Breastfeed Atlanta is hosting the 2019 Big Latch On Marietta! There’s usually a little bit of beautiful chaos, lots of laughter, and then some counting. We have some records to break, which is why we need your help. We will count the number of children breastfeeding at the same time, the number of breastfeeding parents gathered, and the total number of people who come out to show their support, so bring as many friends and family members as you can. Last year almost 18,000 breastfeeding children across 758 locations in 28 countries around the world latched for the count! Come and be a part of this year’s count!
The Global Big Latch On takes place at registered locations around the world. Families gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. Global Big Latch On events are highly successful, targeted community development initiatives that raise awareness of breastfeeding, encourage the formation of support networks between breastfeeding persons, and aim to normalize breastfeeding as a part of daily life.
At around 10.30 am we will count all the breastfeeding that is happening. It’s a latch on, so a child's mouth around a breastfeeding parent’s nipple counts. If you are breastfeeding twins or triplets (or even more!) all of them will count even if they are not all breastfeeding at the same time. We figure that’s fair enough! Remember no one checks for milk transfer, children do not have to stay latched for the whole time and all ages are welcome.
We recognize that everyone’s breastfeeding journey looks different and we want the Global Big Latch On to be as fun and inclusive as possible, while reaching our aims of positively supporting breastfeeding in public and making it a normal part of day to day life. You can be included in the latch count by latching a child or children; using a supplemental nursing system or nipple shield; expressing milk by hand or by pump, or by feeding your child breast milk via an alternative method.
We will also feature Breastfeed Atlanta’s pump check and weight check clinic visits, as well as a mini parenting expo and so much more!
