SULTAN – As a noisy jumble of children plays nearby, Maya Eleazer welcomes eight other young mothers to a special meeting of the Sky Valley La Leche League. The room is crowded. A few kids are laughing, one is crying and a couple babies are nursing, nestled on their mothers’ laps.
Eleazer smiles. It’s a close gathering, physically and emotionally. During the hour-long meeting, the women will try on baby sling carriers, tell stories, laugh and share their experiences. As a member of the group, Eleazer likes the mutual support.
“No matter where I’ve been, with La Leche League I know I have an instant community of moms and my children have friends who are parented well,” said Eleazer, 28.
And as a volunteer leader of the La Leche League chapter, she is happy to organize meetings, be on call for middle-of-the-night requests for help and generally pass on her knowledge about breastfeeding and being a mom.
At this time in her life, that’s what Eleazer is most. Mom.
She and her husband, Edward, are raising their children, Isabella and Abraham, at a state fish hatchery, where he is the manager. They keep chickens. She cans much of their own food. The kids wear hand-me-downs and clothing Eleazer has knitted, and they read books from the library. In an age of two-income households, the family lives simply so that she can be home with the kids.
“Becoming a mom changed my life. I want to encourage others that it’s OK to submit to the ride and embrace motherhood,” she said. “I’m glad I have parented the way I have.”
Eleazer quickly acknowledges that not all moms can stay home with their young children and not all will want to nurse their babies. But she is a devoted spokeswoman for breastfeeding and maintains that it’s the best, healthiest and most convenient way to feed an infant.
She is careful not to let La Leche League be labeled an extremist group, and she and her fellow chapter leaders try hard not to be seen as experts.
“We just want to support women in their choices,” Eleazer said.
If women want to breastfeed their babies in public, they should, she said. If moms want help learning to breastfeed discreetly, Eleazer wants to give them tips.
“Babies need to be with their mothers. They need to eat early and often. Nursing in public is a necessary part of that,” she said. “And women should not feel guilty when they are meeting their babies’ basic needs.”
Eleazer has been a La Leche League leader for three years. Her copy of the organization’s primary guide book, “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding,” is dog-eared and well-worn from frequent readings and reference checks.
“It’s important to give moms the correct information and support,” she said. “I am excited to help out. It gives back to me when I know I have made a difference in the life of another mom and her baby.”
Polly Root of Echo Lake praises Eleazer for her knowledge and enthusiasm.
Root was working through a “breastfeeding challenge” recently and called on Eleazer for advice.
“She has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she was so energized by my request for help,” Root said. “When I talked to her the next day, she had been up all night researching and reading in order to offer a range of ideas to help me.”
Eleazer also makes a special effort to help teenage moms and single mothers in their efforts to care for their babies.
“They need the support even more. They often aren’t encouraged to breastfeed because they don’t mesh with our cultural stereotype of what a breastfeeding mother is,” she said.
Eleazer said she likes to encourage mothers to begin coming to La Leche League support group meetings while they are pregnant. And she encourages those with toddlers to stay after the daytime Sultan meetings for a play group.
“It’s nice to empower women and give them the sense of community our culture often lacks,” she said.
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
La Leche League
La Leche League of Snohomish County offers breastfeeding support and information. The Snohomish County 24-hour help line is 425-303-0311.
* The Sky Valley chapter meets at 1 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Volunteers of America Family Support Center in Sultan and at 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Monroe Public Library. Call Rene at 360-793-2128.
* Central Snohomish meets at 10 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at St. Michael’s parish center, 1514 Pine Ave., Snohomish. Call Larisa at 360-793-0219.
* North Snohomish meets at 10:30 a.m. the third Monday of the month at the Stanwood Library, 9701 271st St. NW, Stanwood. Call Elise at 360-629-6189.
* Marysville meets at 10 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 5115 100th NE, Marysville. Call Michele at 360-658-0668.
* Edmonds meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Edmonds Wellness Center, corner of 216th Street SW and 80th Avenue W. Call Nancy at 425-744-1513.
* Everett meets at 9:30 a.m. the third Monday of the month at Immaculate Conception church, basement baby-sitting room, 2501 Hoyt Ave., Everett. Call Marianne at 425-397-9757.
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