What does it take to change established childbirth practices, hospital procedures, infant nutrition standards, and cultural norms that work against the best interests of mothers and their babies? It takes a woman who is passionate about all of those things, and who unknowingly took the rst steps of a journey that would ultimately lead to the founding of La Leche League International and a life devoted to speaking up and speaking out for mothers and babies around the world. That woman is Marian Tompson, whose passion for insisting on the childbirth and breastfeeding options that nurtured and nourished the breastfeeding couple became her life's work. Part biography, part memoir, Passionate Journey - My Unexpected Life, tells the story of a shy 1950s stay-at-home mother who became a childbirth and breastfeeding advocate whose in uence reached around the globe. Marian Tompson, mother, grandmother and great grandmother is best known as one of the founders of La Leche League International as well as an internationally renowned author, speaker and tireless advocate for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. In 2001 she founded a second organization, AnotherLook, the only organization of its kind designed to foster research and discussion about HIV and AIDS as they relate to breastfeeding. She has been an inspiring and motivating speaker in more than 30 countries, touching the lives of mothers and babies throughout the world.
About the Author: Marian Leonard Tompson is best known as one of the Founders of La Leche League International, serving as its President for 24 years. Wife of the late Clement (Tom) Tompson, she is the mother of seven, grandmother of seventeen and great grandmother of nine. Marian's writing career began with her column, "Did You Know," which appeared in her high school newspaper. Since then, she has co-authored the first two editions of the best-selling Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and was the first editor of two LLLI publications, New Beginnings (originally LLL News) and Leaven. She has written forwards for numerous books and has had articles published in a variety of professional journals including Padiatrie and Padologie (Austria), Environmental Child Health, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and The West Indian Medical Journal. From 1977-1988 she wrote a monthly column for Dr. Robert Mendelsohn's newsletter, The People's Doctor. Through the years Marian has been a member of numerous advisory committees and organizations including the United States Breastfeeding Committee, The World Alliance of Breastfeeding Action, the Alternative Birth Crisis Coalition, and the National Association of Parents and Professionals for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth, all of which reflect her commitment to providing information and support for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. In 2001 she founded AnotherLook, a not for profit organization dedicated to gathering information, raising critical questions and stimulating needed research about HIV and AIDS as they relate to breastfeeding.