In 1964 six Melbourne mothers began a quiet revolution. Frustrated at the invisibility of breastfeeding advice in a society where artificial feeding of infants was increasingly accepted as the norm, they formed an association to assist mothers like themselves to breastfeed. Nursing Mums tells the story of how a grass-roots association grew to national proportions as the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (later known as the Australian Breastfeeding Association).

Establishing a model of mother-to-mother support that equipped women to offer breastfeeding assistance to other women, it developed a network of local groups that stretched throughout Australia, and played an important role in transforming community attitudes to breastfeeding. Drawing upon rich documentary, photographic and oral history sources, Nursing Mums also explores the friendship, camaraderie and personal growth of members through their involvement in the Association and the myriad ways in which those members’ passions and concerns shaped the Association over its first five decades.

"The book relates the historical narrative of the ABA to broader social changes which both enabled and shaped the changes which it was able to bring about. It should find an audience not only amongst members and former members of the ABA, but also amongst scholars interested in the history of mothering in Australia."
Professor Shurlee Swain,
School of Arts and Sciences (Vic),
Australian Catholic University.