Breastfeeding News for October 30, 2008

~ La Leche League co-founder Betty Wagner Spandikow passed away last weekend. She served as Executive Director of LLL for many years, and I was particularly impressed by this about her:

Betty initiated flex hours and a family-friendly workplace in the ’60s, long before they became the popular perks they are today. Business hours at the La Leche League International office were set to allow mothers to be home with their children after school. Betty’s ideas about work teams and home offices were also far ahead of their time.

Keep in mind that year-end donations to LLL are being matched by generous donors, so it would be a lovely tribute to Betty to make a donation in her honor.

~ A new study of over 100,000 interviews with parents from the National Child Health Study revealed that breastfeeding can have a positive impact on a child’s behavior:

Parents of children who were breast-fed were 15 percent less likely to be concerned about their child’s behavior, compared to formula-fed infants. And the breast-fed children were 37 percent less likely to have a medically diagnosed behavioral or conduct problem, according to the study.

Thanks to reader Kelley for the link!

~ This year’s Quintessence Foundation Breastfeeding Challenge had a fantastic turnout with 357 sites in 18 countries! View the 2008 results here!