Page 57 - Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025

NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2025 FAMILY LIFE & SUPPORT
La Leche League USA
Helping Parents Learn About Successful Breastfeeding
BY NORTH STATE PARENT
La Leche League USA (lllusa.org) is an important part of the international La Leche League, which helps mothers all over the world as they
navigate the journey of successful breastfeeding for their newborns.
With several chapters in the North State, La Leche League offers free meetings and lots of important information for families to help them reach their nursing goals. Meetings are organized by “leaders” - trained parent volunteers who offer free information and support to anyone with breastfeeding, pumping and human milk feeding questions or concerns. The leaders are experienced with breastfeeding and accredited by La Leche League International.
With North State chapters in Redding, Red Bluff and Chico, as well as online and phone support for mothers in other local areas, La Leche League offers valuable support between meetings for breastfeeding challenges, such as positioning and latch, being sure your baby is getting enough milk, soreness, pumping and milk storage and so much more!
“When I brought my first baby home from the hospital, he struggled to latch on,” says Mount Shasta resident Stacey Leigh. “I didn’t know what was wrong. He would try to latch, fail, then cry. It was so scary and frustrating. A friend suggested I call La Leche League. I did and someone from the local league came right over and helped me immediately solve the problem. I am so grateful she was willing to show up immediately to help me with my hungry baby. I was about to give up and start him on a bottle, but thanks to the kind and knowledgeable La Leche League volunteer, I was able to successfully nurse by newborn.”
Leaders and members also help parents learn about the ages and stages of breastfeeding and work to create a community of support by bringing breastfeeding families together.
Find out more about La Leche League
For those who are interested in finding out more about La Leche League and its important work, it’s helpful
Breastfeeding support can look different from family to family and from child to child. Non-judgmental breastfeeding support is available in-person and via phone. Photo by Freepik
to browse the lllusa.org website, which has a wealth of helpful articles that answer many questions about breastfeeding. According to the League, one of the most common questions is, “How do I support a new mother who is breastfeeding?”
Support for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding support can look different from family to family and from child to child. Ideally, breastfeeding support should go beyond just the family unit to wider family and friends and even the broader community and employers.
Tips for support persons
Often support people are unsure of what to do to help a nursing pair. While the mother's role in the early days is to feed the baby, what about her partner’s role? These ideas can really make a difference:
• Keep food on hand, especially no-fix, easy-to-eat, one-
handed food and foods high in fiber.
• Set up a sleeping arrangement that works for everyone.
Don’t be afraid to try a few different ones to see what works best, which may involve separate sleeping spaces for a while. Be flexible!
• Monitor visitors and discourage guests from overstaying their welcome.
• Run errands including getting groceries.
• Adjust the positioning of the pillow or help with a latch. • Adjust the lighting in the room.
• Refill a water bottle or grab a phone charger.
• Change the baby’s diaper.
• Clean and cook.
• Massage baby or the nursing parent
• Encourage with love. Often, words of encouragement
can be the best help for a new parent full of self-doubt.
Tips for visiting new parents
Are you unsure of what to do when visiting parents with a newborn? How long should you stay? What is helpful and what isn’t? Here are some tips to help you navigate this exciting time:
• Don’t assume they are available. Being at home doesn’t mean that they are free. Call or text to make sure your visit isn’t a burden.
• Don’t come empty-handed. Food doesn’t have to be homemade but should be nutritious and easy to eat with one hand.
• Wash your hands immediately when you arrive.
• Don’t visit if you are sick, recovering or “coming down
with something.”
• Instead of asking to hold the baby, help around the
house including doing the dishes, switching the laundry, refilling a water bottle or bringing food to a couch-bound parent.
• Don’t stay too long. Take your cues from the parents who may be tired and ready for a nap themselves. Try not to stay longer than 15 minutes unless they request otherwise.
Postpartum mood disorders
Many parents experience a roller coaster of emotions after having a baby, from joy and elation to worry and sadness. Mix big feelings with limited sleep and meeting the needs of a new baby, and new parenthood can feel overwhelming at times.
Having a baby is a life-changing experience and around 85% of women experience some kind of mood disturbance postpartum. Despite being so common, postpartum mood disturbances are not always talked about, leaving some people to feel alone and wondering if they are good enough parents. Talking openly about your postpartum experiences with others going through the same thing can combat feelings of isolation and shame.
Find a local La Leche League meeting
Going to a La Leche League meeting is a great place to find other new parents to share experiences with. 58
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