La Leche League of South Bend

No matter what our lives looked like before kids, we all know our perspectives are vastly different after. And whether we go back to  work  after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, full-time, part-time, not at all, SAHM, WAHM, free-lancer, mompreneur, etc., we all struggle with balance and how to  Make  It  Work .  At the next LLL morning meeting we'll share ideas of how we have done this and issues we haven't yet solved. How do you fit breastfeeding and/or pumping into your new lifestyle? (Or how do you adapt your lifestyle to breastfeeding?!) How do you fill those long hours with baby? How do you divvy up household chores? Child care? How do you  make  sure you get the help you need? When do you take on new duties? How do you structure your days in a way that works for you and your child(ren)? We'll delve into all of this and more.  And of course, we will have room for your breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes...

Have you ever felt like your baby might be colicky? fussy? high needs? Or do you dread the question from well-meaning grannies at the post office: 'Is s/he a Good Baby?' Many breastfeeding mothers are surprised by how "needy" our babies are...until we compare note with other families!  At next week's meeting we'll talk about how our babies might not match our (or society's) expectations. We'll discuss what kind of myths and misconceptions are floating around about babies and breastfeeding, and how to remain confident in our parenting choices. We'll also share techniques we've found to help our babies and ourselves move through some of the tougher times. There will also be time to share breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes! See you at 10am Tuesday, April 21 Sunnyside Presbyterian Church 115 S. Frances St. South Bend, IN 46617

The evening meeting location has changed this month to the Tutt Branch Library, corner of Miami and Ewing, 2223 Miami St. South Bend, IN, still at 7 pm on Tuesday 4/14/2015.  Come join the discussion on nursing an older baby.  How has your nursing relationship changed with your baby now that they are older?  Is your baby distracted when nursing, waking more at night? If you are back at work, are you trying to figure out how to keep up with supply or when to start cutting back on pumping?  Come join the discussion and of course bring your baby and any other questions or concerns you have.

Here is an interesting sounding event in May at the South Bend Main Branch Library presented by BrainWorks!! "Breastfeeding and Your Baby's Brain" Wednesday, May 13 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. To be held at St. Joseph County Public Library  Main Library - 3rd Floor Storytime Room 304 S. Main Street, South Bend, IN There are numerous benefits to breastfeeding, but many people are not aware of the role that breast milk can play in enhancing brain development in infants. This session covers some basics about brain development as well as providing information on the specific advantages for both parents and infants that breastfeeding and breast milk offer. Babes in arms welcome! Presented by Dory Lawrence, MA, of BrainWorks, Beacon Health System. Register online at libraryforlife.org or call 282-4607. Free.

Please join us on Tuesday at the Main Library in downtown South Bend--we have reserved the Humphrey's room in the basement where there is plenty of room for crawlers to crawl, big kids to play, and mamas and babies to cuddle, nurse, and chat. Dawn (mama to Eliana), our friendly playgroup as host will be there to welcome you so that you'll know you're in the right spot! Feel free to bring toys to share or pop upstairs to borrow books and toys. And those of you with tiny babes or babes still in utero, please know that this playgroup is for you too! Support from other mothers is what we're all about:) Tuesday, April 7 between 10:15 and noon 304 South Main Street  South Bend, Indiana 46601  http://www.sjcpl.org/main/ Humphrey's Multimedia Room:  http://www.sjcpl.org/meetingrooms/

Mamas and babies can't breastfeed alone! We need a support network of those closest to us to help us make sure we are cared for as we care for our babies. Dads and other Partners can protect us from criticism, keep us fed, help us get help if and when we need it, and be our biggest cheerleaders during tough times. At our next meeting we'll share experiences and wishes for how we can create the most breastfeeding-friendly team between ourselves, our babies, and the other adults in our lives.  As always, we will have room for your breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes. See you on Tuesday, March 24 at 10am Harris Branch Library 51446 Elm Road Granger, IN 46530 http://lllofsouthbend. blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/ South-Bend-IN/La-Leche-League- of-South-Bend/139461811766? ref=ts Here are some great ideas from a supportive dad about how to bond with baby without a bottle:  https://www. bellyb...

At the next morning meeting we're going to explore our feelings about the transition to becoming a Mother, and managing those early days and months with baby. This new role can surprise us, rock us to our cores, and bore us silly, all in the space of an hour.  It's  intense, le arning your baby's signals, needs, and routines, not to mention trying to maintain relationships and at least some basic hygiene ;) How have you found this transition? What has helped you through it? Join us on Tuesday to share these thoughts and others. And we always make space for any other breastfeeding concerns or questions you may have! See you  Tuesday, March 17 @10am Sunnyside Presbyterian Church 115 S. Frances St. South Bend, IN 46617