BACE was established in 1953 and was one
of about twenty organizations that came into existence in North America
as part of a larger international movement for natural
childbirth. Grantley Dick-Read, a British obstetrician and author, was one of
the primary inspirations for this trend.
In Boston, in the early fifties, students of Jean
Whiffen, a British physiotherapist, began meeting to form an organization to sponsor
childbirth classes. Ms. Whiffen left the area, but BACE was founded
and Justine Kelliher, a nurse and mother, became the group's first instructor.
In 1962, BACE established
the Nursing Mothers' Council (NMC), the first breastfeeding
support group in New England. When La Leche League (LLL ) came to Massachusetts in
1964, many former NMC members were the first LLL leaders.
There were other changes
in the 1960's. More childbirth instructors were hired and training programs
were established. Area hospitals had begun to allow prepared fathers
into the delivery room. BACE pioneered the concept of the husband as
coach in classes, as well as in labor and delivery. BACE also led the fight for
family-centered maternity care in Boston through film showings,
speakers, communications with professionals, as well as with its own
well-prepared couples.
BACE was one of
the organizations represented at the founding convention of the
International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and has been a member
group since 1961. BACE and NMC are also active members of Partners in
Perinatal Health and the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.
BACE and NMC continue
to grow and change in response to the educational needs of parents and
professionals in the childbirth and breastfeeding communities.
