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shoyski
11-14-2001, 01:52 PM
I didn't know whether to start a new mom's post yet since we haven't heard everyone's opinion on BethY's request. However, this can just be a separate one.

In a nutshell, it wasn't militant at all, but yet I doubt if I'll go back. To elaborate, I arrived at 7pm, the meeting actually didn't start until 7:12pm, and I left at 8pm with the meeting appearing to be only half over. Not sure how long it lasted...I'll have to see if my friend stayed until the end.

The leader started out the meeting introducing the other two leaders, talked about stuff for sale and the library available to member ($30 per year). After that, she asked if anyone had any questions. Then she handed out slips of paper to everyone with phrases or words on it and we "played Jeopardy." For instance, one card had stuff on it like Lansinoh, breast pads, letting your nipples air dry, etc and the question was, "What to do to prevent soreness during breastfeeding. "

There were about 10 or 12 questions and we had only made it to question six by the time I left. After each person had "answered" the question, people would chime in about their experiences. There was one newly pregnant woman there who asked a thousand questions and people would answer with pretty good advice.

I really didn't learn anything but could see how it would be a good place to get info. It really appeared to just be a Mom's-Night-Out, which is fine. I will say that the leader mentioned at one point how they were not going to hospital or doctor bash. Also, I had told her I was leaving at 8pm and when I got up to leave, she tried to make sure I didn't have any unanswered questions, which I thought was pretty nice of her.

A bunch of moms breastfed during the meeting (yes, even me :D), some of us more discreet than others. A couple of the mothers were feeding older children (two and three years old) which I don't really agree with but different strokes for different folks.

beacooker
11-14-2001, 02:48 PM
Originally posted by shoyski
the meeting actually didn't start until 7:12pm

Not that you were looking at your watch! LOL. I guess you are a stickler for punctuality, Shelley!

The meeting sounds very strange. Certainly not what I would have expected! I wonder if this was a typical LaLeche League meeting?

KristaMB
11-14-2001, 07:18 PM
Shelley, interesting report. Not what I was expecting to hear, either. So, did Dave read all our new mom and pregnant lady posts when he came on disguised as you? I guess it's a good thing you only have nice things to say about him. :)

I haven't weighed in yet on BethY's request. It doesn't matter to me, either way is fine. I'm sure I'll lurk/post on both threads.

~Krista

KelLeg
11-15-2001, 06:20 AM
I don't know what the beginning of this conversation was, but I have been to one LLL meeting. I never went back. Unfortunately, I went to a meeting that focused on nursing "older children." Several women were nursing four- and even five-year olds. This was more than I could handle! I had a two-month old at the time.

I did find a lot of good help from lactation consultants. If anyone has questions about nursing, I would ask other mothers (here or in "real life") and lactation consultants. I nursed two babies, the first for 8 mos. and the second for 6. It was a great experience, but I didn't want to get "militant" about it!

Good luck all.

mb
11-15-2001, 07:04 AM
shelley, thanks for the follow-up. that is sort of how i imagined a meeting would be. our lamaze instructor was a LLL meeting-leader person and she was encouraging everyone to attend a meeting. well, at least 1 just so you could see what it was all about. she also mentioned that no men were allowed to come, since women were probably going to be nursing during the meeting. while pregnant, i wasn't too thrilled with this idea: a) nursing in public, b)going to a baby-related thing without DH. so i never went. there were several lactation consultants at our hospital, and also a huge lactation center in case i ever had any questions. they also have get-togethers from time to time (i guess likea LLL meeting) and they called them 'lactation teas'. this title sounded pretty funny to me, and not really all that enticing either!:rolleyes:

nursing 5-year-olds?!?! yikes! that is just a little too old IMO. i know some people who nursed for 20 mon., but i think by the time your kid can say, "mommy, i want to nurse" then it['s time to quit! i'm hoping to make it to 1 year, only because i don't want to switch to formula (making bottles, extra cost, etc.) we'll be starting food soon, so we'll see what happens to the nursing schedule...

marisa :)

MrsReber
11-18-2001, 11:21 AM
Marisa, I'm with you! If you're having a conversation with your child, it's definitely time to stop nursing. My mom know some woman with a 5 year old who nurses. I'd be so embarrassed. I have to wonder how the child feels, too. I don't think my milk will last that long since I'm back at work, but I did make it to the 6 month mark and I imagine I'll make it to 7 or 8 months. I hate to switch to formula, too, but I did try it once last week. I was going out to the store so I took a sample cannister of powdered formula and made a bottle up. Casey drank it all, no problem. The powder is pretty easy. I'm sure we'll have to switch over soon or at least do half and half when the frozen milk reserves run out.

My mom said the LLL women were miltant and believed in nursing for years. I just can't see it. I never went to a meeting or anything. That sounds like a pretty weird meeting, though!

Susan

KelLeg
11-19-2001, 06:50 AM
When I went to the meeting about nursing older children, some mothers were saying that their children wanted to nurse all the time, and they had to hide from their kids in their own house! Does this sound healthy? A lot of moms said their child just never wanted to wean. I believe that the mothers really didn't want to wean! My belief is that one needs to stop nursing after it is no longer a "nutritional" issue, i.e. when children can get their nutrition elsewhere, like with milk! I understand wanting to skip the formula phase, but when they are old enough to drink real milk, it is time to wean, IMO.

GayeC
11-19-2001, 10:16 AM
I can understand nursing older children in cultures/countries where there is nothing clean for children to drink or eat, but I find it hard to swallow (ha ha) in our culture.

I never went to a LLL meeting either, but did nurse 2 children for 7-8 months each. I also found the hospital's lactation consultants to be helpful.

Gaye