‘Big Latch On’ event encourages local mums to breastfeed

‘Big Latch On’ event encourages local mums to breastfeed their babies

Breastfeeding mothers across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes region are being encouraged to join in with thousands of other women around the world as they simultaneously breastfeed their babies in public.

The ‘Big Latch On’ is a global event where groups of breastfeeding mothers and their families come together to celebrate breastfeeding and its health benefits. The event is part of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from the 1st to the 7th of August and aims to normalise breastfeeding as part of everyday life. The Big Latch On will see breastfeeding women and their babies ‘latch on’ for one minute at a set time. It is hoped the event will help communities to positively support breastfeeding in public places and encourage the formation of support networks between breastfeeding women.

Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service supports the Big Latch On and recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and then continue to breastfeed along with the introduction of solid foods.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr Neil de Wet says, “Breastfeeding provides many important health benefits for the mother and child. Breastfed babies have less chance of getting diarrhoea and vomiting illnesses and of developing chest and ear infections.”
In the Bay of Plenty and Lakes region, there is an opportunity to participate at the following registered venues on Friday 5th August at 10:30am:
Ōpōtiki - Hot Bread Shop
Whakatāne - Whakatāne District Library
Rotorua - The Arts Village
Katikati – Katikati midwives
Taupō – Taupō Parents Centre.

For those women who cannot make it to a Big Latch On event in their local community, there is an option to participate online via the Big Latch On Facebook page (www.facebook.com/biglatchonNZ), which encourages breastfeeding mums to post breastfeeding selfies with the hashtag #BigLatchOnNZ.

ends

© Scoop Media