Gale Touger

Growing up I only once saw a woman breastfeeding. Yet, coming of age at a time when women were taking more control of our bodies and starting my career as a nurse practitioner in a rural mountain community, breastfeeding seemed the natural, healthy and right thing to do. I was blessed with two babies who latched on with ease and never gave me a minute’s trouble until, when my second child was 19 months old, an abscess and surgery brought an abrupt, sorrowful end to breastfeeding. I had the pleasure of knowing, being assisted by and learning from a fabulous role model – Mary Rose Tully, IBCLC. After many years of experience with breastfeeding mothers, I completed evidenced-based lactation education with Vergie Hughes, IBCLC and her expert teachers at Lactation Education Resources. I was most privileged to study with my longtime hero, pediatrician and researcher Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. For decades I have worked with families in family practice and pediatric settings and have precepted numerous nurse practitioner and medical students. Perhaps my greatest teachers and source of inspiration are my own two wonderful adult children (breastfed for a total of 46 months) and five joyful grandchildren.