Breastfeeding Together Host “Big Latch On”

Breastfeeding Together hosted the ‘Big Latch On’ 2017 at Pennington Park in Leigh On Friday 4th August at 9.45-11am, with a great turnout for the event. We had:

  • Total mothers – 28
  • Total children being breastfed – 24
  • Total people attending – 73

The Global Big Latch On takes place at registered locations around the world, where women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding.

Volunteers from within the local community host each location. Hosting a Global Big Latch On creates a lasting support network between people in the local community, and on a national and international scale.

Why support breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding provides a whole host of benefits for mums and babies, including reducing the rate of illnesses and diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some forms of cancers. Breastmilk alone provides all the nutrients your baby needs from birth to six months old, and continues to offer benefits even after the introduction of solid foods.

However, lots of mums find breastfeeding difficult in the early weeks and the many mums start off breastfeeding the number declines. Part of the reason for the drop in breastfeeding rates is the lack of knowledgeable support and understanding in the way breastfeeding works. This, combined with the fear of feeding in public, can lead to the introduction of formula.

Wigan breastfeeding peer support

In Wigan we’re fortunate to have a council-commissioned service to help support breastfeeding mums with hospital and home visits, as well as a number of groups around the area.

We want to tell breastfeeding mums they’re not alone. Through events like the Big Latch On, we’re highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding while encouraging new mums to engage in the support of our service and other breastfeeding mums. We’re trying to normalize breastfeeding, ensuring mums feel confident, reassured and protected when feeding in public. As a breastfeeding mum it is illegal for anyone, anywhere to tell you not to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding is the biological norm, and if you do wish to breastfeed your baby, you have the full support of Breastfeeding Together in the Wigan area, and organisations like ours on a national scale.

For further details and press enquiries please contact enquiries@breastfeedingtogether.co.uk