'Big Latch On' holds breastfeeding awareness day to help eliminate cultural stigmas

Sunday, August 14, 2011 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: breastfeeding, awareness, health news

(NaturalNews) Mothers who breastfeed their babies in public are probably used to frequent stares and occasional negative comments about keeping such affairs in private. However, Big Latch On, an international group started in 2005 to promote breastfeeding, is hoping to change the cultural stigmas that look down on breastfeeding, and raise awareness about its importance for childhood health and development.

On Saturday, August 6, 2011, a provisional total of 4,123 women from 294 different locations around the world gathered together to breastfeed their babies simultaneously. Big Latch On, which partnered with La Leche League USA and the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Breastfeeding Week to coordinate the event, had attempted to break the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records total of 15,128 simultaneous breast feedings at 295 sites across the Philippines.

"This is the first year the event has been held nationally in the USA so this is a really fantastic start," said Annie Brown, a Le Leche League Leader from Connecticut and coordinator of this year's event. "Now we have our own record to beat next year!"

The cultural stigma against breastfeeding in public has contributed to many mothers choosing to simply bottle-feed their babies instead. Breastfeeding is vital for the proper development of babies, as it contains countless immunoglobulins and antibodies that build a healthy immune system and promote vibrant development. Baby formula, of course, simply cannot achieve any of this and widespread acceptance of breastfeeding is crucial (https://www.naturalnews.com/031663_breast_mil...).

"This event is held to develop the support of local communities for the wonderful job that nursing mamas do," said Joanne Edwards, another Big Latch On coordinator. "I know many friendships were formed ... and all those who were involved had lots of fun. It is really important that we continue to make nursing in public a normal and supported part of having a child."

Sources for this story include:

http://www.biglatchon.org/index.html

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2254752&...