Something completely normal is happening today around the world, and yet we felt the need to celebrate it on Saturday.

The sixth annual Marquette County Big Latch On event was held Saturday at the U.P. Children”s Museum Courtyard. Events like this are held every August around the world to increase awareness about breastfeeding – but also, to change our culture.

The Big Latch On event began to support breastfeeding mothers. At its surface, the event aims to break the record for the most moms and babies breastfeeding at the same time. By doing so, however, it helps make breastfeeding a normal part of everyday life at the local level, one of its core missions, according to biglatchon.org. The event provides an opportunity for breastfeeding women to gain support from not only their families – but the community.

It seems silly to have to point out that something healthy, natural and important – a basic need for both infants and mothers – is also normal. Unfortunately, it is needed. Breastfeeding mothers should not feel uncomfortable for nursing infants in public – but some do and they need our encouragement.

Others in society feel breastfeeding is indecent. We do not agree.

Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for babies, according to medical experts. It offers infants pretty much everything they need – vitamins, nutrients and antibodies. There are even health benefits for mom, which include burning calories to help get rid of extra baby weight and lowering the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

New mothers should not have to hide in their homes because they are afraid of feeding their children in public.

By law, they don’t have to. In Michigan and many other states, breastfeeding women are protected from discrimination and prosecution. In 2014, Gov. Snyder passed the Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act, which gives women the right to nurse a child in any place open to the general public. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, who said in an Mlive article she hoped the law would start a culture change, making mothers feel comfortable nursing their babies “wherever they’re allowed to be.”

The Big Latch On has the same goal.

“Our aim is to create normal, by having small groups of women breastfeeding everywhere so that the world can see what it should look like and culture can change,” biglatchon.org reads.

Let’s help create that normal.

Mining Journal (Marquette)