The Big Latch On

Happy Thursday and happy World Breastfeeding Week! Every year the first seven days in the month of August are celebrated as World Breastfeeding Week! 

"World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.  It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond." (Quote found here.) 

During World Breastfeeding Week each year women around the world gather for the Big Latch On!  Nolan and I will be attending this event this Saturday- a big thanks to Kim (one of my loyal readers) who found the local event page for me! Click here to find a location near you! 

Here is some more information from the Big Latch On website! 

What is the Big Latch On?

• A Big Latch On is a lot of fun! Groups of breastfeeding women come together at registered locations around the world, at a set time they all latch on their child for one minute while being counted by witnesses. The numbers are added up and see if we beat previous Big Latch On records or maybe even the world record!

Why have a Big Latch On? 

Nursing Everett at
Chatham Manor last year

• We all know how important breastfeeding is and this way we can show everyone just how much we all value breastfeeding and support all women as they grow the next generation.  Plus it's a really good way to spend time with other women & families, and have a lot of fun, maybe a coffee and some cake as well!

What are the aims of the Big Latch On?

• Support for communities to identify and grow opportunities to provide ongoing breastfeeding support and promotion.
• Raise awareness of breastfeeding support and knowledge available in communities.
• Help communities positively support breastfeeding in public places.
• Make breastfeeding a normal part of the day-to-day life at a local community level.
• Increase support for women who breastfeed - women are supported by there partners, family and the breastfeeding knowledge that is embedded in their communities.
• Communities have the resources to and/or advocate for coordinated appropriate and accessible breastfeeding support services.

What is the record for simultaneous breastfeeding?

• The first record for one location was from Berkeley, CA USA in 2002 where 1,130 mothers breastfed simultaneously. The international record for one location is 3,738 mothers held by the Philippines in 2006. Buoyed by their success, the Philippines have partnered every year since with other countries and in October 2010 recorded 9,826 nursing mothers in 325 sites in 16 countries.

What's the Big Latch On record?

• 8,862 women and their children came together and breastfed simultaneously as part of the Big Latch On in 2012.

Photo found here. 

Will you be attending a Big Latch On event in your area? I would love to hear your experience! Feel free to share below! Check out this article about the event in our area. Nolan and I even made it into the paper!