On Saturday, August 3, local area women, their babies, and a few significant others met at Hardin Park to participate in a global show of support to the art of breastfeeding: The Big Latch On 2013. Worldwide, participants gathered to nurse their babies with the count being gathered from those who were actually latched on from 10:30 to 10:31 AM wherever they were.
This year, the movement broke its record with a count of 14,536. Mexico was well-represented in the cause, with 18 nursing mothers bringing their little ones. Ten of them were counted in that total. The other eight were too busy looking around at their comrades! In addition to the moms and babes, there was a great show of support by other moms, grandmothers and friends, as well as nutritionists and health professionals. David Pickering captured a lot of sweet moments with the help of his trusty camera.
The local meet-up was spearheaded by Liz Wiecken, who calls herself a "crunchy" mom and is beginning classes in the fall to be a lactation counselor. She was assisted by Danita Fennewald, and was well-sponsored by: AMC, Audrain Co. Health Dept., Chigger Hill Printing, Coach's Pizza World,, 31 Gifts by Melanie Utterback, Mary Kay by Tasha Phillips, Charlisa's Vinyl Designs, Pure Romance by Tina Rubio, David Pickering, and Super 8 in Kingdom City.
This event is held every year in an effort to support the breastfeeding movement and educate others about it. The day was lovely with a gentle breeze, healthy snacks, and even door prizes for the participating moms.
From their website, www.biglatchon.org/about :
History of the Big Latch On
The Big Latch On is originally from New Zealand. It was started by Women's Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breastfeeding Week. Each year, they have seen a growth in the numbers of breastfeeding women attending and an increase in the support for breastfeeding in public. The Big Latch On was introduced to Portland, Oregon, in 2010 by Joanne Edwards, Small Beginnings Group as a celebration for World Breastfeeding Week. In 2011, Joanne worked with Annie Brown and members of La Leche League USA to grow the Big Latch On across the USA.
In an effort to further strengthen the Big Latch On's mission to protect, promote and support breastfeeding women and in recognition of increasing global participation in the Big Latch On, Women's Health Action and the Big Latch On Global Coordinator Joanne Edwards of Small Beginnings Group, joined forces in 2012.
Beautiful pictures of the event, taken by the talented David Pickering, can be seen at: http://davidpickering.biz/p458304231
This year, the movement broke its record with a count of 14,536. Mexico was well-represented in the cause, with 18 nursing mothers bringing their little ones. Ten of them were counted in that total. The other eight were too busy looking around at their comrades! In addition to the moms and babes, there was a great show of support by other moms, grandmothers and friends, as well as nutritionists and health professionals. David Pickering captured a lot of sweet moments with the help of his trusty camera.
The local meet-up was spearheaded by Liz Wiecken, who calls herself a "crunchy" mom and is beginning classes in the fall to be a lactation counselor. She was assisted by Danita Fennewald, and was well-sponsored by: AMC, Audrain Co. Health Dept., Chigger Hill Printing, Coach's Pizza World,, 31 Gifts by Melanie Utterback, Mary Kay by Tasha Phillips, Charlisa's Vinyl Designs, Pure Romance by Tina Rubio, David Pickering, and Super 8 in Kingdom City.
This event is held every year in an effort to support the breastfeeding movement and educate others about it. The day was lovely with a gentle breeze, healthy snacks, and even door prizes for the participating moms.
From their website, www.biglatchon.org/about :
History of the Big Latch On
The Big Latch On is originally from New Zealand. It was started by Women's Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breastfeeding Week. Each year, they have seen a growth in the numbers of breastfeeding women attending and an increase in the support for breastfeeding in public. The Big Latch On was introduced to Portland, Oregon, in 2010 by Joanne Edwards, Small Beginnings Group as a celebration for World Breastfeeding Week. In 2011, Joanne worked with Annie Brown and members of La Leche League USA to grow the Big Latch On across the USA.
In an effort to further strengthen the Big Latch On's mission to protect, promote and support breastfeeding women and in recognition of increasing global participation in the Big Latch On, Women's Health Action and the Big Latch On Global Coordinator Joanne Edwards of Small Beginnings Group, joined forces in 2012.
Beautiful pictures of the event, taken by the talented David Pickering, can be seen at: http://davidpickering.biz/p458304231