World Breastfeeding Week 2015: Mothers Breastfeed in Public for the Big Latch On

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Thousands of women from different countries all over the world showed their support for breastfeeding at the beginning of the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week. According to Time, 176 countries participated in the worldwide event, known as the "Big Latch On." 

Six continents participated in the event, including South America, Asia and Africa, reports Take Part. A total of 14,450 mothers from all over the world participated in the "Big Latch On."

In North America, the event was held at hospitals and community centers, with the most daring place being Times Square in New York City. 

According to Diane O'Hora, public health educator at Broome County Health Dept., the United States have "moved away" from breastfeeding, but are now starting to advocate the practice again. She adds that in order for more mothers to breastfeed in the U.S., they need more support, states WICZ.

Not to be outshined, however, are other countries which chose some really creative, open places for the "Big Latch On" to raise awareness about breastfeeding. In China, mothers breastfed on the subway, while in the Phillippines mothers gathered at a shopping mall in Metro Manila to breastfeed their babies.

The event in China was particularly groundbreaking as the exclusive rate for breastfeeding in the country is staggeringly low. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission's data, a mere 30 percent of mothers in rural areas of China breastfeed, while only 16 percent of mothers breastfeed in urban areas.

However, advertisements are not the main reason mothers in China do not breastfeed. According to a global survey conducted by Lansinoh Laboratories in 2014, the main reason mothers in China do not breastfeed is because they feel it is too embarrassing to breastfeed in public. 

Participants of the event in China breastfed their babies in the subway, showing all Chinese mothers that there was nothing to be embarrassed about. 

Meanwhile in the Philippines, breastfeeding is more accepted in society. Breastfeeding stations are readily available for mothers at ShoeMart, one of the leading shopping mall companies in the country.

Time reports that the main theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week is "Breastfeeding and Work: Let's Make It Work!" The theme aims to urge governments in various countries to consider policies that would make breastfeeding easier for working mothers. 

In addition, this year's Breastfeeding Week also concentrated on raising awareness on the social and cultural stigma of breastfeeding in public. It would seem that not enough mothers are breastfeeding in the world due to lack of support.

There are plenty of health benefits to breastfeeding, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the benefits contribute to growth and brain development, protection against obesity as well as infections and other diseases. 

In fact, both WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that newborns be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.