August is National Breastfeeding Month and each year this special month gets off to a start with a bang! Every year the first Friday and Saturday are the days of the Big Latch On event. You might we asking yourself, "What is the Big Latch On?"
Groups of breastfeeding women come together at registered locations around the world to all latch on their child at a set time. All the breastfeeding women and children are latched on for one minute at the set time and are counted by the witnesses. The numbers are added up and we see if we can beat previous Big Latch On records!
The Big Latch On supports communities with identifying and growing opportunities to provide ongoing breastfeeding support and promotion.
The key to the Big Latch On's success is allowing communities to hold their Big Latch On events, empowering them to create an event that relates to the people of their community, while still taking part in a worldwide event. You can read more about the Big Latch On here.
I have co-hosted the Big Latch On in Waco, Texas for the past two years. The first year (2014) we had roughly 20 successful latches at the set time. This year (2015) we had 22! Next year will be even better! I was pleased with how the event turned out this year, but I'm already making plans for improving the event for 2016.
The group photograph for the Big Latch On in Waco, 2015. There were 22 successful latches!
In 2015, a new record was set globally for the Big Latch On with a whopping 14,889 successful latches! The old record was set in 2013 with 14,536 successful latches.
People often realize that the first week in August is World Breastfeeding Week, but in fact the entire month of August recognizes the importance of breastfeeding. Here at Smith Family Photography we are celebrating by offering Breastfeeding Mini-Sessions for the entire month of August!
Breastfeeding Mini-Sessions to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month.
My favorite quote to summarize my personal feelings about breastfeeding can be found on a collage I put together with the help of several nursing mothers and their babes. This collage was originally put together for an art piece to be displayed at the Texas State Capital to support several breastfeeding bills.
