The Australian Breastfeeding Association Journey

Mary Paton AM, OT, Founder & first President of ABA (formerly NMAA)
Recorded at Hot Milk, the Australian Breastfeeding Association's National Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre, August 2-4th 2007
Thursday 2nd August 2007 9:00am

Hot Milk is the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s largest ever National Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre, August 2-4th 2007
    •    Bringing together supporters on Breastfeeding and the Australian Breastfeeding Association nationally and internationally
    •    Presenting the latest in Breastfeeding Research and clinical practice
    •    Honouring the history of the Australian Breastfeeding Association
    •    Providing a focus on the future of breastfeeding information and support in Australia

Personal opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the
Australian Breastfeeding Association
www.breastfeeding.asn.au

The Nursing Mothers' Association was founded in 1964 by a visionary young mother in Melbourne, named Mary Paton. When Mary's first baby was born in 1962, there was virtually no written information on breastfeeding available to either mothers or health professionals.

It was a time when formula feeding was seen as modern and fashionable and viewed as being as good as, if not better than breastfeeding. Babies were fed to a strict four-hourly schedule no matter how much they cried. Mothers were not encouraged to pick up a crying baby, for fear of 'spoiling'. In hospitals, breastfeeds were strictly timed - access to the breast being restricted to only a few minutes initially, slowly working up to ten minutes each side over a number of days.
 
Babies were routinely test weighed after breastfeeds, and topped up with infant formula if they were thought not to have taken enough at the breast in the time available! At night it was considered important that a mother's sleep not be disturbed so after the 10pm feed babies were kept in the nursery and fed infant formula during the night. None of these hospital practices were conducive to establishing breastfeeding. It's a wonder that any mothers managed to breastfeed!
 
In this climate of regimentation, conflicting and negative advice, Mary struggled to feed her baby. And when at 4 1/2 months she finally put her baby on formula, as she had been urged, she knew that it shouldn't have to be like that. There had to be a better way.
 
Continued on  http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/aboutaba/history.html

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