Ever since then Peregrino has been a firm believer in breast-feeding. In fact, she's now a leader in the league's Sunnyvale branch, which celebrated the twelfth annual World Breast-feeding Week on Aug. 3 at the Westgate Mall in San Jose with several daylong events.

Families participated in a charity walk around the shopping center, pushing their babies in strollers, with some toddlers walking along waving balloons. Many local and international merchants donated family and baby products for a silent auction at the event. Booths displayed books, products and literature about breast-feeding, as well as the league's membership information.

"We were a little bit disappointed at the low turnout," said Cathy Bonwick, another leader of the Sunnyvale group. "We gave away 90 goody bags, so there were at least that many people who showed up."

The focus was probably on the league's Berkeley gathering, which attracted more than 1,100 mothers and their babies—a new world record.

Bonwick—mother of three—became a member of the league six years ago when she was pregnant with her first child.

"My friend was already breast-feeding her baby, and she told me about it," she said.

Numerous scientific and medical studies have shown that breast-feeding is very important to the well-being of both mother and baby.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breast-fed babies are less likely to suffer from allergies, ear infections, asthma and urinary tract infections, and have fewer incidents of diarrhea and meningitis than babies who are not breast-fed. New research indicates that breast-feeding also helps protect babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, diabetes, skin problems, colitis and lymphoma.

Advantages for women include weight loss and the almost complete lack of expense in breast-feeding. According to Peregrino, a woman can burn 500 to 800 calories a day by breast-feeding—a great way for new moms to lose the weight gained during pregnancy.

"And it goes beyond the physical health benefits for baby and mom," Peregrino said. "It has a tremendously calming effect."

However, breast-feeding, which might seem to some like the most natural process in the world, can be difficult for some mothers, according to Kathleen Sweeney, public health nutritionist for Santa Clara County.

Sweeney puts mothers having difficulties in touch with lactation specialists or hospital staff. She also gives families support and information about breast-feeding.

The La Leche League's Sunnyvale branch has been in existence for almost 25 years, but it currently needs a place to call home. Renting a space in Sunnyvale is simply too expensive for the nonprofit group, Peregrino said.

"We hold our monthly meetings at someone's home, in the library or in a church," Peregrino said.

The group of seven mothers who founded the organization in 1956 felt that the word "breast-feeding" was a pretty shocking word to use, Peregrino said. That's why they named it La Leche League, after "our lady of happy deliveries and plentiful milk."

The league is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization whose sole purpose is to encourage and support nursing mothers throughout the world. Sunnyvale residents can get more information about the local league chapter by calling Marina Peregrino at 408.736.8126 or Cathy Bonwick at 650.969.4713.