La Leche League International, Inc.
To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and the mother.StatisticsLLLI provides over $33 million per year of in-kind services.LLLI reaches well over 300,000 people in 63 countries every month.Approximately 39,000 Leaders have been accredited in the past 44 years. Each LLL Group is attended by an average of 10 women per month, with many Groups attracting 20-30 mothers. LLLI s Center for Breastfeeding Information (CBI) contains more than 17,000 full-length research studies with more than 300 categories of breastfeeding data and adds over 125 new studies a month.The LLLI Board of Directors includes members from six countries.7 LLLI maintains consultative status with the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF), official working relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), acts as a registered Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) for the Agency of International Development (USAID), 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) LLLI is a member of the Child Survival Collaborations and Resources Group (CORE).
La Leche League International, Inc.
La Leche League International, Inc. (LLLI) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides advocacy, education, and training related to breastfeeding. Founded in 1956 by seven mothers in Franklin Park, Illinois, the organization has grown into a global network supporting breastfeeding mothers in about 89 countries.
Purpose and Mission
The mission of LLLI is to assist mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education. It aims to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as a crucial element in the healthy development of both the baby and mother. LLLI encourages mothering through breastfeeding and fosters a community where breastfeeding is valued and supported.
History
La Leche League was established at a time when breastfeeding was not as common; only about 20% of babies in the United States were breastfed in 1956. The founders, including Marian Tompson, Mary White, Mary Ann Cahill, Edwina Froehlich, Mary Ann Kerwin, Viola Lennon, and Betty Wagner, initially met in private homes. In 1964, the organization officially became La Leche League International and held its first international conference in Chicago. Notable milestones include receiving consultative status with UNICEF in 1981 and participating in the establishment of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners in 1985.
Structure
La Leche League International is structured around several Direct Connect Entities (DCEs), including the LLL Alliance for Breastfeeding Education in the USA, the European Area Network, the International Area Network, Ligue La Leche in French Canada, LLL Canada, LLL Great Britain, LLL New Zealand, and LLL USA. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for establishing policies and ensuring the legal and ethical integrity of LLLI.
Activities
La Leche League offers support to breastfeeding mothers through local meetings led by accredited Leaders who are experienced in breastfeeding themselves. These Leaders provide guidance, encouragement, and information to mothers. LLLI also produces various publications, including The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, a key resource for breastfeeding knowledge.
Global Presence
La Leche League has a presence in over 80 countries, with approximately 6,000 accredited Leaders worldwide. The organization is not affiliated with any business, organization, or religion and operates independently across different cultural contexts.
Recent Developments
In recent years, LLLI has emphasized diversity and inclusivity, focusing on making breastfeeding support accessible to a broader range of mothers. However, some internal debates have surfaced, such as the inclusion of transgender individuals in the organization, leading to the resignation of founder Marian Tompson in 2024.
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