Breastfeeding Support Organisations
Around the world, the importance of mother to mother support for breastfeeding women has been proven over decades. The growth of grass- roots advocacy and support runs parallel to increasing breastfeeding rates in those communities.
In 1956, mothers in Chicago USA came together to create what would become the Le Leche League International (LLLI). Nearly 70 years later, LLLI has a global presence with chapters around the world providing peer support, resources and information to mothers.
Across the Pacific, another group of mothers were inspired by LLLI and established the Nursing Mothers Association in early 1964. Later the Nursing Mothers Association of Australia, NMAA quickly grew with branches across the country and a network of local groups. In 2001, the organisation changed its name to the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). Almost 60 years later, ABA continues to offer evidence based support through a range of services to parents Australia-wide.
Mothers in the United Kingdom were also coming together for support. The National Childbirth Trust, established in 1956, broadened its initial focus on natural childbirth to encompass breastfeeding in 1967. By 1979, the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers grew from another small group of mothers to provide the national breastfeeding helpline service for families in the UK.
As breastfeeding awareness steadily grew throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, similar groups began to develop across Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America. Recognised for their valuable role in breastfeeding support, peer support communities are represented in the Tenth of the Ten Steps:
Step 10: Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Commission acknowledge the following organisations for their Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organizations:
Adelante, Red Latina de Salud y Educación/The Latino Network for Health and Education
Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI)
Allaitement Tout Un Art
Allattamento e Dintorni APS
Ammenet Denmark
Amningshjälpen
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Freier Stillgruppen (AFS) – Bundesverband e.V.
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers—ABM, UK
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
Baby Cafe USA
BACE – Nursing Mother’s Council
Berkshire Nursing Families (BNF)
Birth India
BirthKuwait
B.R.E.A.S.T. 4 Babes, Inc.
Breastfeeding Association of Taiwan
Breastfeeding For Love Project – China
Breastfeeding Heritage and Pride
Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group – Singapore
Breastfeeding Network UK
Breastfeeding Resource Center’s Community Counselors
Breastfeeding USA
The Breast Room—New Zealand
Centre de Ressources pour la
Naissance region Mauricie inc.
Chantelait Inc.
Chocolate Milk Café
Cible Famille Brandon
Cuidiu Ireland
Custodi del Femminino
Dr. MILK Physician Mother Support Network
Forældre og Fødsel Denmark
Joyfeeding Mothers — 享喂母乳哺育支持平台
Kodiak KINDNESS
Lactation Education Resources (LER)
Lactation University
La Leche League International (LLLI)
Latched Support
Le Re-Lait Montmagny-L’Islet
Lumos Cultural + Bianca Balassiano Amamentação
MAMILA
Mamme Con-Tatto
Message—Mother-support-group France for English speaking mothers
MilkWorks
Mom2Mom Global
Momma’s Village–Fayetteville
Mother-2-Mother – Taiwan
National Childbirth Trust
Nursing Mothers Alliance
Nourri Source
Nourri Lait
Nurturing Mothers Breastfeeding Advocacy Australia (NMBAA)
Ohio Parenting Collaborative
Open Arms Perinatal Services Lactation Support Peer Counselor Program
Programa Lactisoporte de Crianzamor
Project Milk Mission
Sisters Who Breastfeed (SWB)
Strength Based Community Change
The Breastfeeding Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Touch of Gold
Vital Village Network
Zulazu-Beit Daniel
