Your sweetest Valentine

Hi ALLL,
Love is something that grows exponentially and adds new dimension to your heart when you have a child. It is something no one can articulate - it can only be felt.

With this month centered around LOVE know that human milk is one of the first loves your child knows.  Since the moment it is born, your child receives this liquid love and it begins your relationship of love, trust and respect.  Anyone that has nursed a child into the age that they can communicate - the child will often show their love to nurse verbally.  One day, my youngest son (he was about 16 mo.) started to nurse and with the breast in his mouth looked at me and say "mommy milk" with a smile and then followed up with a bigger smile and said: "YUMMMY!!!"  Moments like that can melt your heart and then make swell with joy.  And because nursing is such a temporary time in both of our lives, I savor moments like this, that only nursing can create.

Enjoy your time - enjoy your littlest Valentine's!

Many BLLLessings,
Erin Abrams, LLL Leader of Sturbridge, MA

Previous Meeting Notes: Advantages of Breastfeeding 
Breastfeeding is good for every part of baby's body--from the brain to the diaper area. Here's a list:
Brain. Higher IQ in breastfed children. Cholesterol and other types of fat in human milk support the growth of nerve tissue.
Eyes. Visual acuity is higher in babies fed human milk.
Ears. Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections.
Mouth. Less need for orthodontics in children breastfed more than a year. Improved muscle development of face from suckling at the breast. Subtle changes in the taste of human milk prepare babies to accept a variety of solid foods.
Throat. Children who are breastfed are less likely to require tonsillectomies.
Respiratory system. Evidence shows that breastfed babies have fewer and less severe upper respiratory infections, less wheezing, less pneumonia and less influenza. Heart and circulatory system. Evidence suggests that breastfed children may have lower cholesterol as adults. Heart rates are lower in breastfed infants.
Digestive system. Less diarrhea, fewer gastrointestinal infections in babies who are breastfeeding. Six months or more of exclusive breastfeeding reduces risk of food allergies. Also, less risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in adulthood.
Immune system. Breastfed babies respond better to vaccinations. Human milk helps to mature baby's own immune system. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of childhood and adult cancers.
Endocrine system. Reduced risk of getting diabetes. Kidneys. With less salt and less protein, human milk is easier on a baby's kidneys.
Appendix. Children with acute appendicitis are less likely to have been breastfed.
Urinary tract. Fewer infections in breastfed infants. Joints and muscles. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is less common in children who were breastfed.
Skin. Less allergic eczema in breastfed infants.
Growth. Breastfed babies are leaner at one year of age and less likely to be obese later in life.
Bowels. Less constipation. Stools of breastfed babies have a less-offensive odor.
Taken from www.askdrsears.com

Travis Holden Leyvas

Leila Leyvas, her husband, Tom, and big sister Little Leila welcomed in a new soul, Travis Holden Leyvas on Monday, January 19, 2009, weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.   Congratulations!!

Drew Anthony Bardsley

Vickie Bardsley, husband Luke, and big sister Ava welcomed in their sweet son, Drew Anthony Bardsley, also on Monday, January 19, 2009, weighing 9lbs, and 21 inches long. Congratulations!!

Also, former LLL Leader, Suzanne Holden, is expecting her second child in the spring.  Congratulations to Suzanne and her family - many blessings of health, peace and joy!!

Mark Your Calendars & join in the FUN!!!
Toddler Playgroup:
Open to all mothers that have toddler's nursing and siblings or plan to nurse through toddler-hood.
Date: Feb. 10th (2nd Tues. of the month)
Time: 10-11AM - Please note new time and place!
Location: Kennedy Donovan Center; Rt. 169 in Southbridge.
Please join us for some inside craft and fun, geared for children ages 0-5 years - siblings are welcomed. 
Click here for directions

Nighttime Meeting:
Open to all nursing mothers and mothers that have nursed, nursing children welcomed to meeting.
Date: Feb. 19th (3rd Thurs. of each month)
Time: 7-8:30PM
Topic: Preparing for Birth and Breastfeeding (Your questions and concerns are top priority.)
Location: Earth Spirits on Rt. 20 in Sturbridge
Our night time meeting is a time for mothers to uphold the LLL traditions - mother-to-mother support.  If LLL has helped supported you and your child in breastfeeding, please consider attending a meeting and offer another new nursing mom your support with your experience and stories of your adventure through breastfeeding.  Even though we have a leader facilitating the group, other stories and experiences are valuable to helping other nursing moms.
Click here for directions.

