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Global breastfeeding event supported in Solihull

Healthcare staff in Solihull have recently hosted an event which has contributed to almost 60,000 people around the world demonstrating their support for breastfeeding.

The Solihull Infant Feeding Team, part of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, hosted a Global Big Latch On in John Lewis at Touchwood. The event was one of 778 synchronised breastfeeding events taking place in 28 countries. At the specified time, over 21,500 children ‘latched’ and were breastfed.

The Global Big Latch On is an annual event organised as part of World Breastfeeding Week since 2010. Women gather together to breastfeed for one minute and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding and a lasting support network for the community is created.

Elaine Kindred-Spalding, Infant Feeding Co-ordinator for Solihull, said: “The event was an amazing success. It was great to see not just mums but families supporting each other to meet and breastfeed in an inclusive environment, highlighting the support available and raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.

“I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all who came along and also to John Lewis for their support”.

Breastfeeding provides both short and long term health benefits to babies. This includes reducing the risks of developing ear, chest, tummy and urinary tract infections, coronary heart disease and obesity in later life. Breastfeeding also helps to reduce the risk of mums developing breast and ovarian cancer as well as osteoporosis.

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