by Karen Gromada
August 03, 2007

World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7, 2007) seems a fitting time to stop and shout,  “Happy 50th Anniversary La Leche League International LLLI)!” It is not an understatement to say that is the organization that brought breastfeeding back to industrialized countries.

When the seven founders of LLLI met at a church picnic in Franklin Park, IL, the fact that several were breastfeeding their babies drew the attention of a number of other women in attendance. They began getting questions from these women about how to breastfeed, so they began meeting in homes to discuss breastfeeding mother-to-mother. They didn’t intend to stop the pendulum drifting farther and farther from breastfeeding. They didn’t figure on establishing an amazing organization that within a decade would have groups of mothers helping mothers breastfeed around the globe. They had no idea their organization would be one impetus for renewed research and health professional interest in the properties of human milk and breastfeeding. They hadn’t a clue that in the early 1980s they would suggest developing a new professional role, which we now know as a lactation consultant. How could they have guessed the impact they would have on governments and legislation or on many agencies’ policy and procedures?

But enough from me about LLLI history. The organization’s seven founding mothers tell their stories so much better than I ever could! These amazing women, now in their 70s-90s, are still vital participants in LLLI—a few lead LLL series meetings, continuing to share breastfeeding information, and help mother-to-mother.

LLLI’s golden anniversary is on my mind because, less then two weeks ago, I was at the Chicago, Illinois Hilton attending the LLLI 50th Anniversary Conference. As LLL Leader and lactation consultant, Ilene Fabisch wrote for Lactnet (and I reprint with her permission), “There really is nothing like an LLLI conference. It helps remind you that you are part of something much bigger than the corner of your little world. You know once again how important the work you do is on a global level. Sometimes it makes me feel sad that we still have so far to go compared to many other countries, and also why some women seem to know this  ‘secret’ about how important breastfeeding is on so many levels and some still have not been able to receive that message. So much important work to do!”

Yep, there’s nothing like a LLLI conference to renew a LLL Leader’s spirits and inspire her to get back on track doing what she can—one mother-baby couplet at a time. If you missed the LLLI conference but would still enjoy attending, head to LLLI’s website where they set up a virtual conference, which includes podcasts with a number of speakers, online transcripts of “chats” with speakers, participant blogs, and more!

It is impossible for me to imagine my life without LLLI. I was introduced to LLL as a 19-year-old nursing student when our instructor arranged for two LLL Leaders to come and talk to our class. They made an indelible impression. One provided me with my first glimpse of (discreet) breastfeeding; the other had the perfect name for a LLL Leader—Rosie Busam (last name pronounced “bosom”)!

I began attending LLL meetings when pregnant with our first child. I’ll never forget the first time a toddler walked up to his mother, pulled on her shirt and the mother began to breastfeed. Breastfeed a child old enough to walk? What was wrong with these women? Perhaps I didn’t belong here, since I had no intention of breastfeeding for more than a few months! But when the Leader opened the meeting, she said a few things that immediately put me at ease, “Every family is different and every mother knows her baby better than anyone else, so take from the meetings what works for your family and leave the rest.” Now comfortable, I was free to learn about reading my baby rather than some baby book. I became interested in the how-tos of breastfeeding but also the “whys.”

Not surprisingly, I found breastfeeding an older baby and then toddler to be very different from my first impression, and my oldest child breastfed until she weaned on her own at about 18 months during my second pregnancy. I became an accredited LLL Leader in January 1975 and I remain an active Leader of the Cincinnati, Ohio LLL multiple-birth group, which I started with LLLI’s permission when our twins, children no. 3 and 4, were 6 months old.

This is an anniversary year for my LLL group also—LLLI’s first group just for mothers breastfeeding twins or higher multiples. This September we celebrate our 30th birthday, and I’d like to thank all the mothers of twins, triplets, and quadruplets who have shown me so many ways to achieve a breastfeeding relationship with two or more infants—sometimes under difficult circumstances.

I’ve tried to “wean”  from LLL several times over the years, but it hasn’t worked! I’m still constantly learning from the mothers and their babies, from the wonderful researchers, and from many brilliant colleagues. I guess like a breastfed child, I’ll wean when I’m ready.

Happy Anniversary, LLLI! Where would mothers and babies be without you? We’re all depending on you to celebrate many more anniversaries.