Media Release: LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES MOTHERS WHO LABOR ON LABOR DAY

Schaumburg, IL (August 29, 2002)--La Leche League International, the world's foremost authority on breastfeeding, is celebrating Labor Day, Monday September 2, 2002 by offering mothers who give birth on that day a free copy of the informative book Breastfeeding Pure and Simple. Women around the world, who give birth on Labor Day, may obtain their gift by sending a copy of the baby's birth certificate to La Leche League International, 957 N. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173-5194, Attention: Labor Day Promotion. Requests will be accepted until December 31, 2002. The promotion is limited to the first 2000 mothers who respond.

Good information helps a new mother get breastfeeding off to a smoother start and Breastfeeding Pure and Simple provides new mothers with a basic introduction that will guide them through the early months of their nursing relationship. Clear, straightforward text combined with lots of photographs makes the book inviting and easy to read.

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of nutrition for infants. Human milk provides the perfect mix of nutrients, hormones and proteins and it cannot be duplicated. It also contains essential fatty acids in the exact proportions needed for healthy cognitive development and visual acuity. The composition of human milk changes as the baby grows and its protection from illness is most evident during a baby's first six months of life with many benefits extending well beyond infancy.

The benefits of breastfeeding go beyond those experienced by the infant. New research confirms that the longer a mother breastfeeds the less likely she is to develop breast cancer. Breastfeeding also helps new mothers lose weight more easily and causes her uterus to return to its normal size and shape more quickly.

Human milk is produced as a baby nurses. It requires no special equipment, sterilization, or extra expense. It's always the right temperature and always available to the baby. It is ecologically friendly since there is no formula to produce or to heat and no packaging to dispose of. It's a natural, renewable resource and is all the baby needs for the first six months of life.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support around the world. The organization reaches over 300,000 people in 63 countries every month. If you would like more information about breastfeeding, whether your baby is born on Labor Day or not, contact La Leche League International at (847) 519-7730 or visit our award-winning website at www.llli.org.