Lora Steffie is a Slatington resident wants to bring attention to the plethora of benefits that come from breast-feeding. Steffie, the Chairwoman of the Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Coalition, has been working hard to organize the third annual Big Latch On to be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Allentown Arts Park at North Fifth and Court streets.

The goal of this event is to get as many babies to latch on to their mothers at the same time as possible. The effort motivating the event is to simply normalize breast-feeding in the United States culture."America views breasts as a sexualized thing. There are no real role models for breast-feeding mothers," Steffie said. Along with her degree, Steffie's experience as a mother of three children helped her to become y aware of the many benefits of breast-feeding for both mother and baby."Breast-feeding helps fight infections, lower heart disease, diabetes and helps to lower the risk of ovarian cancer," she said. Babies who breast-feed also have a decreased obesity rate."Seventy-eight percent of mothers stop breast-feeding at three months because they hit a road bump and just give up. It doesn't help that the formula companies court these mothers at their door with free samples and heavy advertising," she said.Steffie graduated from the Cedar Crest college nursing program, where she gained a lot of knowledge on the subject. She currently works for St. Luke's, where she got her start as lactation assistant.Steffie became involved in the coalition two years ago when she volunteered for the Big Latch On as a latch counter.The Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Coalition consists of 30 active members and is seeking nonprofit status. Aside from the Big Latch On, the coalition organizes educational events and partners with groups such as the Milk Mob, which works to educate doctors, OB-GYN and pediatrician office staff on how to help provide breast-feeding support to new mothers.The Big Latch On originated in New Zealand where breastfeeding is a much more regular part of the community.The Big Latch On is held at the end of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. The event is viewed as a very positive experience."Mothers aren't shy at the event. When they see other moms doing it, it makes it more normal," Steffie said.The coalition is expecting a good turnout as every year more and more people attend. Mothers attending the event are asked to arrive no later than 10 a.m. to this kid-friendly event.To volunteer or find more information of the event, go to

www.lehighvalleybreastfeeding.com.