What Is La Leche League?

The short answer is that La Leche (pronounced la LAY-chay) League (LLL) is an organization of mothers helping mothers to breastfeed. Mostly through small and locally-organized groups, La Leche League (LLL) provides support, information, and education and promotes understanding of the role of breastfeeding in the health of mothers and children.

LLL was founded in 1956 by seven mothers in Chicago, Illinois. Breastfeeding support was sorely needed; only about 20 percent of U.S. mothers were breastfeeding at that time. The founders sought to change this through group meetings, educational events, and publications. In less than a decade, the organization had established groups in more than four nations worldwide. Now, more than 50 years after that first meeting, La Leche League is an international organization recognized by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition, American Medical Association, and many other leading health groups. With active groups in about 60 countries worldwide, LLL reaches more than 100,000 mothers each month.

At its heart, La Leche League continues to be a mothers’ group offering breastfeeding support and information in a variety of ways. Groups are organized by LLL leaders, who are experienced mothers accredited by LLL International to help mothers and expectant parents with all aspects of breastfeeding. LLL provides:

• Monthly discussion groups. Moderated by LLL leaders, these groups are opportunities for mothers to discuss questions and concerns about breastfeeding. Each meeting also has a planned topic covering practical, physical, and/or psychological aspects of breastfeeding. Babies and other children are welcome at meetings.
• One-on-one help by LLL leaders. Leaders are available at monthly meetings and, for problems that need immediate help in between meetings, by phone.
• Online discussion forums. Mothers can participate in online forums to discuss breastfeeding and parenting topics anytime.
• Books. Two years after LLL was founded, the first edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding was published. It has been updated and reprinted many times since then, but the book remains a favorite among breastfeeding mothers. This and other publications about breastfeeding, childbirth, parenting, and nutrition are available for purchase or through LLL group lending libraries.
• Other publications. LLL members receive the organization’s bimonthly magazine, New Beginnings. In addition, many of the group’s information sheets are available through its website.
• Special events. From seminars about parenting to those that provide continuing education opportunities for health care providers, many LLL groups organize conferences about a variety of themes and special topics.

Click here to find out how you can become a member of LLL and here to learn more about becoming a leader.