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ESTEVAN — The La Leche League Canada Estevan breastfeeding support group is offering free resources and support for new mothers.
Led by Jennifer Juneau, Hannah McClement and Trex Eden, the group meets the first Thursday of every month at the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre, providing a space for mothers to share experiences and receive guidance on breastfeeding.
"We started this group to create a supportive environment where mothers can feel comfortable and confident about breastfeeding," said Juneau. "It's really informal, just moms sitting around talking about breastfeeding, the challenges that are coming up, and how they're dealing with them. And then we have a leader, facilitating the conversation, keeping it on track to a topic.
"And it's not just for people that are having problems or for people who have a question, it's also for moms to support other moms. Even a mom who's having a beautiful breastfeeding journey and has no issues or anything, I want those moms to come to them [the meetings]. I want them to share their experiences and be a support for other moms," Juneau added.
The group also provides a range of resources, including publications, books and online and lending libraries.
"Instead of Googling, just ask a leader. [That way] you don't have to sift through all the information to find the right information for your situation," Juneau advised.
The group discusses a wide range of topics from prenatal colostrum harvesting, positioning and latching, to mastitis, low milk supply, nipple pain, starting solids, weaning and any topic in between.
In addition to the support group, Juneau leads the Estevan breastfeeding essentials prenatal class, which aims to prepare expectant mothers for breastfeeding.
"The prenatal class covers everything from the basics of breastfeeding to more advanced topics like pumping and storage," Juneau explained. "We want mothers to feel prepared and empowered."
The next prenatal class is July 6.
The support group leaders also provide one-on-one help and resources for mothers facing specific issues.
"If a mom has a problem or a question, they can reach out to any of us three," said Juneau. "We can provide them with information and direct them to resources."
Despite the resources available, the group leaders have noticed a decrease in participation.
"We haven't had many calls this year," Juneau mentioned. "We really want to encourage more moms to reach out and use the support that's available."
The Estevan breastfeeding support group is open to all mothers, and the leaders encourage anyone seeking support to attend a meeting.
"Whether you're a new mother or have been breastfeeding for a while, there's a place for you here," said Juneau.
The support group is a non-profit organization, and they accept donations to keep their initiatives going.
For more information about the Estevan breastfeeding support group or the Estevan breastfeeding essentials prenatal class, contact Juneau at 306-421-5884.
La Leche League Canada is a registered charity that provides peer support for pregnant women/parents, new moms/parents and beyond.
"We are parents like you who have breastfed or chestfed our own children and now volunteer to support others to reach their goals. As volunteer leaders, we are accredited within La Leche League Canada after a detailed training program and have access to current scientific and legal information to help support others," says the description on the LLLC website.
