I was humbled and honoured to join 820 other breastfeeding mothers as part of the Malaysian Big Latch yesterday at ATRIA Shopping Gallery. The Breastfeeding Advocates Network (TBAN), together with Anggugu.com, Susuibu.com, Kumpulan Sokongan Susu Ibu Sarawak (KUSSIS) and Mother-to-Mother Peer Support Group Penang (MMPS), hosted the largest breastfeeding sessions in Selangor, Penang, Sarawak and Johor, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.
Together, in true spirit of kinship and support, we broke the last record of 432 mothers breastfeeding simultaneously.
Yang Berhormat Hannah Yeoh (Speaker of Selangor State Legislative Assembly and ADUN Subang Jaya officiated the event for Selangor, while the simultaneous sessions at the other states where telecasted live at the event.
The 4 venues for the Malaysian Big Latch were:
1. ATRIA Shopping Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
2. Gurney Paragon, St. Jo’s Level 3, Penang
3. Plaza Merdeka. Kuching, Sarawak
4. Geneva Banquet, Johor Bahru, Johor.
I had missed the online registration deadline, so I gate crashed and did a walk-in registration. The wonderful group of volunteers at the registration counter were very friendly and quick to help.
The Big Latch
All the participants gathered together on the floor of the main atrium in ATRIA Shopping gallery from 2.30pm. I was truly encouraged by the speeches from Gina Yong, Founder of The Breastfeeding Advocates Network (TBAN) and Yang Berhormat Hannah Yeoh.
“One of our core values in TBAN is to provide help and support to parents and parents-to-be to breastfeed their babies, right from the start of the babies’ life,” said Gina Yong.
"Breastfeeding is not easy and it is not something to be done in the toilet. So please do not provide breastfeeding facilities together with the toilet, separate them," said Yang Berhormat Hannah Yeoh.
At 3pm after getting confirmation from the other 3 locations, out came all the nursing covers and everyone started to simultaneously breastfeed for the event. We were required to breastfeed for 15 minutes simultaneously to make it official for the Malaysian Book of Records.
WE DID IT!
As this was my first time being a part of making history, it was truly an experience I wouldn't forget. I am in awe of all the hard work and dedication put in by TBAN and their group of volunteering mothers who feel very strongly about normalising breastfeeding in our country.
Do you need help or more information regarding breastfeeding? Do pay TBAN a visit today.