La Leche League
 What was started by a group of seven women more than 40 years ago has grown into the world's largest organization dedicated to promoting and supporting breastfeeding. La Leche League International's mission is the help moms around the world breastfeed. That mission is accomplished through support, encouragement, information and education. Every month La Leche League reaches 200,000 people in 66 countries, and each year, the organization provides more than $32 million in in-kind services. La Leche League (la leche means "the milk" in Spanish) has been instrumental in the worldwide promotion of breastfeeding for the last four decades. In 1963, seven years after its inception, La Leche League published its first bound book edition of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding," a book that has earned a reputation as being the most comprehensive source on breastfeeding ever published. By 1974, La Leche League was accredited by the American Medical Association to provide continuing education credits to healthcare professionals. The La Leche League's 25th anniversary conference held in 1981 drew record a record crowd of 3,800 adults and 2,300 children. In 1989, the organization created the Center for Breastfeeding Information (CBI). With about 12,000 full-length research studies, 200 categories of breastfeeding data and 100 new studies being added each month, CBI is the world's largest resource for scientific research on breastfeeding. Today, La Leche League consists of about 3,000 local groups - each with anywhere from 10 to 30 members. And nearly 8,000 women dedicate their time and energy as La Leche League leaders. Groups meet regularly to discuss breastfeeding information and to share their experiences. The organization provides free phone information and support. An estimated 750,000 American mothers call La Leche League each year with questions. La Leche League members pay $30 in annual dues. The dues pay for six bimonthly issues of "New Beginnings," La Leche League's magazine of breastfeeding stories and information. Members also received a catalogue of books and publications and are offered 10 percent off most purchases. To become a member, contact the group in your area. You may be able to find your local group on La Leche League's Web site www.lalecheleague.org, or call their hotline at 1-800-LALECHE. |
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