2017 Big Latch On

GETTING Attached to breastfeeding

By Cameron McCullough Peninsula Kids Magazine August 2017

It is the one moment each year when women and their supporters gather in solidarity to support breast feeding. The Global Big Latch On was held on 5th August, and the Southern Natural Parenting Network were out in force.

Global Big Latch On saw 49 mothers breastfeed at The Hungry Peacock in Tyabb, and 100 in attendance althogether.

Across the world, they were joined at 725 locations, in 23 countries by 17,790 mothers breastfeeding at once. The aim of the event is to allow women to gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. Volunteers from within the community host each location, hosting a Global Big Latch On event creates a lasting support network for the community

The hall at The Hungry Peacock was filled to near capacity for the event, which was followed by prizes and a raffle for a great local charity supporting families.

The Southern Natural Parenting Network began in early 2014 as a way to connect mothers in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, Mornington Peninsula and Dandenong Ranges. With just one rule "Be Nice", the online group promised support without judgement for families with a basic focus on babywearing, breastfeeding, baby-led weaning, modern cloth nappies and co-sleeping. These core issues were ones which came up frequently in other online forums, with questions about practical matters often leading to judgmental comments and heated discussions between those with alternate views "By starting out with a philosophy of parenting in which these practices are considered normal, a safe space was created where information and resources could be shared without controversy," said Yvette O'Dowd, breastfeeding counsellor and founder of Southern Natural Parenting Network

"That doesn't mean alternatives are criticised or that those who practice them are excluded: indeed, there are many who don't use all or any of these approaches, for all sorts of reasons, and they are just as respected. There is no need to debate, justify, dispute or create conflict - each mother is supported in whatever choices work for her family "The group has evolved to become a real community, an actual village, not just an online forum. Grandmothers, fathers, health care providers and allied health professionals as well as others providing services supportive of gentle, natural parenting have come together to share and learn.”

Once a month, the group come together for Coffee & Conversation - an informal gathering in Frankston where they can access a natural parenting library cobbled together through donations and op shop discoveries; test out a babywearing learning-library of donated baby carriers, watch parenting videos or just enjoy being in a community of like-minded people. "We believe mothers and babies need support to breastfeed for as long as they both desire, ideally exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside family foods for two years and beyond, as recommended by the World Health Organisation," said Yvette.

"We respect that most mothers in Australia set out to breastfeed but not all are supported to meet their goals and occasional or routine use of formula alongside - or in place of - breastmilk becomes a reality for many."

Southern Natural Parenting Network does not set out to alienate or judge mothers who formula feed. Rather, they see their mandate as protecting and promoting their rights to accurate and appropriate breastfeeding support from health professionals and the wider community for their own future children and grandchildren."

The network represents over 6000 mothers on the peninsula. They can be contacted via Facebook at facebook.com\groups \South ern Natural Parenting Network

In Australia, the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime is protected by federal and state anti-discrimination laws. It is illegal to ask a woman to move, cover up or cease feeding her baby in any place she and her baby have the right to be

www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breastfeeding-and-law/legalright