Demonstration planned to support breast feeding

Mothers and their children will gather across the globe Friday and Saturday to take part in the Big Latch On, a synchronized breast feeding event, as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

“Breast feeding contributes to the normal growth and development of babies/children,” according to a press release from the Big Latch On. “Babies/children who are not breast fed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.”

Groups of breast feeding are women coming together at registered locations around the world to all latch on their child at a set time. All the women and children are latched on for one minute at the set time and are counted by the witnesses, in an attempt to set a world record.

Carson City’s location will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Nevada Legislature, 401 S. Carson St. Participants are asked to arrive a half-hour early to register.

The Big Latch On originated in New Zealand by Women’s Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breast feeding Week, Aug. 1-7. The Big Latch On was introduced to Portland in 2010 by Joanne Edwards, of Small Beginnings Group. In 2011, Edwards worked with Annie Brown and members of La Leche League USA to grow the Big Latch On across the United States.

In an effort to further strengthen the Big Latch On’s mission to protect, promote and support breast feeding women, Women’s Health Action and the Big Latch On, joined forces in 2012.