LA LECHE LEAGUE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 3

LA LECHE LEAGUE

Branch In Chch

The first South Island branch of La Leche League, an international organisation that encourages breastfeeding of babies, is being formed in Christchurch.

La Leche began in America 12 years pgo, when one mother who had nursed her baby helped another who wanted to breastfeed. This person-to-person contact is still the basis of more than 500 Le Leche groups in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and New Zealand.

Three groups have been established in the North Island, and several more are being formed.

Breastfeeding is encouraged through a series of discussion meetings. Discussions are led by mothers who have successfully nursed their babies, but meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding, including those who have not yet started their families, and grandmothers. La Leche (lay-chay) Is taken from a Spanish title of the Mother of Christ: “Nuestra Senora de la Leche y Buen Parto”—“Our Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful Milk.” It means life, love, and the beginning of happiness to a baby and this is the concern of La Leche League, which is non-profit making and non-sectarian. The Christchurch branch, which is being formed by Mrs Jennifer Wybourne, of Ham Road, and Mrs Glenda Ward, Peverel Street, will hold its first meeting next week.

Tight Grip.—Keep a piece of foam rubber in the kitchen drawer to put under the meat dish when carving, ft will stop the dish from slipping.