I've been running breastfeeding support groups for over 20 years and it is by 
far the most valuable service we offer.  My original group is still running strong 
at the hospital I used to work at.  The LC there now offers the 1st hour to 
moms of babies under 12 months and the 2nd hour for older babies.  She says 
it works well.  
The group I run now (actually the mothers themselves run the group) is a 
mixed group.  I feel it is so important for the mothers to see and be with 
babies of a variety of ages.  So encouraging for the moms of the younger 
babies, and makes the moms of the older ones start planning baby #2!
I strongly feel that a scale has no place at a "support" group.  My dilemma is:  
What do I do when a mother comes proudly showing off her baby, weighs him, 
and discovers he is seriously underweight?  The purpose of the support group 
is to build a mother's confidence, not make her feel like a failure.
One of the purposes of the facilitator - me - is to discreetly watch the nursing 
that is going on and to approach a mother privately who seems to be having 
trouble.  Most are able to stay after the group for a private consult, if needed. 
Other moms come and ask me to observe a feeding while they are at group - 
in most of these instances all that is needed is some reassurance, which the 
mothers are not shy at providing.
All moms are given the group information in the packet they receive in the 
hospital.  Word of mouth serves the group well.  Any mom is welcome - she 
does not need to have delivered at our hospital.  Sometimes they bring their 
friends or neighbors.  Bottlefeeding moms are welcome, but feel more 
comfortable attending the weekly play group our perinatal ed. co-ordinator 
facilitates.  Some moms attend both groups.
We celebrate birthdays.  One of the moms is teaching herself to bake and 
brings in her latest effort every week for us to try.  We also do a catered 
picnic every summer on the hospital grounds (this is our reunion 
that "graduates" of the group look forward to every year), and Santa visits the 
Friday before Christmas.  The moms love it because they can get free photos 
of their babies on Santa's lap, rather than paying a lot of money at the 
shopping mall. A couple of years ago we did an entire Thanksgiving dinner (at 
lunchtime) the Friday before Thanksgiving.  I got up early and made the turkey 
and each mom brought in a side dish that her family enjoys for all of us to 
share.  A couple of babies started on solid foods at this meeting!
We even have dads come on occasion.  One father continued coming to the 
group with his baby after mom went back to school.  The moms were all 
teasing him his 1st solo meeting about him nursing the baby when she got 
hungry.
Can you tell I LOVE my group?  I also have a photo gallery on my office door 
that the families and visitors enjoy looking at while they read the 
breastfeeding info I also post.  It has become a status thing among the moms -
 they are always e-mailing, mailing, or giving me pictures of their babies to put 
on my door.
Enough for now.  You will wonder, Jennifer, why you waited so long to start up 
a group.


Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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