Eight Katikati La Leche League mothers attended the "Latch On" with their babies to contribute to a New Zealand record-breaking attempt on August 6.
August 1-7 was World Breastfeeding Week and La Leche League Katikati was latching on to a national initiative, organised by Women's Health Action, which attempted to have the
most mothers breastfeeding at the same time at 10.30am throughout New Zealand.
Katikati league co-leader Trudy Hart said the "Big Latch On 2010" hit a new record with a provisional nationwide total of 1521 up from 1299 last year.
"We still have two venues yet to confirm their numbers but can report a provisional total for Aotearoa of 1521. Here in Katikati we had eight La Leche League mothers attend the Latch On and contributed their happy babies' Latch On to the New Zealand total," she said.
"This was a valuable opportunity to celebrate the hard work mothers do and a positive sign that we are strengthening breastfeeding support in New Zealand."
However, it is believed by the country's leading breastfeeding support group that thousands of New Zealand mums are not breastfeeding because they don't get enough help.
La Leche League New Zealand, a mother-to-mother support organisation, says more emphasis needs to be placed on helping mums breastfeed their babies after discharge from hospital.
"Our maternity services are getting better and better at implementing comprehensive breastfeeding policies, but more has to be done to encourage and help mothers when they get home. We cannot hope for breastfeeding to become the norm if we do not give mothers the ongoing help they need," says LLLNZ spokesperson Lisa Manning.
For more information on the Katikati La Leche League, phone co-leaders Kylie Ridder, 549-2820, or Trudy Hart, 549-5644.
