Want to get a good deal and benefit a charity in the process? Bid on the items in LLL USA’s charity auction running now through July 15, 2009.

The money raised will help fund World Breastfeeding Week Celebration Grants to support the important work La Leche League Leaders do in the United States. So visit the “LLL USA page” on eBay. LLL USA reports that some items to be auctioned throughout the next several days include an Ergo baby carrier, a Glamourmom ® Nursing Bra Tank, and an assortment of historical transcripts from early LLLI conferences. Be sure to check back often and get your bids in!

If you are looking for a relaxing place to get away for a weekend, the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa is a wonderful place to go. I spent Memorial Day weekend there with my family, and I took this picture from my balcony:

View from my balcony at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa

While I attended lectures in the conference rooms for the La Leche League of Southern California/Nevada area conference, my husband watched the older two girls. They never even made it to the beach they were having so much fun swimming in one of the hotel’s three pools, playing in the hotel sand play area, or doing crafts organized by the hotel staff. None of us wanted to go home!

If you support breastfeeding and have a blog or website, you can place a World Breastfeeding Week 2009 banner from LLL USA on your site! There are several banners available. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every August 1 - 7 with many breastfeeding awareness events and fundraisers around the world. Even if you cannot organize or attend an event, you can do your part with a free banner ad!

Simply right click on the image, “save image as” to your computer, upload it to your site and link it to the World Breastfeeding Week page at LLL USA.

Inspired by the WABA theme of “Breastfeeding: a Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?” the LLL USA 2009 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations (WBWC) theme is “Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life.” That theme not only allows for the discussion of the importance of breastfeeding in an emergency, it also allows for discussion of how breastfeeding lays the foundation for life. Some ways in which breastfeeding prepares children for life include immune protection, reaching IQ potential, and the reduction in frequency and severity of illnesses.

Your thoughts?

What does the theme “Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life” bring to mind for you? Have you begun planning for WBW 2009? What are your ideas for an event? (Stumped? Check out these Ideas for Successful World Breastfeeding Week Fundraisers and Events.)

La Leche League of Argentina produced this helpful breastfeeding video “Breastfeeding in 10 Steps” in Spanish: “Amamantar en 10 Pasos.”

Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the United States! Remember that one way to show you are thankful for what you have in life is to give back to your community. Click on the International Volunteer Day and Breastfeeding 1-2-3 Challenge to learn 20 breastfeeding-related ways to volunteer on International Volunteer Day Friday, December 5, 2008. Let me know what you commit to do, and spread the word about the Challenge!

Today I am privileged to bring you a conversation with former La Leche League leader Carrie Lauth. Carrie writes at her natural parenting blog Natural Moms Talk Radio and her business blog, CarrieLauth.com. Carrie shares her long-term experience as a volunteer breastfeeding counselor. Read more

~ 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!

When I polled people to see if they had ever attended a La Leche League meeting, the poll results showed that 35% — 50 people — had not attended a meeting but would like to do so. I want to help people make it to a meeting!

Here are some things that might help:

~ Here’s how to pronounce La Leche League
~ There are regular series meetings that rotate through four general topics, but you can go to any meeting and ask any question, any time!
~ Meetings are offered in the daytime or the evening or both, depending on the area
~ Of course you can bring your baby, older nursling, and any older children too! Some groups welcome spouses as well — make sure to ask first!
~ You do not need to be breastfeeding to attend a meeting! It’s very helpful to attend when you are pregnant, or to continue attending even after you wean to help support other mothers. Doctors, nurses, students, grandmothers, and others are also welcome to attend (it’s nice to give the leader a heads-up in advance if you plan to show up, so the leader can be of most assistance and maybe even pass on free brochures to hand out!)
~ Meetings are free and while you are welcome and encouraged to join La Leche League, you can keep going to as many meetings as you like without actually joining.
~ In addition to the regular series meetings, there are toddler groups, groups for mothers of multiples, couples meetings, enrichment meetings, and informal park days or playgroups!
~ Usually there are snacks (depending on the location and group)
~ Often the group has a free lending library and you can check out birth, breastfeeding, and parenting books approved by LLLI!

Ready to go to a meeting?

~ You can use the LLLI tools to find a local group in the United States or other countries.
~ You can also search with a search engine tool like Google, using “La Leche League [your city or your state]” and you might find a website for your local group. Typical group websites include contact information for the local leaders and the date, time, and location of the next meeting. It’s always a good idea to call or email to confirm the information is up to date.
~ You can also reach an accredited La Leche League leader near you by calling 1-800-LA-LECHE (1-800-525-3243) and following the directions to find a leader by using your zip code. In Canada, telephone 1-800-665-4324, or (514) LA-LECHE for a French-speaking Leader.

Photo courtesy of: Generation X-Ray

In a pool of 143 voters, 52 percent had attended a La Leche League meeting and an additional 35 percent are interested in doing so. An overwhelming 91% of those who had attended a meeting found it helpful, while only 9% did not enjoy it.

Here are the complete results:

Please vote in the new poll in the side bar!