Latch On Palmerston North

From Stuff :

Palmerston North mothers and babies will help celebrate World Breastfeeding Week when they participate in the Big Latch On this Friday.

The city is one of 120 locations in 18 countries taking part. It is estimated more than 50 people will attend Palmerston North's Big Latch On.

At the event babies will "latch on" simultaneously in an effort to break the 2011 record of 1564 people.

La Leche League leader Averil Sheehan said the event showed women there was a network of support for them.

This year's event marks the 20th World Breastfeeding Week.

Maternity and child health promoter for Women's Health Action, Isis McKay, said her group aimed to increase peer and community support for breastfeeding women.

A recent Growing up In New Zealand report estimated 96 per cent of women intended to breastfeed after giving birth, with most of them planning to do so for more than six months.

But rates declined steeply, with the rate of women breastfeeding only falling to between 9 and 16 per cent by six months.

The Big Latch On will be held on Friday at 10.30am at Community Birth Services.