Daytime Playgroup:
Open to all ages
Date: Feb. 27th (4th Friday of each month)
Time: 10-11:00 AM
Location: Sturbridge Federated Church
Click here for directions.
Open to all moms, nursing children and siblings.

How Breastfeeding and your baby's oral development:

·         Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
Nursing is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies drinking from the human breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle. Obviously, a nursing baby's jaws are receiving much more exercise assisting in the growth of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth. Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing, the less chance of dental problems.

·       Less money spent on corrective orthodontia
Breastfeeding movements widen the pallet of the mouth aiding the teeth come in straight and properly spaced. Also, the movement releases pressure in the jaw that occurs when a child is getting teeth.  Again, this only futher supports the length that a child should be breastfed as most children do not complete the teething process until they are almost 2yrs.

·       Better speech development – oral motor development
Bottlefeeding can lead to the interruption of proper oral motor development provoking alterations to the posture and strength of the speech organs and harming the functions of chewing, swallowing, breathing, and articulation of speech sounds. The lack of physiological sucking on the breast may interfere in the oral motor development.

·       Breastfed babies have less tooth decay
Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Furthermore, bottle-fed babies "are at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars." Furthermore, breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Are you on Facebook? Then join LLL online!  Many of us have busy lives and can't connect during our meeting times.  Facebook allows you to post a question to fellow BF'ing mothers and have an instant community when you need support.  We also use it to announce what we are doing that day and if any other like-minded moms want to join in.  Search for LLL of Sturbridge and ask to join!

Wednesday's at 10am, OSV offers a preschool story and craft program.  The program lasts about 45 minutes and includes a story and a related hands-on activity in the Village with a costumed staff person.  It is a lot of fun and quite a unique preschool experience.  The cost is $3 per week for members' Children and $7 per week for children of non-members.  Adults are required to accompany the children, but are not charged admission to the program.  No registration is required. More info: 508-347-3362 or www.osv.org.

Advertise with US!
If you or someone you know would like to advertise in our monthly newsletter, please spread the word. Money received will help support our group and the community we share. Our newsletter goes out to over 70 people and is hopefully shared with more as some on our list are doulas, nurses and midwives.   We are a specific market of moms, families, nursing moms, nutrition focused and many homeschoolers. Advertising rates begin at $10/month!  WHAT A DEAL!!

More info: calflaa@hotmail.com

WIC offers BF'ing Programs

South Central WIC Program is committed to increasing breastfeeding rates from initiation at birth by increasing retention rates beyond three to six months of age. To help achieve these goals, they are starting prenatal breastfeeding classes and breastfeeding support groups for postpartum women.  Classes and support groups will be open to all interested at no coast.  Classes begin January 16th at 2PM.  More info, contact Christina Austin, Breastfeeding Coordinator at 508-765-0139.

If you are in need of a book, please email Erin Abrams at info@lllsturbridge.org for any book that may be in our library. Sylvie can email you a list of books that range from breastfeeding, attachment parenting, discipline, tandem nursing, and more.

Breast Pump
If you have a breast pump that you are no longer needing, please email Erin at info@lllsturbridge.org as we have a mother in need.

Cloth Diapers
It is estimated that Americans throw away 18 billion disposable diapers a year.  Disposable diapers in landfills contain raw sewage which can contaminate local water supply. Sylvie Dugas has cloth diapers that haven't been used. If you are interest in trying cloth diapers, contact Sylvie at shastadreamers@charter.net if you would like a supply of velcro cloth diapers.

