The Peru Gazette

Big Latch On at CVPH part of global event to raise awareness  

PLATTSBURGH, NY (7/21/2025) – North Country moms, babies and families are invited to celebrate breastfeeding by participating in The Big Latch On planned for Saturday, August 9 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. The free event will be held in the boardroom at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with latch time starting promptly at 10:30 am. The latch will be held on the front lawn, weather permitting. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.

Each year, breastfeeding women across the globe come together to nurse their child for one full minute at an established time. The event originated in New Zealand and was started by the Women’s Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

The Plattsburgh Big Latch On is held annually as part of this world-wide effort to promote breastfeeding as a healthy start for babies. The Big Latch On is a celebration of breastfeeding, though all types of infant feeding are recognized as valid and supported.

“The breastfeeding journey is very different for everyone. No two journeys will look the same. For some, it can be a real challenge. Helping individuals meet their personal feeding goals is the top priority,” says Jocelyn Fittin, BSN, RN, IBCLC, a lactation consultant with the Alice T. Miner Women & Children’s Center (WCC) says. “The community looks forward to this event every year, so it is an honor to be able to facilitate this. I am so proud of how much this event has helped normalize breastfeeding over the years. The event is so important, because women and families from our community can see that they’re not alone and that there is a lot of support out there to lean on. Having support within the community and family support is crucial for success.”

In addition to the latch on moment, mothers, babies and their loved ones can also enjoy:

For more information, contact Fittin at (518) 562-7142.