The Big Latch On is an event first held in New Zealand in 2005, started by the Women’s Health Action organisation as part of World Breastfeeding Week. The event is aimed at encouraging as many women as possible worldwide to breastfeed in registered locations at the same set time for a period of one minute, as part of efforts to increase support for breastfeeding in public.
The event takes place this year in August and sees participants tasked with beating last year’s world record of 5,687 partaking women.
One of the organisers of Swindon’s role in the Big Latch On, Kathryn Beale, is a breastfeeding supporter and offers women in her local area advice and guidance during and after pregnancy.
She says: “I got involved with the Big Latch On because I am a breast feeding peer supporter and doula. The groups are for mums who breastfeed to come together and chat, or if they have problems, to see if they can get them sorted.”
In addition to the general public, various Hollywood celebrities are currently embracing and advocating breastfeeding in public, with singing sensation and new first-time mother Beyonce recently being spotted out in public breastfeeding her daughter, Blue Ivy.
Breastfeeding in public is steadily becoming more common due to increased awareness through participating celebrities and events such as the Big Latch On. Due to this, there are now products available specifically to breastfeeding mums who wish to feed their babies in public; designed to make the process simpler and more convenient.
Maternity wear no longer stops with pregnancy, and there are now specialist breastfeeding tops available for women which allow for convenient access whenever the baby is hungry. Offered in flattering designs and colours, the subtle slips and sleeves in these tops and dresses make it much easier for mums to breastfeed on the go.
Baby slings, scarves and cloths are also popular among new breastfeeding mums for supporting the baby whilst conserving the wearer’s modesty, if she so wishes. There are many likeminded products currently on the market which are designed specifically to aid public breastfeeding.
For more information please visit – www.bellamama.co.uk
