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- Jennifer Mifflin asked for ideas about starting a breastfeeding support group, in a small town with good breastfeeding rates.  She also asked what "supplies" she'd need. -
Hi Jennifer,
The main need is a room for the group to meet and sit comfortably, and for lots of advertising, perhaps through flyers at the hospital or WIC,  baby clothes shops, local doctors.  The best "equipment" is the presence some experienced mothers with their babies, to provide role models and experience for the newer Mums.  You might like to invite a few experienced Mums to the first meeting or so.  After that, the group will probably take on its own life and the new mothers will  be gaining their own experience and confidence.
Some Mums might value the chance to weigh their babies, and so a well calibrated set of scales would be useful - but not strictly essential.  I've conducted or attended many support group meetings over trhe years, in a variety of locations, and none of them has ever had scales.  However, that opportunity might be appreciated by the mothers.
Oh - one other point!  Sometimes it takes courage for a new mother to venture out to a group, and she is more lilely to come again if she is made welcome.  Some groups allocate someone to greet "new faces".  This can become important in a gourp after it has been established for awhile, when everyone knows everybody, but the newcomer doesn't.  Successful groups can become a bit "clique-y", and not realise that newcomers feel like outsiders.
All the best with putting your idea into action.
Virginia
In Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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