MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and Jefferson Medical Center will host Global Big Latch On events this April to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support.
This year, the events will take place:
- Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Medical Center Pavilion behind the Dorothy McCormack Center. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Auditorium.
- Saturday, April 15 at 10 a.m. at the Jefferson Medical Center Pavilion on the hospital campus. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in Jefferson Medical Center’s first floor meeting room.
Participants should plan to arrive by 10 a.m. for registration. The latch event will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. There will be light refreshments and activities for children. Information on safe infant sleep and free car seat safety checks will also be available.
The first Big Latch On took place in New Zealand in 2005. It was introduced to Portland, Oregon in 2010 by Small Beginnings Group, LLC and has since taken off globally. The Global Big Latch On provides the opportunity for breastfeeding women to get together in their local communities, host their own events, and identify opportunities for ongoing support.
Breastfeeding has health benefits for both mothers and babies. Breast milk provides babies with the ideal nutrition to support normal development and can help protect babies from certain illnesses and diseases.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months of life, then continued breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods up to 2 years of age, or beyond, as mutually desired by the mother and child.
For more information, visit BigLatchOn.org.
--WVU MEDICINE—
For media inquiries:
Chelsie Davis, Marketing Strategist, 304-596-6327,
chelsie.davis@wvumedicine.org
23 – March
CED: 3-21-23