The Original LLL Founders

About La Leche League International…

In the summer of 1956, seven women realized that breastfeeding mothers needed support from other mothers. Marian Tompson, one of the original seven Founders of La Leche League International, said recently in a television interview, “It just didn’t seem fair to us that mothers were not able to breastfeed their babies even though they wanted to do it.” Marian, along with the six other Founders – Mary White, Viola Lennon, Mary Ann Cahill, Mary AnnKerwin, Betty Wagner, and Edwina Froehlich—did not plan to establish a worldwide organization. But they responded to the need and stepped up to the challenge. Remarkably, after 50 years, all seven of them are still active in the organization and they are enjoying the events and festivities surrounding the 50th Anniversary celebration.

What began at a church picnic in Elmhurst, Illinois, USA, is now an organization spread all over the world with information in multiple languages and recognition from medical associations and government agencies as the world’s foremost authority on breastfeeding. It started with a simple dream—to help mothers who wanted to give their babies the very best start in life. None of the seven women imagined that their dream would travel around the world and affect the lives of millions of mothers and babies. The rapid spread of the organization happened because so many mothers agree with Marian’s observation. Once mothers discover the simple facts about how to breastfeed successfully, they are eager to share this information far and wide, especially with other mothers.

LLLI has grown to reach mothers world-wide

Basic Philosophy…

• Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby.
• Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.
• In the early years the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food.
• Breast milk is the superior infant food.
• For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until the baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth.
• Ideally the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need.
• Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
• Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby’s father. A father’s unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child’s development from early infancy.
• Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
• From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.

LLL Today

LLLI:  A Timeline of Events…

• 1956 – Breastfeeding rates in the US drop close to 20%; October 17, first meeting held at home of Mary White
• 1957 – LLL brings Dr. Grantly-Dick Read, childbirth expert, to speak to a packed house at the local high school
• 1958 – Founders clarify their purpose and incorporate as LLL of Franklin Park; publish the first edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING in loose-leaf format and the first edition of the bimonthly publication for members, then called LLL NEWS
• 1960 – Over 50 women coming to ‘Board’ meetings bi-monthly; first LLL Group outside of country founded in Jonquiere, Quebec
• 1962 – LLL establishes ‘Chapters’ with 5 Groups per Chapter
• 1963 – LLL publishes first bound book edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING and first translation into French; Reader’s Digest publishes the article, “They teach the art of breastfeeding” by Karen Pryor
• 1964 – Official name change from La Leche League to La Leche League International, Inc., with Groups in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand; LLLI’s first International Conference takes place in Chicago with 425 adults and 100 babies in attendance
• 1965 – The first issue of Leaven is published to keep LLL Leaders up-to-date on breastfeeding and organizational issues
• 1971 – LLLI receives widespread publicity when Princess Grace of Monaco speaks at the 4th International Conference held in Chicago, Illinois, USA
• 1972 – Breastfeeding rates finally start to climb, jumping 4%, continuing an average climb of 3% a year throughout the decade
• 1974 – LLLI is accredited to provide continuing medical education credits by The American Medical Association
• 1979 – LLLI is represented at joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding in October in Geneva, Switzerland
• 1981 – LLLI is welcomed into consultative status with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); establishes Affiliate status as part of its organizational structure; LLL Switzerland becomes LLLI’s first Affiliate country; A revised and expanded edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING is published; LLLI holds its 25th Anniversary Conference with a record attendance of 3800 adults and 2300 children; LLLI publishes the first edition of BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS, a quarterly publication for health professionals
• 1982 – LLL Leader works with UNICEF/Brazil to develop a pilot project to train low-income mothers to be breastfeeding counselors and to form mother-to-mother support groups; breastfeeding rates reach 61.9%
• 1984 – LLLI publishes OF CRADLES AND CAREERS by Kaye Lowman
• 1985 – The title and format of LLL NEWS changes to NEW BEGINNINGS; LLLI serves on The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, established to develop and administer a voluntary certification program for lactation consultants; first IBLCE exam administered, July 1985
• 1986 – LLLI publishes 6 books, including a new edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, in 3 years.
• 1987 – LLLI launches the Peer Counselor Program
• 1988 – LLLI is awarded a 4 year Child Survival Grant for projects in Guatemala and Honduras to train low-income women as breastfeeding counselors and to form mother-to-mother breastfeeding support groups; LLLI publishes the first quarterly edition of ALUMNAE NEWS to reach members of the newly formed Alumnae Association
• 1989 – LLLI initiates an 800-line to enable mothers to reach LLL Groups and receive the breastfeeding information they need; LLLI establishes the Center for Breastfeeding Information (CBI), the world’s largest resource for scientific research on breastfeeding
• 1990 – Breastfeeding rates drop to 50%; The WHO/UNICEF Policymaker’s Meeting produces the “Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding,” which is signed by 10 UN Agencies and 32 countries, including the US
• 1991 – The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is launched by WHO/UNICEF in June in Ankara, Turkey; LLLI joins with other organizations and individuals to form the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) a global network to protect, support and promote breastfeeding; LLLI publishes THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK and a revised edition of The WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING
• 1992 – WABA sponsors first World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, with the theme: Baby-Friendly Hospitals; LLLI sponsors its first World Walk for Breastfeeding
• 1993 – LLLI is admitted into official relations by the Executive Board of the WHO’s ninety-first session in January (resolution EB9l.R20)
• 1994 – LLLI moves its office from Franklin Park to Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
• 1995 – LLLI establishes a presence on the Internet with its own Web site and as a participant in “Parent Soup on America Online;” breastfeeding rates rise again approaching 60%
• 1996 – WABA sponsors the fifth World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, with the theme, Breastfeeding: A Community Responsibility; LLLI publishes a revised and expanded edition of THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK
• 1997 – LLLI holds the 25th annual Physicians Seminar and the 40th Anniversary International Conference in July 1997 in Washington, DC USA; celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Peer Counselor Program
• 1998 – Education Center officially established at LLLI, Schaumburg, IL, USA, for the implementation of courses related to breastfeeding and lactation management
• 1999 – LLLI representative travels to Moscow, Russia, to provide technical assistance and support to a newly established mother-to-mother support group; Russian obstetricians tour LLLI offices, Schaumburg, IL, USA
• 2000 – LLLI’s Center for Breastfeeding Information goes online
• 2001 – Wellstart International donates their library to LLLI, increasing the number of professional journal articles, research studies and books available from our Center for Breastfeeding Information from 19,000 to 38,000
• 2002 – LLLI published revised edition of THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, available in CD format for the first time