On Saturday, August 3, University Healthcare Jefferson Medical Center hosted its 3rdannual Big Latch On event. Every year in August, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organizes the Big Lath On during World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support.
To mark this occasion, thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies/children across the world gathered in their own communities on August 3 to take part in the Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations. The conference room at Jefferson Medical Center was literally crawling with babies on Saturday as 21 moms were present to participate in the Big Latch On.
According to Amy Blue, RN, organizer of the local event, 18 of the 21 moms were successful for the count at 10:30 am at Jefferson Medical Center. “In the past, we have been the only site in West Virginia for the Big Latch On, but this year five sites were registered,” she says. She added a huge thanks to Dr. David Baltierra and Linda Keeling, CNM, from the WVU Women’s Health Center for speaking at the event as well as Katie Reid from WIC and Tasheema Bullock from the OB unit.
The first Big Latch On took place in New Zealand in 2005 and has now taken off globally. It was introduced to Portland, Oregon in 2010 by Joanne Edwards and in 2012, 8862 women participated in the Global Big Latch On.
The Big Latch On is informed by the principles of community development, providing the opportunity for breastfeeding women to get together in their local communities, host their own events, and identify opportunities for on-going support.
For more information, visit the web site at www.biglatchon.org.
