Breastfeeding is as natural as giving birth, yet many mothers shrink from it as if it were a highly scientific skill to be mastered by only a few.

"The most important message I would like to get across is that none of us would be here if breastfeeding was not a natural and successful process,'' stressed Mrs. Lena Ostroff, certified leader of the La Leche League of Bermuda.

Basically, Mrs. Ostroff says all it takes is a little bit of effort to get it right. And that's where the La Leche League of Bermuda comes in.

Part of an international, non-profit organisation, the Bermuda branch has the same aims and objectives as the other groups around the world: To provide information, advice and support for pregnant and nursing mothers.

As with so many things in life, Mrs. Ostroff says many myths and old wives' tales surround breastfeeding -- perpetuated, in large part, by well-meaning but ill-informed friends and relatives of new mothers.

They range from: eating the wrong foods can harm the baby to not producing enough milk.

"Mothers can nearly always produce enough milk,'' Mrs. Ostroff assured.

"Breast milk is the most perfect food for an infant, and the advantages of breastfeeding are numerous. From every aspect you are giving your baby the very best by breast feeding.'' Comparing breast milk to artificial formulas, Mrs. Ostroff -- a certified La League League leader -- noted that, among other things, breast milk: Is pure, fresh, and perfectly suited to a baby's needs.

"No formula can duplicate the exact balance of nutrients in mother's milk, and its composition changes to meet the growing baby's changing needs -- something formula cannot do,'' she said.

Protects the baby against illness, including wheezing respiratory tract illnesses, contributes to optimal brain growth, helps prevent tooth decay, and reduces the risk of allergies and skin disorders.

Provides all of the baby's nutritional needs during the first six months of life at least.

Has health benefits for the mother.

"Just as there are real physical advantages to breastfeeding, so also are there a host of emotional and psychological advantages for both mother and baby,'' Mrs. Ostroff pointed out.

Among them were the all-important bonding process, and the sense of comfort which breastfeeding gave to both mothers and infants.

"We believe mothers know what is best for their babies, and we encourage them to listen to their own voices in regards to their babies. What happens sometimes in our modern western world is that new mothers get a lot of advice from well-meaning people who tell them things like `Don't pick up your crying baby and spoil him'. We tell mothers to listen to their own voices. When they want to hold their babies that is natural, and the way it was intended to be.

"Breastfeeding encourages mothers to listen to their own voices. We believe the most important thing is for the baby to be with its mother. Babies don't need expensive toys or fancy clothes and equipment. What they really want is to be close to their mothers -- hear her voice, smell her. Breastfeeding is an important part of the emotional and physical bonding process.'' As to the difficulties new mothers experienced in breastfeeding, often causing them to give up quickly, Mrs. Ostroff said: "There is no reason why women cannot successfully breastfeed. We believe it is all about ten per cent knowledge and 90 per cent confidence, and La Leche can provide both.'' Sore nipples, for example -- one of the most common problems of breastfeeding -- are "very easily solved'', said Mrs. Ostroff.

"The reason this happens is because the baby is improperly positioned at the breast,'' she said. "It is the single most important thing a mother must learn to do correctly, and we show videos at our meetings which clearly demonstrate the correct method.'' Similarly, she said there was no reason why working mothers could not continue to breastfeed. Again, it was a matter of learning certain techniques.

"Before they go out to buy a breast pump, we let women operate various types until they find the one which works best for them. Some like manual, some like battery and others prefer electric pumps.

"And incidentally, breast pumps can be rented from the Bermuda Breastfeeding Resource Centre.'' Apart from all the information imparted at the regular monthly meetings, certified leaders like Mrs. Ostroff will provide counselling and advice any time, anywhere -- over the telephone, and even during the mother's stay in a hospital maternity ward, if necessary.

"All our work is voluntary, and we do it because we ourselves were helped. We have a genuine interest in helping other mothers,'' she said.

In fact, La Leche League was founded in 1956 by a group of seven American women who, based on their own experiences, wanted to make breastfeeding more rewarding for both mother and child. Today, the organisation claims to be the world's largest resource for breastfeeding and related information. It distributes more than three million publications a year, some of them in 34 languages, and boasts over 3,000 groups in 48 countries and has helped over 12 million women to breastfeed successfully.

While admitting that most meetings were largely for women, some were open to fathers as well.

"We believe very strongly that fathers have an important role to play in all this. They should be supportive of the breastfeeding relationship -- and that often means fending off `good advice' from people who may be interfering -- as well as assist mothers in whatever needs to be done. We encourage them to hold their babies, bathe and walk them so that mothers have more time to breast feed.'' La Leche League of Bermuda is open to all pregnant and breastfeeding women free of charge. It next meets on September 12. For further information telephone 236-1120. Free literature and a lending library are also available.

DOUBLE BLESSING -- Breastfeeding is nutritionally superior for baby and provides an important source of bonding between mother and child.

BREAST IS BEST ... La Leche League of Bermuda mothers (back row, left to right) Mrs. Maureen Cook, Mrs. Mary Dyer and Mrs. Lena Ostroff pose with their bonny, breastfed children (front row, left to right) Claire and Rachel Cook and Ian Ostroff. Mrs. Dyer holds baby Christopher, while her other son, Mark, peeks over her shoulder. Mrs. Ostroff is a La Leche League certified leader, and Mrs. Cook is training to become one.