Breastfeeding mothers invited to Latch On at 10 a.m. Saturday at Myrick

Global event to raise awareness and end breastfeeding stigma

It’s called Latch On. The Global Big Latch On to be exact.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, baby’s and their mothers will gather in Myrick Park to do what society has, in ways, not accepted. Breastfeeding.

“Breasts are OK if you’re trying to sell beer or trucks or other things,” Kim Welvaert with the Western Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition said. “But when it comes to seeing a breasts exposed for nursing, people get weird about it.”

Last year, the first year of the event in La Crosse, 118 mother’s began breastfeeding at the same time. Globally, 36,502 women at 654 locations took part. The event has been going on since 2005.

All in hopes of normalizing the act of feeding an infant.

“When these moms are going out in public, we need to have community support,” Welvaert said. “Every day you hear of women being shamed in public for doing something that is natural.

“We should be supporting it and encouraging. So, it baffles me when mothers are shamed for doing this.”

Welvaert in hoping for an increase in numbers this year to raise even more awareness and push for wider acceptance and normalization. Moms who are pumping milk are also welcome to join in and get counted. Join the Facebook event’s page here.