Pueblo Participates in the Big Latch On

The Pueblo WIC program at the Pueblo City-County Health Department is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2012 by inviting nursing moms to participate in the local "Big Latch On" event.

“This event is to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for support locally and globally,” explained Sonja Lindsay-Crites, breastfeeding peer counselor coordinator with the Pueblo WIC Program, “Thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations.”

The Pueblo event will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, 101 W. 9^th Street, third floor conference room.

World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, is celebrated in 120 countries and marks the signing of the WHO/UNICEF document Innocenti Declaration, which lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals. In 2011, 5,687 women participated in the Global Big Latch On. 

Breastfeeding contributes to the normal growth and development of babies. Babies who are not breastfed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer (both mom and baby). The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life to optimize these benefits.  

For more information, please contact Sonja Lindsay-Crites at 557-2005 or on the internet:

Facebook search “Pueblo WIC” and at www.biglatchon.org