To help bring awareness to the various needs of breastfeeding women, the La Leche League of North Mississippi will be holding several events throughout August to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month.

Events will include educational seminars to fun gatherings to give breastfeeding mothers time to connect.

The events start on Friday at noon with the Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi Annual Breastfeeding Luncheon. Linda Pittman, director of the Mother’s Milk Bank of Mississippi and Dr. Rebecca Saenz will discuss the benefits of breast milk baking and donation. Pre-registration is required. Call 662-513-1602 for more information.

On Saturday, there will be a Breastfeeding Bootcamp at the Oxford and Lafayette County Public Library from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. where expectant or new mothers will learn from area lactation experts, doctors and doulas about everything they need to know about establishing a strong breastfeeding relationship right from the start, maintaining milk supply, pumping and storing milk, troubleshooting common challenges and starting solid foods.

Around a long time

La Leche League was founded in 1956 by seven women who felt that with more support, more women would have successful breastfeeding experiences. The local chapter meets twice a month.

“Meetings are free and open to the public and they are really less like meetings and more like gatherings of support and professional advice,” said Stacey Sanford, with the local LLL. “The meetings here in Oxford are attended by La Leche League leaders, doulas and lactation consultants all who want to help support women through their whole breastfeeding journey. From latching and finding the right way to hold a newborn to transitioning to foods to learning to wean, there is someone there to support women with hands on help and guidance.”

More events planned

Events continue on Aug. 13 with a documentary screening of “Breastmilk: The Movie,” at 3 p.m. at The Powerhouse. The movie is a 90-minute documentary film following several couples as they become first-time parents and navigate breastfeeding and its challenges.

After the screening, there will be a “Moms Night Out” at Lamar Lounge.

On Aug. 31, a brown-bag lunch will be held at noon called, “The Cultural of Breastfeeding,” at the Barnard Observatory on the University of Mississippi campus that will discuss barriers and rights for breast-feeding moms.

“Sometimes breastfeeding can have its challenges, but as the La Leche League believed then, we strive now to provide as many resources and support groups to any woman who wants the help,” Sanford said.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 662-523-1625 or send an email to lllofnorthms@gmail.com.