La Leche, << lah LAY chay, >> League International is an organization of women who offer information and encouragement to mothers who want to breast-feed their babies. The Spanish words la leche mean the milk. The league provides counseling and education to parents and professionals through meetings, seminars, and publications. It distributes books, pamphlets, and other materials on childbirth, child care, and related subjects. It also directs group discussions for mothers who are breast-feeding and other interested women.
La Leche members believe breast-feeding contributes to a child’s well-being and promotes good mother-child relationships. A group of mothers in suburban Chicago founded the organization in 1956. Today, it has thousands of local groups worldwide. The headquarters are in Schaumburg, Illinois.
