La Leche League of Indiana, Broad Ripple Group

We are Breastfeeding Mothers

Founded in 1956, La Leche League (or LLL) is an organization that seeks to make breastfeeding easier and more rewarding for mother and child. We offer information and encouragement — primarily through personal help — to women who want to breastfeed their babies.

Some of the services available free of charge through La Leche League include:

• Monthly Meetings for breastfeeding and pregnant mothers
• Telephone and email help from experienced Leader
• Very popular online discussion forums
• Lending library with books on breastfeeding, childbirth, parenting, and nutrition.
• Free podcasts on popular breastfeeding and parenting topics.
• Other information and support through our award-winning website.

We also offer:

• Books for sale, including our book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
• New Beginnings, a bimonthly online magazine for parents.
• Conferences keeping you up-to-date on the latest in breastfeeding research.

Whether you breastfeed your baby 6 days, 6 weeks, 6 months, a year or longer, you’ll find LLL meetings supportive and informative.

Our core philosophy is found in the statements below:

• Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
• Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.
• In the early years the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
• Breast milk is the superior infant food.
• For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until the baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth.
• Ideally the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need.
• Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
• Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby’s father. A father’s unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child’s development from early infancy.
• Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
• From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.

La Leche League is active in 60 countries, reaching more than 100,000 mothers monthly. LLL International is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in consultative status with UNICEF, is an NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), is an accredited member of the US Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition, and is a founding member of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

Who are La Leche League Members?

Members of La Leche League International care about giving their babies breastmilk. Mothers who become members breastfeed longer because LLLI has developed a worldwide network of caring mothers with experience who share information, support, and encouragement. With a LLLI Membership the benefits also include:

• A one-year subscription to the bimonthly New Beginnings, the our online magazine filled with inspiration, practical hints, book reviews, and breastfeeding information.
• At least a 10% discount at the LLLI online store.
• Meeting new people in the Indianapolis area community and gaining self-confidence as you learn from other mothers.
• Providing funds for our breastfeeding helpline, pamphlets, postage, and continuing education for Leaders.
• Ensuring that breastfeeding support will continue to be available for future breastfeeding mothers!

If you are interested in becoming a LLL Member, please consider joining locally to ensure that part of your donation remains here for local breastfeeding support. Membership is $40 and 100% tax-deductible. Please contact a Leader if you are interested in joining to support the Broad Ripple Group and La Leche League of Indiana.

New! $26 Supporting membership, all the benefits of regular membership, without the New Beginnings magazine subscription.

La Leche League is a nonprofit organization entirely supported by donations, memberships and sales of materials.

All La Leche League written materials are approved by a Medical Advisory Board.

All donations to La Leche League are 100% tax-deductible.