La Leche League International (LLLI) has added 11 new podcasts to its library. The recordings actually date from the LLLI conference in Chicago in July 2007 but the topics are still quite relevant.f you’ve never been to a conference then it’s worth checking out one or more of these talks to see what kinds of things you can learn at one. If you have been to a conference then you know how valuable the information is! Among the new 11 podcasts you can hear LLLI founder Marian Tompson, pediatrician and author Dr. Bill Sears, author Nancy Mohrbacher, and lawyer Jake …read more

La Leche League International (LLLI) calls upon breastfeeding supporters to nominate LLLI to win $10,000 in The Christie Cookie Charity Giveaway! It just takes a minute to select your charity (scroll down to get to La Leche League) and enter your email address (which the company promises not to sell to third parties). If LLLI receives enough nominations it could win $10,000 in cash! You have until October 15, 2009 to register your nomination but please take a minute now so that LLLI can gain momentum in the voting!

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 …read more

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:
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 …read more

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 …read more

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.

~ 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 …read more