The Big Latch On

MEDIA RELEASE 3 August 2009

The Big Latch On

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week will see mothers across New Zealand attempting to break the existing record set last year of 1122 women breastfeeding simultaneously.

Locations are being set up across New Zealand for mothers and babies to come together and celebrate breastfeeding. Those wanting to join the event in Tauranga should come along to the The Parents Centre located at the Compass Community Village at the bottom of 17th Avenue (across from Tauranga Hospital) at 10am on Friday 7th August. There will be healthy food available for mums and some exciting gift hampers and spot prizes to be won. Lactation consultants will also be there to offer helpful advice to breastfeeding mums.

“This will be a great event and we are proud to be supporting breastfeeding mothers in our community” Says Toi Te Ora Public Health Service, Regional Manager, Graeme Savage.

Mothers who get together regularly with friends who are also breastfeeding, or go to coffee groups, are generally a lot more confident to keep breastfeeding, according to Toi Te Ora Public Health Service health promoter Dee Watkins. “Mostly it's about building their confidence that they can breastfeed, and providing continuing support,” she says.

Breastfeeding contributes to the health and wellbeing of babies, mothers and families/whānau. Yet many infants in New Zealand are not breastfed for the recommended duration – to at least six months exclusively and up to two years or beyond in combination with other foods.

Although New Zealand has breastfeeding rates that are consistent with other countries, rates are low at six weeks, especially among Māori and Pacific women. Exclusive breastfeeding drops sharply in the first six weeks after birth and then continues to decline as a mix of breast and bottle feeding becomes more common.

World Breastfeeding Week takes place annually in the first week of August in over 120 countries. Each year World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) sets a theme, this year it is “Breastfeeding: A vital Emergency Response’ highlighting the importance of breastfeeding to provide essential nutrients and protect infants in emergencies such as earthquakes, floods or flu pandemics.

If you are unable to attend the Tauranga event, find out if there is a breastfeeding morning tea happening in your area, visit www.womens-health.org.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media