Local La Leche League celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

By Lia Russell

The Virginian-Pilot

They may be a small group, but the La Leche League of Portsmouth has big plans.

The organization, which advocates breast-feeding, is anticipating 300 participants for its third annual World Breastfeeding Week Walk and celebration.

The event, the culmination of World Breastfeeding Week , will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8,  at Portsmouth City Park, 140 City Park Ave.

Activities include a silent auction, free food and beverages, children’s games, a clown, pottery painting and prize give-aways. A 10-minute ceremonial walk will begin at 11 a.m.

All activities, except the silent auction, are free to the public.

“It’s not just for people with babies,” said Erin Pease, leader of the Portsmouth chapter. “It’s a fun, family-friendly event for everyone.”

This year’s slogan is “Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life,” focusing on the advantages breast-feeding offers during times of crisis.

La Leche League wants to spread the message that breast-feeding provides an uncontaminated and uninterrupted food source for infants and children during natural disasters, including hurricanes, which are a seasonal threat in Hampton Roads.

There also are economic and ecological benefits to breast-feeding, Pease said.

“Breast-feeding provides a free way to feed infants in the event of a job loss or other financial hardship,” she said. “It’s also 'green’ since it does not require any energy to make or packaging besides the human body, reducing our impact on the environment.”

Another benefit, Pease said, is that breast-feeding keeps children healthier, reducing doctor visits and bills.

The group has seen a 25 percent increase in interest during the past year – a result, Pease believes, that is due to current economic conditions.

Although she could not make a correlation to the economy, lactation consultant Cynthia Stuckey at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center said attendance at breast-feeding classes offered at the facility has increased nearly 40 percent over the past year, with 85 percent of new moms opting to nurse.

La Leche League hopes to raise $1,500 during the Saturday event, half of which will benefit the local chapter. The other half goes to La Leche League International, which provides breast-feeding education and advocacy throughout the world.

For further information, call 966-5878 or visit www.llli.org.

Lia Russell, 222-5829, lia.russell@pilotonline.com