At precisely 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aurora’s Rose Alvarez was one of 20 other local moms who came together at VNA Health Care’s Aurora Avenue location to breast feed their babies in unison as part of the Big Latch On event — a worldwide effort to bring attention and awareness to the benefits of breastfeeding.
Alvarez, who breast feeds her 6-month-old daughter Alessia, also brought along her older daughters, 5-year-old Layla and 7-year-old Marlene, who enjoyed Zumba, raffles, and cooking demonstrations.
Having breastfed all three children, Alvarez credits breastfeeding with helping to keep her young children relatively free of illnesses.
Eight-month-old twins Alfred and Charlotte were breastfed by their mom, Theresa Shilling of Aurora.
Shilling, who is a manager of a local Panera restaurant, said at home she nurses her twins at the same time. However, she also pumps milk during breaks while at work.
Having breastfed her older daughter Maggie for 15 months, it was an easy decision to breast feed her twins.
The Big Latch On is held annually as part of World Breastfeeding Week from Aug. 1 to 7 to commemorate the signing of the World Health Organization/UNICEF Innocenti Declaration, which provides protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.
First held in New Zealand in 2005, the event was brought to the United States in 2010 and has been growing here ever since, organizers of the Aurora event said.
In 2015, over 15,000 women participated in the event around the world.
Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin and Northwestern Medicine Delnor in Geneva also hosted Big Latch On events, bringing together moms from around Kane County as part of an initiative started by the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Today, about 85 percent to 90 percent of all new moms attempt breastfeeding, said Sue Laurila, a nutritionist and lactation specialist with VNA Health Care Aurora.
Another goal of events like the Big Latch On is to increase the number of months infants are breastfed, organizers said.
Laurila said it is more common for moms in other countries to breast feed longer than moms here in the United States. However, she said that with a good support network for moms that percentage can increase.
Breast milk is the perfect formula for your baby, she said.
“It has antibodies that protect the babies from illnesses and infections. The breast milk also changes to continue to meet the needs of the growing baby,” she said.
Babies who have been breastfed for one year have lower rates of obesity, asthma, and diabetes as they get older, she said.
Breastfeeding is a commitment for the mother, Laurila said, but it has economical and emotional benefits to mother and baby.
“Moms who breast feed don’t have to wash bottles or pay for formula,” she added. “It is cheaper and easier.”
Laurila encourages all new moms to maintain a regular, healthy diet, rather than choosing to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding.
As a provider of affordable healthcare, VNA also assists families with applications for the federally-funded food assistance program for women, infants, and children. Mothers who exclusively breast feed their infants receive an enhanced food package.
Breastfeeding mothers may be eligible to receive a breast pump to help support the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Each family member enrolled in WIC receives about $50 a month in vouchers for food, event organizers said.
Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
