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Marian Tompson, one of the seven founders of the breastfeeding advocacy group La Leche League, has often found herself the subject of such scrutiny. But Marian Tompson, one of the seven founders of the breastfeeding advocacy group La Leche League, has often found herself the subject of such scrutiny. But Tompson's idea in 1956 to organize a support group for nursing mothers transformed her into a world-traveling leader. When Tompson gave birth to her third child, a group of 17 hospital employees -- externs, interns, even the receptionist -- came to watch, she said. Tompson tried to breastfeed her first three children, but doctors told her she did not have enough milk because her infants cried less than four hours after feeding, she said. He was also the first doctor to support her in breastfeeding her child, Tompson said. Eventually they formed a group of seven women: Tompson, White, Mary Ann Kerwin, Edwina Froehlich, Betty Wagner, Viola Lennon and Mary Ann Cahill. Tompson led the group's first meeting in October 1956 at the Whites' home in Franklin Park. Eventually Dr. White suggested the women name their group after a Catholic shrine to Madonna called Nuestra Senora de la Leche y Buen Parto or "Our Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful Milk." "Women didn't talk about a lot of things in those days," Tompson said. Tompson said feminists began to protest La Leche League meetings, which they said pressured women to stay in the home. Tompson said she believed the increased levels of oxytocin in her blood brought on by her breastfeeding made her more disposed toward taking care of her children.

Read the full story at Pioneer Press Online

Posted Under: Obstetrics and Gynecology