La Leche League of South Bend

Dear mothers and friends, In consideration of the state recommendations and the response of many of the public spaces, including some of those in which we hold meetings, La Leche League of South Bend has decided to postpone our regular in-person meetings. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation in our area and continue meetings when it seems possible and safe for you and your families. We are taking this situation seriously and want to still be able to help mothers with breastfeeding questions. If you have any breastfeeding concerns or questions, you can still contact us via phone, email, or Facebook. We are always happy to help families work through difficult, joyful, and strange moments of the journey! lllofsouthbend.blogspot.com/ lllofsouthbend@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lllofsouthbend / 574-334-7624 Breast milk is still the best food for your babies, and La Leche has provided guidance for breastfeeding through illness: Continuing to Nurse Your Baby ...

Hello Friends! 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 fill those long hours with baby? How do you divvy up household chores? How do you fit breastfeeding and/or pumping into your new lifestyle? (Or how do you adapt your lifestyle to breastfeeding?!) 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. Tuesday, February 25th at 10:00am Bittersweet Branch Lib...

Are you thinking about  starting   solids ? Wondering about how best to care for your own nutritional needs as a nursing mother? Dealing with a picky toddler or preschooler? Tuesday's morning meeting will be all about introducing first foods and encouraging nutritious eating as our children grow. Come with questions or experiences to share. We are thrilled to be able to show a short video on the subject that we made in collaboration with a video production class at Saint Mary's College--you'll see some familiar faces!! As always, we will have time for any breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes you'd like to share. Looking forward to seeing you around 10am on Tuesday, February 18th Sunnyside Presbyterian Church 115 S. Frances St. South Bend, IN 46617 Some links about  solids : Why it's best to wait until at least the middle of the first year to begin introducing  solids , as seen in the LLL philosophy statement:  "For the he...

Hello friends! It's time again for the monthly LLL playgroup! On Tuesday we'll be at The Well Coffee House in Mishawaka, There is a play space with imaginative toys and room for crawlers to crawl, big kids to play, and mamas and babies to cuddle, nurse, and chat. 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 :). Robin will be waiting to greet you this week so that you'll know you're in the right spot! Tuesday, February 4th between 10:15 and noon. The Well Coffee House 2410 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 387-2410 http://thewellriverpark.com/

Hello Friends! 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 fill those long hours with baby? How do you divvy up household chores? How do you fit breastfeeding and/or pumping into your new lifestyle? (Or how do you adapt your lifestyle to breastfeeding?!) 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. Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00am Bittersweet Branch ...

Hello Wonderful Mamas! At our next morning meeting we will be discussing that precious commodity for all parents--Sleep. There are as many sleep philosophies and set-ups as there are babies. Come share ideas of what has worked for your family, struggles you face, and an open heart for commiseration. We're also looking forward to hearing your breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes. 10am Tuesday, January 21st Sunnyside Presbyterian Church 115 S. Francis St. South Bend, IN Did you know that the foremost expert of mother-baby cosleeping is right here at Notre Dame? http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/ http://neuroanthropology.net/2008/12/21/cosleeping-and-biological-imperatives-why-human-babies-do-not-and-should-not-sleep-alone/ Information and resources from LLLI about the new book: https://www.llli.org/resources/sweet-sleep/ Here are some ideas for helping baby sleep: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sle...

Hello friends! It's time again for the monthly LLL playgroup! On Tuesday we'll be at The Well Coffee House in Mishawaka, There is a play space with imaginative toys and room for crawlers to crawl, big kids to play, and mamas and babies to cuddle, nurse, and chat. 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 :). Robin will be waiting to greet you this week so that you'll know you're in the right spot! Tuesday, January 7th between 10:15 and noon. The Well Coffee House 2410 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 387-2410 http://thewellriverpark.com/

*There will be no meeting on December 24th.* How is your nursing relationship changing as your baby moves towards (or through) toddlerhood? At this week's morning meeting we'll chat about nursing our babies into toddlerhood, and all the amusing and at times frustrating things that go with it! -Do you have thoughts about how setting limits with gentle discipline fit in to your current (and future!) nursing relationship? -Are you curious about the weaning process--how to be gentle, respectful and gradual? -Are you thinking about getting pregnant again but aren't sure whether you should wean first? -Wondering about nursing through pregnancy and continuing to tandem nurse once the new baby is here? If you are thinking about any of these issues, or have experiences to share, please join us at the next LLL morning meeting! And even if these topics aren't relevant to you right now, come enjoy the camaraderie, commiseration and support of other nursing mamas. An...

Join us Tuesday, December 10 at 7 pm at the Tutt Branch Library to share your birth story.  DId you birth happen as you envisioned?  Were there disappointments you had not planned for? How did your birth impact breastfeeding? Do you have any tips for mothers in the early days after birth?  Come share your wisdom and experiences. Expectant parents and babies are welcome.

Hello friends! It's time again for the monthly LLL  playgroup !  On Tuesday we'll be at The Well Coffee House in Mishawaka, There is a play space with imaginative toys and room for crawlers to crawl, big kids to play, and mamas and babies to cuddle, nurse, and chat.  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 :).  Christy will be waiting to greet you this week so that you'll know you're in the right spot! Tuesday, December 3rd between 10:15 and noon. The Well Coffee House 2410 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 387-2410 http://thewellriverpark.com/

Hello Mamas! 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, learning 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! We are looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday, November 26nd at 10am. Bittersweet Branch Library 602 N Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46544 Here are two  favorite blogs on the subject of motherhood--ones to go back to when we need support: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/to-the-mother-with-only-one-child http://askmoxie.org...

