Mums latch on to breastfeeding

Stratford mums joined in the international Big Latch On on Saturday to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week which takes place this week.

The latch on event, which began in New Zealand, is now international - last year a record 14,536 children were recorded as being fed at events across the world.

The Stratford mums and their children met at Te Whare Whanau, the Stratford maternity unit, to enjoy a morning tea, with host Jamie Swan overseeing the event.

Jamie, who is the chairperson of the Kindergarten Taranaki Association, says she was asked by local midwife, and director of the maternity unit, Sharon Robinson, to host this year's latch on event.

"I have had all my children with Sharon, and believe in the importance of supporting breastfeeding as a healthy, free and natural option for mothers to feed their children, so I was happy to get involved."

The youngest child at the event was week-old Tyler Townsend. His mum, Ashleigh Liddington, says she breastfed his sister, Mia, for 18 months and had no reason not to feed Tyler the same way. "It's cheaper and healthier, and so easy."

Lacey Sculpher, 15 months, was also at the event, with her mother Katie Fromings. Lacey is the third child for Katie, who says breastfeeding all three of her children was an easy choice to make.

It's not just free and easy, but you can't overfeed a baby with breastmilk and it is such a nice bond between mother and child.

Katie's friend Sam Carse was also at the event, with 14 month-old Layne Burke. "I breastfed my first child for nearly a year, but then stopped, because I thought that's what you do, but really, the world-wide norm is to breastfeed for a lot longer than that, which is my aim with Layne."

Jamie was delighted with the turnout for the event and is looking forward to seeing numbers increase next year.