Our story starts in 1956. La Leche League was formed in Chicago (USA) by seven women who wanted to give breastfeeding help and support to others. Marian Tompson and Mary White were nursing their children at a picnic and found that many people came up to them to express interest or tell them how they had wanted to breastfeed but failed.
At the time in the USA, many traditional breastfeeding practices were no longer the norm. Nursing your baby was not encouraged by the medical establishment, and not practised widely enough for there to be practical support available. Seeing this gap in information and support, Marian and Mary enlisted the help of five of their friends and acquaintances and the seven began to hold meetings.
These seven Founders of LLL were Mary Ann Cahill, Edwina Froehlich, Mary Ann Kerwin, Viola Lennon, Marian Tompson, Betty Wagner, and Mary White.
