(Shelby, NC)--Every year on August 1-7, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organizes World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support.
To mark this occasion, thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies/children across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the Global Big
Latch On--a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations.
Cleveland County's local Big Latch On event will take place:
Saturday, August 3, 2019
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cleveland County Public Health Center
200 South Post Rd, Shelby
This is a free and fun celebration for the whole family. Refreshments and children's activities will be available.
Global Big Latch On events aim to protect, promote and support breastfeeding families by:
• Raising awareness of breastfeeding support and knowledge available locally and globally.
• Helping communities positively support breastfeeding in public places.
• Making breastfeeding a normal part of day-to-day life at a local community level.
• Increasing support for people who breastfeed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding contributes to the normal growth and development of babies/children, and babies/children who are not breastfed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer (both mom and baby.) WHO recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby's life to optimize these benefits, continuing to breastfeed for 2 years and as long thereafter as is mutually desired by a woman and her child.
For more information on the Global Big Latch On, please visit: www.biglatchon.org. For more information about our local Big Latch On event, or for additional information and resources on breastfeeding, you may contact the Cleveland County Public Health Center's WIC Department at 980-484-5155.
Submitted by DeShay Oliver