Simply the breast for our babies, say mums
North East women latch on to global celebration
SCORES of mums gathered in Newcastle to prove breast is best in the Big Latch On event which took place at hundreds of destinations across the globe.
In the City Library mums latched on their babies at exactly 10.30am yesterday to take part in the worldwide celebration.
Breastfeeding Peer Support c o o r d i n a t o r s were delighted when more than 80 mums turned up with their offspring.
And breastfeeding advocate Jo Jackson, along with other helpers, hailed the day a success.
“It’s world Breastfeeding Week, and women all over thee world with theirir partners and everyyone who supporteded them on their breasttfeeding journey haveve come along to celebratebrate together together.
“It is happening all over the world and this is a chance to get everyone together and normalise breastfeeding,” said Jo, senior Breastfeeding Peer Support co-ordinator.
The Big Latch On sees women gather together at registered locations to breastfeed and offer support to each other, while their friends, family and community join in to back their aim.
They hope the events will strengthen national and global support for breastfeeding and to improve the health of children and women around the world.
Rachel McCalvey, 27, of Westerhope, Newcastle, who brought along her 11-month-old son Oliver, said: “It is important for breastfeeders to come together like this and support each other.
“I didn’t think I would ever breastfeed, or at the most six weeks or so. But now that we’re doing it, I‘m still breastfeeding at 11 months and I don’t want to stop any time soon. It’s an amazing experience.”
Kristine Bishop, 27, of Jarrow, joined in with the Big Latch On with 14-month-old daughter Freya Prince. “I think it’s a wonderful idea for everyone to come together and find out the benefits of breastfeeding.
“I do think breast is best for so many health reasons and I like the connection with Freya.”
Ellie Pappworth, 35, with partner Kev Tweedy, 51, attended with their six-month-old daughter Lailah.
Ellie said: “It was a struggle to breastfeed at first. I thought I was Left to right: Beatrice Downie and Hannah Fumoleau. Inset, from left: Ellie Pappworth and Rachel McCalvey never going to do it, but I had a lot of support. I was expressing milk for the first four weeks and then she started breastfeeding, and by eight weeks she was properly feeding.”
Laura Willis, 33, of Seaton Delaval, was with her 14-month-old daughter Evie May. She said: “I definitely think that breast is best because of so many reasons.
“She’s not a fussy eater, she’s quite bright, very sociable and I put it down to breastfeeding.”
The first Big Latch On took place in Aotearoa, New Zealand, in 2005. It was introduced to Portland, Oregon, in 2010 by Small Beginnings Group LLC and has now taken off globally.
The events have become highly successful, targeting community development initiatives that raise awareness of breastfeeding, encourage the formation of support networks and aim to normalise breastfeeding as a part of daily life.
This year the mums taking part hope to smash last year’s world record of 17,852 breastfeeding babies latching on at the same time at 758 destinations across the globe.
In 2016 a massive 48,628 people attended the events and the Newcastle’s Big Latch On was the biggest in the region. Rebecca Younger, left, and Laura Warner