Lord Of La Leche

Media Release
5 April 2007

Lord Of La Leche

Veteran British actor John Rhys-Davies is lending his support to the breastfeeding group La Leche League following the birth of his daughter with former TVNZ presenter Lisa Manning.

The couple met when Lisa, who presented the hugely popular TV2 show DIY Rescue, interviewed John live on Good Morning two years ago. They now have a ten-month-old daughter, Maia, who was born at Middlemore Hospital last year.

John, who played Gimli in the Lord of The Rings trilogy, said: “I was amazed that Lisa’s milk was all that Maia needed for more than six months, and how bonded they are as a result.”

La Leche League is a wonderful organisation, which supports breastfeeding and, amongst other things, helps women, like Lisa, who experience some difficulty learning how. It should be trumpeted from every rooftop!”

The NZ arm of the international organisation is using its biennial convention in Christchurch this coming week to launch new promotional literature, which it hopes will reach every pregnant woman in the country.

“I was determined to breastfeed Maia but had a few problems with infections and mastitis. I’m not sure how I would have coped without the support of John, my Mum and the La Leche League Leader in Pukekohe.”

“But, despite the amazing work LLL does in NZ and around the world, not enough women have heard of it. It should be as mainstream as Plunket!” Lisa says.

Research carried out last year shows that “La what?” is the response from many people when they hear the name La Leche League. It’s hoped the new information leaflet, funded by a $15,000 Ministry of Health grant, will raise the organisation’s profile and make it easier for pregnant or breastfeeding women to have their breastfeeding questions answered.

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