Breastfeeding is renowned for its health benefits for mother and child alike.
This week is World Breastfeeding Week, designed to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support of breastfeeding mothers.
In 2005, New Zealand held the first “Big Latch On,” an event where breastfeeding mothers had all of their children simultaneously latch on at the same time. The event came to the U.S. in 2010, in Oregon, and since then has taken off globally. And this Saturday at Camp Jordan Park, “globally” will include Chattanooga.
The Chattanooga Area Breastfeeding Connection invites all breastfeeding mothers to join in the fourth annual Big Latch On and help break the world record for number of breastfeeding children to simultaneously latch on around the globe.
The event begins at 9:30 a.m., where the first 100 participating moms to register onsite will receive a goody bag. Then, at 10:30 a.m., mothers will get their children to “latch on” and set a new global record.
“Last year’s local event had grown to 116 children breastfeeding during the timed count with around 300 people in attendance,” states lactation consultant and vice president of the Chattanooga Area Breastfeeding Connection. “Globally, we had 14,889 children ‘latch on’ and this year we hope to break that record.”
In addition to breaking a world record, the event will include children’s activities, exhibitors, door prizes available for pregnant and participating moms, a photo booth, and an Introduction to Infant Massage session.