Local Mothers Go Global as Part of 'The Big Latch On'

Nearly 18,000 participate around the world

San Luis Obispo, Calif. – Aug. 8, 2019 – Mothers gathered locally on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, to participate in The Global Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event at hundreds of locations around the world in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital hosted the event to help raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, foster a sense of community and solidarity among breastfeeding mothers, and make breastfeeding a normal part of “day-to-day life” at a community level.

At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, 15 sets of mothers and their babies simultaneously began nursing at Santa Rosa Park in San Luis Obispo and were part of 17,830 children breastfeeding globally during the one-minute count. According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child’s health and survival.

It is fitting that the event was hosted by Sierra Vista and Twin Cities: In 2015, Baby-Friendly USA designated Twin Cities as an internationally recognized Baby-Friendly birth facility and Sierra Vista earned the recognition in 2017. These achievements mean the hospitals are utilizing some of the most effective methods known to help moms succeed at breastfeeding.

In addition to The Global Big Latch On event, both hospitals offer weekly support groups, lactation services and breastfeeding classes. For more information about these and other current offerings, please visit www.sierravistaregional.com or www.twincitieshospital.com.