MOTHERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION are being invited to get together in Sunderland on Friday 4 August to help celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.
Mams from Sunderland ‘Bosom Buddies’ are inviting other breast-feeding mams from the across the region to join them at Seaburn beach (meeting next to the Fat Buddha restaurant) from 9.30 am to take part in the ‘ World’s Big Latch On.’
They are being asked to come along with their families to support the international public awareness raising event, and join other mothers across the world to simultaneously begin breastfeeding at exactly 10.30am in their respective times zones around the globe.
The international ‘Big Latch On’ campaign was launched in 2005 by Women’s Health Action in New Zealand to promote the proven health, nutritional and psychological benefits of breastfeeding and demonstrate global support for breastfeeding in public.
Last year 17992 breastfeeding mothers and their babies ‘latched on’ at 10.30am in 28 countries across the globe.
International organisers hope even more will take part this year to help encourage more Governments to introduce laws protecting breastfeeding mothers, which already exist in the UK and Europe but not in other parts of the developed world.
Director of Public Health at Sunderland City Council, Gillian Gibson said: “Many people in our region did not grow up with breastfeeding as the natural choice for feeding a baby.
“Now, as more is known about the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers, more mams are making this choice with advice and support from families and health professionals.
“It’s events like the Big Latch On that can show people what breastfeeding actually looks like, demonstrate that breastfeeding your baby is a natural thing to do, and support women to feel confident to breastfeed in public.”
For more information about the Big Latch On and general breastfeeding support in Sunderland see @sunderlandbosombuddies on facebook.