It's too bad that more LLL groups don't have fathers' meetings.  There is
an aspect of "mother-space" to women-only meetings, but I sometimes
question the trade-off.  As a co-Leader of a fathers-invited evening LLL
group (we have two other mothers only groups in the immediate area), I have
to say that fathers have an ENORMOUS impact on their spouses' milk supply,
psychologic status, and general bf perseverence.  At first, they come to
meetings thinking abm is "almost just as good, and besides they can
'help-out' with abm."  After just one meeting, we see an incredible
turn-around.  Dads also get to do some dad-to-dad support, as well as
hearing all the trials and joys from other families.  Men, at least in the
US, don't do a lot of the intimate sharing of the ups and downs of
parenting, and I believe they often feel isolated (regardless of feeding
method).  "Our" LLL dads, especially the ones who attend while 'pregnant',
truly inspire me when I overhear them talking to a "new" dad about just how
great bf is and why they need to do everything to make it possible.  Just
as we expect dads to attend childbirth ed classes and support the mother to
follow her wishes (eg. not accepting meds during transition, or suggesting
that she change positions), we should educate them as to why not to switch
to abm in the "bf transition phase of weeks 0-6 or so" (my term for it).

: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
: )LLLLLLLLLLLLL**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL : )