This press release published at the request of the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County.
To raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organizes World Breastfeeding Week annually in August. World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 through August 7, is celebrated in 120 countries around the world. To mark this occasion, thousands of breastfeeding people and their babies/children across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the Global Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations. The first Big Latch On took place in New Zealand in 2005. It was introduced to Portland, Oregon in 2010 by Small Beginnings Group LLC and has now taken off globally. This year the goal is to break the current Global Big Latch On record of 21,500 children breastfeeding at 778 locations, across 28 countries.
The North Central Florida Breastfeeding Coalition will host the Second Annual Big Latch On on Saturday, August 3rd from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Thomas Center (302 N.E. 6th Avenue, Gainesville). All are invited to this free World Breastfeeding Week Celebration. Breastfeeding moms can participate in the chance to break a world record for the most mother-child dyads breastfeeding at once, taking place at 10:30 a.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and mothers must be registered by 10 a.m. to participate in the latch. This free, fun, family-friendly event will have vendors, children’s activities, free raffle prizes, and food vendors. There will be a limited number of free nursing mini photo sessions. The first 100 pregnant or nursing moms will receive a swag bag. The link for event registration, volunteer sign up, and mini-session appointments are all posted through the North Central Florida Breastfeeding Coalition’s Facebook page.
Breastfeeding contributes to the healthy growth and development of babies/children. Babies/children who are not breastfed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer (both mom and baby). The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby's life to optimize these benefits, continuing to breastfeed for two years and as long thereafter as is mutually desired by a woman and her child.
“We are excited to be part of the North Central Florida Breastfeeding Coalition and to have a role in the Second Annual Gainesville Big Latch On event,” says Alachua WIC Program Community Program Manager Diana Duque. “We hope this event will demonstrate the community’s support toward mothers who breastfeed and provide resources to those who would like to learn more about the phenomenal benefits of breastfeeding.”
For more information, contact Diana Duque at 352-225-4355.