If you have anything gently used and would like to donate to someone in the group or do a swap (please no selling), email Erin Abrams by the 1st of each month.  Also if you are in need of anything, please email me.  info@lllsturbridge.org.

Is high-fructose corn syrup safe to consume?
By Stacy Blondin

Joshua Hyde (Sturbridge) Library
Location: Rt. 131 in Sturbridge
Fees: Free
Upcoming Events:  http://www.town.sturbridge.ma.us/Public_Documents/SturbridgeMA_LibCal/?FormID=158

Music Man
Location: Sturbridge Coffee House
Fee: Free
Date(s) and Time(s): Tuesday from 4-5PM; Fridays from 10-11am
More info: Friday mornings have been so popular that SCH has added him to Tues. afternoons.  Armed with his guitar, harmonica and childhood classic songs, the Music Man gets the kids full of energy.  www.sturbridgecoffeehouse.com  

Story time for PreSchoolers at Broad Meadow Brook Programs
Location: Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester
Fee: Adults $5.00 m/ $6.00 nm, Children $5.00 m/ $6.00 nm
More info: http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Broad_Meadow/index.php

Feed the Birds
Date: Thursday, February 26, 1-3pm
All Ages
Late winter can be the cruelest time of year for birds.  We’ll give our feathered friends a boost by making a variety of simple, clever bird feeders – such as edible garlands and wildlife cookies – that you can hang in your yard.  (No peanut products will be used.)  Then we’ll visit  sanctuary birds and observe their winter survival strategies.

Family Yoga: FlowForms Yoga on Lake Ave. in Worcester offers Family Yoga (and PreNatal workshops) each month.  Family Yoga is for children of all ages and the grown ups who love them. Play and explore in this nurturing and uplifting class, taught by LLL friend, Jen Faldetta.  Jen offers a heart opening class to share with your whole family - all ages are welcomed, it is worth the trip (and Trader Joes is right around the corner to make it more worth while ;).  The next workshops is Sunday, Feb. 15th.  Class is $18/class for two family members and $6.00 for each additional person.  More info: www.flowformsyoga.com.
 

If you know of a community event, please email Erin at info@lllsturbridge.org by the first of the month.

La Leche League offers 24 hour toll free helpline providing information, education and support for women who want to breastfeed and healthcare providers. Visit www.breasfeedinghelpline.com for more information or call 1-877-LA-LECHE (1-877-452-5324).

La Leche League International has a mother-to-mother forum on their website that is a great resource for mothers to share experiences on their time.  Much like how LLL meetings first began: experienced mothers helping new moms, and friends supporting each other, the online forum is another way to tap into a breastfeeding support group.  To connect to the forum, go to: http://forums.llli.org.

Kennedy Donovan Center - Located on Rt. 169 in Southbridge. Look for the yellow building half way between Rt. 20 in Charlton and entering Southbridge on Rt. 169.  Sign has a big "KDC." on it.

EarthSpirits - http://earthspirits-herbals.com - Located on Rt. 20 (East bound side) above TJ O'Brien's.  After entering Sturbridge from the MASSPike, drive down Rt. 20 West, go to your fourth traffic light (at Rt. 20 and Cedar St.) and make a left hand turn to reverse your direction onto Rt. 20 East - immediately you will see the entrance to EarthSpirits.

Sturbridge Federated Church - Located between the Town Hall and Library.  take Rt. 131 off of Rt. 20 when entering Sturbridge.  Travel up a 1/4 mile and you will pass the Post Office (red building) on your left.  At the traffic light, take a left and park on your right side.  If you need additional parking you can park across the street in the back of the Town Hall.  The Federated Church is adjacent to the Joshua Hyde Library. Enter through the side entrance and take the elevator down to the nursery.  From the elevator, take a right and enter through the doors and the nursery is on your left.

Submission are accepted by the first of each month, if not they will be included in the following month's newsletter.  Please send submissions to info@lllsturbridge.org.

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