 7 months pregnant. There I met my first Arkansas friend, Cassidy. She was training to become a LLL leader.
Hope lived for 3 brief, but beautiful days. After her death Cassidy and other friends from LLL came to our aid with meals and listening ears. They rejoiced with us when Ian was born and supported me during my early difficulty with breastfeeding him. With Kirk, my mom, and LLL's support Ian and I were able to have an mutually enjoyable nursing relationship. Not only did Ian fulfill his hunger with his 'ci-ci', we were able to travel without extra baggage and get through infrequent illnesses easily with this versatile parenting tool.
Today, 5 1/2 years since my first meeting, I brought Ian and Janie to a LLL meeting. There were a few older nursing toddlers and brand-new babies with their mothers today. The support for breatfeeding and comraderie are the same as when I first attended.
Breastfeeding & Cancer Facts:
Breastfeeding reduces cancer risks for several cancers, for both mother and female infants. Contact your local LLL leader for more information. http://www.llli.org/resources.html

Please note:
Doctors sometimes suggest that pregnant women not breastfeed their babies because of medications the mother takes. Because there are so many risks to inherent to formula use, I urge women to double-check this information before deciding not to breastfeed. Medications and Mother's Milk by Thomas Hale, MD is considered to be the best source of medication information for pregnant/nursing women. Your local LLL may have a copy you can peruse or it can be ordered on www.Amazon.com. (I did not receive any financial compensation for suggesting this book.)