On Saturday, August 3, at 10:30 a.m., numerous mothers and their breastfeeding child will converge in locations set up all around the world to take part in the Big Latch On.

In Sonoma County, these events will be held at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project at 144 Stony Point Rd in Santa Rosa, and at Howarth Park on the big lawn by the play structures, also in Santa Rosa.

“If you had told me two years ago that I’d be hosting a breastfeeding event, I would have laughed in your face,” Kat Hollowell, owner of Santa Rosa Macaroni Kid and host of the Howarth Park event, said. She admitted that the sight or idea of breastfeeding made her uncomfortable before becoming a mom.

“Now that I get what it is and what it means for a child, it truly is just nature,” Kat said. “I hope future generations can see it that way: as something that is completely normal that you don’t even look twice at.”

The first Big Latch On started in New Zealand back in 2005. As part of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), the event grew from a single group that increased in size every year, and eventually expanded to the United States and other countries. These events serve as a way to show the public the value in breastfeeding, and increase support for women who choose to breastfeed. The hope of this event is to help communities positively support public breastfeeding.

Big Latch on events are being held in 120 different countries. To be a part of this international event, intact Brooke Pino Liggett at bliggett11@gmail.com for the event at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project, or Kat Hollowell at kath@macaronikid.com for the event at Howarth Park. Visit biglatchon.org for more information.