As the only designated Baby-Friendly birth center in Jackson County, Providence Medford Medical Center supports the Southern Oregon Lactation Association (SOLA) as it participates in “The Big Latch On” worldwide event on Friday, Aug. 2 in Bear Creek Park on Highland Drive in Medford.
To participate, women and babies should arrive at the park at 10 a.m. for the 10:30 a.m. global latch on.
In conjunction with the Medford event, Providence will also support SOLA’s Ashland “Big Latch On” event scheduled at the Family Massage Center, 1081 E. Main St. in Ashland with registration at 10 a.m. and the “Big Latch On” at 10:30 a.m.
“The Big Latch On was created in 2005 to bring the global community together in a celebration of breastfeeding,” said Tracy Hanson, certified lactation educator, Providence BirthPlace.
“Now, eight years later, more than 337 locations in 16 countries will be participating as we attempt to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously.”
The record of 9,826 women simultaneously breastfeeding a baby was set in 2010, according to media reports from previous Big Latch On events.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Adequate breastfeeding support for mothers could save about a million child lives globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
In 2000, WHO and UNICEF certified Providence BirthPlace as the 26th Baby-Friendly birth facility in the United States. This recognition symbolizes Providence leadership in establishing the highest standards possible for protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.
For more information on the Baby-Friendly designation, please visit www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
All Providence BirthPlace nurses are trained in breastfeeding techniques and are able to offer guidance and support. Providence offers breastfeeding classes from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the BirthPlace conference room. To register, call 541-732-5717.
For more information on the Medford Big Latch On event, contact Korina Skaff at 541-774-8018 or at skaffkk@jacksoncounty.org.
Providence Health & Services is Oregon’s largest health system and largest private employer. Providence in southern Oregon includes Providence Medford Medical Center, a 168-bed acute care facility featuring a wide range of health care services including home health care, and Providence Medical Group-South, the largest multi-specialty group in southern Oregon and northern California providing care for family practice, internal medicine, cardiology, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, physiatry vascular and general surgery and neurology. Visit www.providence.org/medford