'Big Latch On' Comes to Cartersville

Thousands of nursing women and their babies across the country Saturday at 10:30 a.m. will gather in their own communities to take part in the Big Latch On, America’s first synchronized nursing event.

Cartersville's Big Latch On will take place at . "Like" the local event's Facebook page for more information.

"Our goal is simple — to educate the public about breastfeeding and to hopefully break the current world record for the most moms breastfeeding at one time," said local organizer Jacky Souders. "I decided to host this event, in my home town of Cartersville, because I am a huge advocate for breastfeeding. I created Mummies Nummies after the birth of my second daughter in 2009 (whom I am currently breastfeeding). I wanted to document my struggles and story, in hopes to find fellow 'mummies' and help them."

Souders added moms will receive donations from several companies and food from .

The Big Latch On began in New Zealand and was introduced in Portland, Oregon in 2010 by Joanne Edwards as a celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. During the same week Annie Brown, a La Leche League leader from Connecticut organized a simultaneous breastfeeding event in her home state.

For World Breastfeeding Week 2011, they are working collaboratively and with the support of La Leche League USA to bring the event across the country.

World Breastfeeding Week, which is August 1 to 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. 

Breastfeeding contributes to the normal growth and development of babies, and babies who are not breastfed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, 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, continuing to breastfeed for 2 years and as long thereafter as is mutually desired by mother and baby.