Kiwi mums going for gold this World Breastfeeding Week
3 August 2016, 11:21AM
Hartill PR
On Friday the 5th and Saturday 6th of August, Kiwi mums will be gathering at locations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to kick off the 2016 World Breastfeeding Week celebrations. They will be joined by over 30,000 mums and children globally to take part in the annual Big Latch On, coordinated by Women’s Health Action.
True to New Zealand’s reputation for innovation, the now global event originated here in Aotearoa in 2005, when 654 mums got together at 31 locations across our country to set a New Zealand record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously. The event soon caught on globally and we are now joined by women in over 800 locations in over 30 other countries.
“Women’s Health Action are proud to be leading our 12th annual Big Latch On, and we are hoping to break our New Zealand record of 1826 mums breastfeeding together”, says the National Big Latch On Coordinator Isis McKay.
“This event is about more than a bunch of mums sitting around breastfeeding”, says Ms McKay. “It’s about support, connection to community and services, and helping women to feel more confident about breastfeeding in public”.
“The Big Latch On is successful because it operates at a grass roots level. Each event is unique, shaped according to the ethos and culture of the community organizing it”, says Isis.
There are over 100 hosts for this year’s event, made up of members of the public, health providers, breastfeeding groups, community organisations, Kaupapa Maori and Pasifika services.
“Having a range of hosts, who organise their events in a way that best suits their community, ensures that the Big Latch On is inclusive and reaches diverse groups of women”, says Ms McKay.
Women who can’t make it to a Big Latch On venue in person can still take part by posting a Brelfie (breastfeeding selfie) to the Big Latch On’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/biglatchonNZ using the tag #BrelfieNZ to show their support and connect with online breastfeeding support.
To find your local Big Latch On or register a venue go to: www.biglatchon.org.nz
On Friday the 5th and Saturday 6th of August, Kiwi mums will be gathering at locations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to kick off the 2016 World Breastfeeding Week celebrations. They will be joined by over 30,000 mums and children globally to take part in the annual Big Latch On, coordinated by Women’s Health Action.
True to New Zealand’s reputation for innovation, the now global event originated here in Aotearoa in 2005, when 654 mums got together at 31 locations across our country to set a New Zealand record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously. The event soon caught on globally and we are now joined by women in over 800 locations in over 30 other countries.
“Women’s Health Action are proud to be leading our 12th annual Big Latch On, and we are hoping to break our New Zealand record of 1826 mums breastfeeding together”, says the National Big Latch On Coordinator Isis McKay.
“This event is about more than a bunch of mums sitting around breastfeeding”, says Ms McKay. “It’s about support, connection to community and services, and helping women to feel more confident about breastfeeding in public”.
“The Big Latch On is successful because it operates at a grass roots level. Each event is unique, shaped according to the ethos and culture of the community organizing it”, says Isis.
There are over 100 hosts for this year’s event, made up of members of the public, health providers, breastfeeding groups, community organisations, Kaupapa Maori and Pasifika services.
“Having a range of hosts, who organise their events in a way that best suits their community, ensures that the Big Latch On is inclusive and reaches diverse groups of women”, says Ms McKay.
Women who can’t make it to a Big Latch On venue in person can still take part by posting a Brelfie (breastfeeding selfie) to the Big Latch On’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/biglatchonNZ using the tag #BrelfieNZ to show their support and connect with online breastfeeding support.
To find your local Big Latch On or register a venue go to: www.biglatchon.org.nz