Spend 30 seconds...

Please spend 30 seconds today to help the Mothers Milk Bank of New England.

There is an online competition at a site called IdeaBlob. The contest allows anyone to post a business or non-profit idea and compete for $10,000, given away each month.

Money is needed for the startup of the Mothers Milk Bank of New England.
The Milk Bank needs money for 1) processing and storage equipment, 2) a "Milk Money" fund to help families whose insurance won't cover processing fees, and 3) marketing materials to get the word out about the new bank.

So, here's our chance to make a big difference today. Here's what to do:

* Go to the
Milk Bank page on IdeaBlob, and vote for this project! You have to register first and confirm by email, which doesn't take long.
* Blog or post about this wherever you can to help bring in more votes.

Mother/baby playgroup Little Angels

Little Angels resumes tomorrow at 10am at Iona's place. This group for mothers with their babies who are not yet walking, is usually held on the first and third Fridays of each month.

Dates for early 2008 are
Jan 18th
Feb 1st and 15th
March 7th

Come along and make friends with other mothers in Tokyo, there are books for loan, magazine exchange, get your parenting questions answered, and refreshments are provided. We have it all!

Breastfeeding Workshops for early 2008

Breastfeeding workshops for 2008 will be held on

Sunday January 20th
Sunday February 17th
Sunday March 16th

I am always happy to arrange other dates for private groups of 3 or more couples. The workshop runs from 1.30 - 5.30pm. Details can be found here.

Private consultations in your home or during your hospital stay are also possible by arrangement.

Happy New Year to all!

European breastfeeding promotion

A trucking company in Italy has given breastfeeding (and La Leche League) some fabulous publicity!! The wife of the owner was helped by a volunteer LLL Leader after her baby was born, and this was her novel way to say thankyou!

Blue Sky Christmas Party

A big thank you to everyone who sent in your stories!

Blue Sky's Christmas party was a lot of fun! It was a great way to end the year, with Christmas cookies and kids dancing to Jingle Bells and Christmas songs and stories. In all there were about 50 people, mothers, children and babies included. Check out http://www.blueskytokyo.com for future events!

WANTED: Mothers' Stories

November 16, 2007

Dear Friend,
The World Breastfeeding Week 2008 theme is “Mother Support: Going for the Gold.” The Writers Team is working on the calendar announcement and the Action Folder. Because the theme addresses the need for and the value of providing support to a breastfeeding woman, we would like to feature examples of real life stories from mothers who benefited from support. We need support stories from mothers who have had varying and different experiences.

If you are a breastfeeding mother, please submit your support story.

If you aren’t a breastfeeding mother, but you know a breastfeeding mother, please share this with her.

The form below needs to be filled out and emailed to Rebecca Magalhães at RMagalhaes@llli.org and copied to Paulina Smith at smithpc@att.net.mx
Note: If you would like your stories included for publication locally, please also cc Iona blue.sky@gol.com

Please submit by November 30, 2007.


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Mother's Name: ________________________ (only the first name will be used)

Baby/young child's Name __________________________

Baby/young child's Age:____________________________

Country: _______________________________



In 150 words or less, describe the most important and valuable support you received for breastfeeding (during pregnancy, during childbirth or during the time you were breastfeeding):





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Please share and forward widely. We are looking forward to receiving many mother support stories!

Thank you.

Regards,

Rebecca Magalhães

Writers Team – WBW 2008

Co-Coordinator – Mother Support Task Force, WABA