Group helps Yuma mothers, answers parenting questions

Missi Labistre had questions about breast-feeding when her first child was born three years ago, so she turned to a local group of moms who share experiences and offer advice.

Labistre joined the Yuma chapter of La Leche League. "I didn't really have any friends that breast-fed," she said.

Labistre's own mother had gone to a group in California when Labistre was little, so she was familiar with La Leche League and its mission. And she found the Yuma chapter, led by Karen Sims. She said it was encouraging to be around other people who believed in breast-feeding.

Her involvement helped with "even the little things like 'she's starting to get teeth,'" Labistre said. "It helped me through times like that.

"If I didn't have La Leche League, I wouldn't have breast-fed," she said.

Founded locally nearly 30 years ago, Sims said the group has monthly meetings to encourage, inform and educate women who are pregnant and/or breast-feeding their baby. The meetings usually last about 30 to 45 minutes, Sims said.

"Mothers and their babies are encouraged to attend meetings to learn, to receive support and to find a community of other mothers who are going through the same things they are," Sims said. "We offer information so that mothers can make the best choices for their own babies and families and support them in those choices.

"In our culture, many new mothers are isolated from extended family and are without close ties for support and information."

Sims said she usually has planned topics, but there's always time for mothers to ask specific questions.

Attendance generally varies from about three to eight moms, Labistre said.

But the meetings are even more than advice on breast-feeding and parenting.

There's also a social aspect, Labistre said.

"Every month they grow so much. I love to see the babies change," Labistre said the day of the group's August meeting. "I'm looking forward to seeing how all their babies are growing."

The group can even help with some stigmas associated with breast-feeding, such as feeding in public.

"They did make me more comfortable with nursing in public," Labistre said.

That support is 24/7, Sims said with La Leche League leaders available for phone counseling at any time.

"We can help mothers by phone when their babies are born, or later if they encounter concerns or problems with breast-feeding," she said. "Mothers can call us any time, though we do ask that non-urgent questions be asked during normal waking hours."

There are also answers to many common, and not so common, questions on the international group's Web site at www.llli.org, Sims said.

Sims said they also offer a library of books relating to breast-feeding, birth, mothering and fathering as well as cookbooks and children's story books.

The group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Yuma Regional Corporate Center, 399 W. 32nd St. The next discussion topic, for the Sept. 17 meeting, is "The Benefits of Human Milk."

For more information about the group, call Sims at 783-0048.