Hello Everyone! At our next meeting we'll share our ideas about dealing with the holidays as parents of littles. Do you have tips for fielding family questions/opinions about parenting and breastfeeding choices?  Traveling  with babies and children? Keeping ourselves and our kids healthy in the midst of cookies and germs?  Trying to maintain some semblance of routine amongst the craziness? Of course we will always have time for concerns you might have and insights you'd like to share, along with general chatting, support, and  library perusal. We're looking forward to seeing you  Tuesday, November 19 at 10am Sunnyside Presbyterian Church  115 S. Frances St. South Bend, IN 46617 Some nice go-tos for handling unwanted advice:  http://elizabethpantley.com/ handling-unwanted-advice/ Traveling   tricks & tips from other LLL mamas: https://www.llli.org/ breastfeeding-info/ travel / Ideas for nur...

We are going to cover two topics this week at our meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 7 pm at the Tutt Branch. For those of you who are back to work, can you share with others how you prepared for this.  How do you find enough hours in the work day for pumping?  With holidays on the horizon, how do you deal with the added activities and travel, perhaps dealing with relatives who are not as supportive of breastfeeding?  Expectant parents and babies all welcome.

Hello friends! It's time again for the monthly LLL playgroup! We will meet indoors starting this month at a new location! On Tuesday we'll be at The Well Coffee House in Mishawaka, There is a play space with imaginative toys and room for crawlers to crawl, big kids to play, and mamas and babies to cuddle, nurse, and chat.  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 :).  Christy will be waiting to greet you this week so that you'll know you're in the right spot! Tuesday, November 5th between 10:15 and noon. The Well Coffee House 2410 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 387-2410 http://thewellriverpark.com/

Are you thinking about starting  solids ? Wondering about how best to care for your own nutritional needs as a nursing mother? Dealing with a picky toddler or preschooler? Tuesday's morning meeting will be all about introducing first foods and encouraging nutritious eating as our children grow. Come with questions or experiences to share. We are thrilled to be able to show a short video on the subject that we made in collaboration with a video production class at Saint Mary's College--you'll see some familiar faces!! As always, we will have time for any breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes you'd like to share. Looking forward to seeing you around 10am on Tuesday, October 22nd Bittersweet Branch Library 602 N Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46544 Some links about  solids : Why it's best to wait until at least the middle of the first year to begin introducing  solids , as seen in the LLL philosophy statement:  "For the healthy, fu...

At our next morning meeting we will share our ideas and experiences around Birth. How did your birth experience(s) impact breastfeeding? What would you change if you could? What would you recommend to other mothers? Bring ideas of local resources, supportive ears, and open minds as we come together to share our perspectives on this powerful topic. As always, we will have room for  your breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes! We're looking forward to seeing you at  10:00 am, Tuesday October 15th Sunnyside  Presbyterian  Church 115 S. Frances St. South Bend, IN 46617 Birth directly affects breastfeeding--here are some thoughts on the process:  http://talkbirth.me/2 010/05/28/the-birth-breastfeed ing-continuum/ Sometimes our birth experiences don't lend themselves to an easy transition to breastfeeding. Here are some ideas for breastfeeding after a c-section:  https://supportingb reas...

Join us Tuesday, October 8 at 7 pm at the Tutt Library in South Bend. We will be discussing your favorite "Tricks" for making working and breastfeeding work for you and the "Treats" you and your baby receive from breastfeeding. Expectant mothers, babies, newcomers and experienced mothers all welcome. Bring your questions and expertise.

Come join us for our last outdoor playgroup of the year! We are looking forward to our outdoor playgroup on Tuesday at Parkovash Park - a quiet little park with room for parents to walk around with their wee ones snuggled, toddlers to run, climb, and swing, and nice shady spots for babies and parents to sit and visit. Come on out and join us--no baby is too young for a mama to benefit from a playgroup! (Even the ones still in utero!) Robin will be waiting to welcome you. (In case of rain or cold, we will move to the Main Library Children's Services! Check our Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/lllofsouthbend) See you on Tuesday, October 1st, between 10am-noon Parkovash Park 277 Parkovash Avenue South Bend, Indiana 46617 http://sbpark.org/parks/parkovash-park/q

Hello Mamas! What do you love about  wearing  your  baby  or toddler? What type of carrier have you always wanted to try? Is there a tricky back or side carry you need demonstrated? At the next La Leche League meeting, we will share our babywearing experiences and questions with the group and be ready to demonstrate and assist with hands-on practice. Bring your carriers and try ours!  Of course we always have space for your breastfeeding questions, concerns, and successes. We're looking forward to seeing you at 10:00 am, Tuesday September 24th Bittersweet Branch Library 602 N Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46544 https://goo.gl/maps/ vCCEi7z3jZ12 An important rundown on safe  babywearing :  http://www. schoolofbabywearing.com/ Images/TICKS.pdf Here is an article about the drawbacks of over-using strollers and carseats: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ women/mother-tongue/10693168/ Leaving-infants-in-buggies- may-cause-long-t...