The Big Latch On!

I just got back from Milagros, a cute baby boutique here in PDX, where Maida (my almost six month old) and I were participating in the Big Latch On. It's International Breastfeeding Week and I really wanted to participate. I was lamenting the fact that I had to work yesterday, the day of the La Leche League's Big Latch on event and the LLL leader told me that there were other events going on over the weekend. So I took a break from my out of town guest and high-tailed it over there. It was great and there were even a few moms there that I knew. Coffee, muffins, and so much cuteness I could have cried.

At 10:20 we all got settled, all 30 probably of us even a few dads were there to support their mamas. Some babies (and toddlers) were fussing and then the countdown 5-4-3-2-1 (much more exciting than New Year's Eve for me this year) and then silence as nipples met sweet little  lips and suck suck suck. You raised your hand to be counted when the baby was latched and there we were... moms doing something so natural and so healthy for both baby and mother, I almost did cry.

As I write this I am tearing up because I was very disappointed this week that I was going to miss this event as a mom who has been working so hard to produce that liquid gold for the last six months and maybe not for much longer-- maybe never again. I really didn't want to miss this opportunity to share in this experience because of my JOB! Thanks to the Big Latch On organizers and hosts who put on events on non-work days. I'm sure there is a working mom who missed out today because it was not their day off but hopefully next year everyone can find a BLO event that they can attend.

But back to the BLO. I read on their website "5687 women and their children came together and breastfed simultaneously as part of the Big Latch On in 2011."

And 2012 so far: total breastfeeding children 7006, locations so far 626, and countries so far 23.

Milky goodness.