162 mothers gather for breastfeeding challenge

More than 100 moms gathered with their babies in a designated area; they waited for an announcer to give the word.

“All right, it’s 11 o’clock… go for it!” the announcer exclaimed.

There and then, the moms lifted their babies and started breastfeeding.

“The Great Long Beach Latch” was “a friendly challenge,” which occurred at the second annual “Latch and Link Long Beach” community fair. Moms were expected to breastfeed their babies for at least one minute starting at 11 a.m., according to the fair’s press release.

Breastfeeding moms were also instructed to hold up a blue sticker that read, “We support NIP [Nursing in Public], to the LBC [Long Beach City],” in order to count how many people participated in the event.

Christine Gibson, one of the two organizers of the event and CSULB alumna, told the crowd that 44 moms participated in the event last year.

“Our number for this year for ‘The Great Long Beach Latch’ is 162,” Gibson announced to the cheering crowd.

The community fair celebrating World Breastfeeding Week took place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach located on Atherton Street and Bellflower Boulevard. The fair was swarming with moms and babies, with some moms preparing themselves for “The Great Long Beach Latch” event.

After the “Great Long Beach Latch” ended, the fair had other activities to partake in such as “Ask an LC” booth offering answers to breastfeeding questions, conversation groups, mini workshops led by breastfeeding and baby-wearing experts, acupuncture and chair massages.

Although “Latch and Link Long Beach” occurs once a year, Gibson said it took about eight to nine months to prepare. She said “a lot of networking” had to be accomplished in order to make sure she reached out to different community groups, agencies and organizations.

“We have about 38 different organizations here in our resource fair,” Gibson said. “We also are reaching out to breastfeeding moms… pregnant women… and expected families.”

Denley, mother of one, said she went to the event to be around other moms who are breastfeeding.

“For me, to breastfeed, it’s such a personal experience,” Denley said. “I think it’s so natural for the kids ‘cause it’s the first milk you’re going to have for your kids, and I think that’s… natures way of supporting your baby…”

In June, CSULB senior accounting major Karlesha Thurman stirred controversy after posting a photograph on Facebook of herself breastfeeding her daughter at her graduation ceremony. The image went viral on social media.

Louis Abrim, a “Latch and Link Long Beach” attendee, has his own opinion on Thurman’s NIP incident.

“I think it’s natural, but the situation is different depending on where you’re at,” Abrim said. “Although you can hide it a little more, you should be able to do it wherever you’re at in good taste.”