World Breastfeeding Week celebrations

Media Release for
World Breastfeeding Week celebrations – World Leading Breastfeeding!

An international sucking marathon kicks off in New Zealand on Wednesday August 8th as our breastfeeding children lead the world in an attempt to break an international record. Hundreds of breastfeeding women will feed their infants at 10am local time for 24 hours. New Zealand is followed by the Solomon Islands an hour later, Sydney two hours later and on around the world to finish again in the Pacific when Samoan children on the dateline in Samoa conclude the marathon 23 hours later at their local time of 10am.

Every breastfeeding mother will be counted as part of the attempt by the Philippines in partnership with Women’s Health Action in New Zealand, to set a new Guinness World Record for "The most women in synchronized breastfeeding around the world,”

Last year Women’s Health Action co-ordinated a New Zealand record of 714. This year New Zealand will attempt to break our own national record and contribute to the world record at the same time. Louise James the New Zealand organiser said:

“An unprecedented number of venues have been registered within New Zealand already. One woman will take part from her seat on an AIRNZ flight, a working mother will have her son brought into her for a breastfeeding break. The possibilities are endless with libraries, café’s, halls, Plunket rooms and private homes all hosting venues for the Big World Wide Latch On. Today Women’s Health Action is in a frenzy - posting out all the venue rules, registration forms and the new international sign for breastfeeding friendly places.”

This record attempt is the culmination of international World Breastfeeding Week celebrations; held between August 1st and August 7th every year. This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme supports encouraging skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby at birth to facilitate breastfeeding in the first hours of life. Breastfeeding throughout the world gets young lives off to a great start and saves a million babies annually.

ENDS

For more information on the national event: www.womens-health.org.nz

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