We got to start our Spring Bradley™ series last Friday – yeah!  It’s always a pleasure to meet a new group of families that want to prepare for their baby’s Birth-Day. 

We have found that it is beneficial for our students, or anyone for that matter, to start attending meetings when they are expecting.  Most groups meet on a monthly basis, so if you want to get to a couple of meetings before your baby is born, you may want to start attending meetings around 30 weeks of pregnancy.

It is helpful for a few reasons:

1.  You can hear the questions that are asked by other expecting or new moms and file away the answers for when you need to access them.

2.  You get to see what breastfeeding “looks” like – especially important if you have never been around a breastfeeding MotherBaby before.

3.  You get to hear helpful and trusted information from peer leaders that are trained to support breastfeeding mothers and help them overcome basic breastfeeding challenges.

4.  You make a personal connection with women who are whole-heartedly committed to helping MotherBaby get breastfeeding off to a good start.  If or when you have challenges, you can reach out to people you already know and they have a vested interest in helping you or referring you on for help from a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).

5.  Although it is nature’s intention that MotherBaby breastfeed, there is a learning curve.  La Leche League meetings are a place to find support, encouragement and affirmation for your choice to breastfeed.  The knowledge that you are not alone in your choice to breastfeed is even more meaningful if and when well-meaning people around you are encouraging you to take the formula route.

Meetings are scheduled in the mornings, evenings, and different weeknights.  If you are fortunate to have a variety of times and days when meetings are held, there is ample opportunity to find a time that is convenient.  Even if there are not “easy” options in your geographic area, I encourage you to rearrange your schedule so you can attend at least one or two meetings.  They are so worth it, especially if you are one of the people who will directly benefit from the knowledge the leaders offer. 

If you are in a region where there are lots of choices, I encourage you to attend a couple of different groups to see which personality mix is best for you.  While each leader is amazing in their own way, meetings are shaped by their personality, and those of the people in attendance.  Do you want to be in a group that is attended by the working-at-home demographic?  Do you want to find a group that primarily serves women who work out of the home?  Does your partner want to attend with you / are there “Dads Welcome” meetings in your area?

Most La Leche League Meeting Notices list the time, location, and leaders.  Give the leaders a call or send them an email before you attend to see if it feels like a good fit.  It may help narrow your selection of meetings you want to try out before you choose a “regular” group. 

Are you the type of person who wants a buddy in a new setting?  You can make a date to attend with another friend who is expecting.  As a Bradley Method® instructor, I make every effort to attend meetings with our students.  If they find a meeting outside of the group I normally attend, I see it as an opportunity to reconnect with leaders that I have not seen for a while and get a different perspective on the meeting topics that I hear at my “regular” meeting.

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.