Brief history of La Leche League
La Leche League was founded by seven mothers who wanted to support their friends who wanted to breastfeed their babies, in 1956. They began a grass routes organisation that continues to offer breastfeeding information, encouragement and support to mothers worldwide, through a network of thousands of leaders and groups.
The practical principles of mothering which are the foundation of LLL beliefs are developed in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This book has provided answers and inspiration for the rewarding and challenging job of parenting to several generations of mothers.
LLL philosophy is summarized in the following ten concepts:
The practical principles of mothering which are the foundation of LLL beliefs are developed in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This book has provided answers and inspiration for the rewarding and challenging job of parenting to several generations of mothers.
LLL philosophy is summarized in the following ten concepts:
- Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
- Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.
- In the early years, the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
- Human milk is the natural food for babies, uniquely meeting their changing needs.
- For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth.
- Ideally, the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need.
- Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
- Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby’s father. A father’s unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child’s development from early infancy.
- Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
- From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.
LLL Mission
Our mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
(May 1989; rev April 1993)
For a timeline of LLLI (La Leche League International)'s history, please click: http://www.llli.org/lllihistory.html
Where did La Leche League get its name?
"La Leche" is Spanish for "the milk," and is pronounced "la LEH-cheh." The idea came from a statue in St. Augustine, Florida (USA) honoring "Nuestra Senora de la Leche y Buen Parto," which translated, means, "Our Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful Milk."
When La Leche League was founded in the mid 1950s, words like "breastfeeding" and "pregnant" weren't used in polite society. The Spanish term became an informal code-word for our meetings and our function. La Leche League meetings could be listed in newspapers without offending anyone.
Happily, it is now acceptable to say "breastfeeding" openly. Although our name sometimes confuses people, "La Leche League" has become a term that is synonymous with breastfeeding support and education around the world. Despite the name's origin, La Leche League is not affiliated with any religion-- we are a nonsectarian organization whose only purpose is to give information and encouragement, mainly through personal help, to all mothers who want to breastfeed their babies.
"La Leche" is Spanish for "the milk," and is pronounced "la LEH-cheh." The idea came from a statue in St. Augustine, Florida (USA) honoring "Nuestra Senora de la Leche y Buen Parto," which translated, means, "Our Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful Milk."
When La Leche League was founded in the mid 1950s, words like "breastfeeding" and "pregnant" weren't used in polite society. The Spanish term became an informal code-word for our meetings and our function. La Leche League meetings could be listed in newspapers without offending anyone.
Happily, it is now acceptable to say "breastfeeding" openly. Although our name sometimes confuses people, "La Leche League" has become a term that is synonymous with breastfeeding support and education around the world. Despite the name's origin, La Leche League is not affiliated with any religion-- we are a nonsectarian organization whose only purpose is to give information and encouragement, mainly through personal help, to all mothers who want to breastfeed their babies.