NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Mums Celebrate Breastfeeding in The Big Latch On
[insert organization name here] are partnering with Women’s Health Action, organizing a Big Latch On event
for local breastfeeding mums at [insert event details here where, date, time].
Our Big Latch On event is one of hundreds taking place all over the country in celebration of breastfeeding for
women and their families. We warmly invite all breastfeeding women in the community to join us!
Thousands of women from different cultures and backgrounds will simultaneously breastfeed their babies in
public events all around New Zealand over two days: Friday, 31 July and Saturday,1 August and we are aiming
to make this year the biggest demonstration yet.
Women’s Health Action’s maternal and child health promoter, Isis McKay says communities around the
country are the heart of this supportive event.
“The Big Latch On is successful because it operates at a grass roots level. Each event is unique, shaped
according to the ethos and culture of the community organizing it.
“From a maternal gathering on a pig farm, to en-masse marae sit-ins, we’ve even had women taking part
30,000 feet in the air; an in-flight Big Latch On!”
“We warmly welcome and encourage community groups everywhere to participate in this year’s 11th Big Latch
On,” says Ms McKay.
The mass event aims to support breastfeeding women and celebrate the health-giving, mother-baby bond.
For the second year, women can also take part via a virtual Big Latch On by posting a breastfeeding selfie to
#biglatchonNZ www.facebook.com/biglatchonNZ
“There is evidence that women increase their internet use by up to 45 percent after becoming mothers, and if
they’re back at work or unable to make it to a physical Big Latch On, this on-line option may work for them.”
In 2014 more than 110 breastfeeding events were held in venues throughout New Zealand, and it’s not just a
national phenomenon.
The Women’s Health Action initiative has gone global, with 28 countries around the world now running Big
Latch On events involving more than 14,500 babies!
Ms McKay says The Big Latch On is a lot of fun.
“You get to meet other women and previous participants tell us they made new friends and liked supporting
each other. Some of the groups decided to keep meeting regularly.”
ENDS
To join your local Big Latch On event, go to: local organizer to put their contact details here.
To register your Big Latch On event go to www.biglatchon.org.nz or phone 09 520 5295
For more information on The Big Latch On nationwide contact:
Isis McKay, Maternal and Child Health Promoter, 09 5205295, 021442450, isis@womens-health.org.nz
For more information on your local Big Latch On event call:
[insert your details here]
Editor’s notes:
Since 1984 Women's Health Action has been at the forefront of women's health in New Zealand. Founded by
health activists Phillida Bunkle and Sandra Coney, the group came to national prominence when it broke the
story of 'the unfortunate experiment' at National Women's Hospital in Auckland
Women's Health Action is a charitable trust which aims to provide women with high quality information and
education services to enable them to maintain their health and make informed choices about their health
care. The organisation has a health promotion and disease prevention focus, with special interests in
breastfeeding and women’s health, research and policy.
www.womens-health.org.nz www.facebook.com/biglatchonNZ
#biglatchonNZ
Breastfeeding – some key facts:
- Breastfeeding helps lay the foundation of a healthy life for a baby and it’s good for the health and
wellbeing of breastfeeding women too.
- Breast milk is all a baby needs to eat and drink for about the first six months of their life. For some
women breastfeeding can be a struggle, especially if they do not have good support systems in place.
- Research highlights that a significant barrier to breastfeeding is women not feeling supported by their
family, friends, and wider community, to breastfeed.
Benefits for baby:
- Breastfeeding decreases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)
- Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of obesity and may help reduce the risk of diabetes in later life.
- Breastfeeding and breast milk helps protect your baby from chest infections, meningitis, ear infections
and urine infections.
- Benefits for women:
- Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life.
- Breastfeeding reduces your risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.
- Breastfeeding helps you recover from birth.