When people think of breast-feeding they may imagine a mother gently cradling her newborn child in her arms out of sight from the world.

Some southcentral Kentucky moms blew this notion out of the water when they participated in the Big Latch On, a global event designed to normalize breast-feeding in public, near the Community Farmers Market. Saturday’s event was the fifth in Bowling Green.

“The reason I like it is that it helps them find community support,” said Mary Duke, a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator, as she held her 12-month-old daughter, Marley Ann. “She was breast-fed from day one. Without our community of support, I don’t think we would have made it that year.”

Duke helps run My Sunshine Birth Services, which helps women find support and lets them know what their rights are as mothers. For example, KRS 211.755 states that a mother may breast-feed her baby or express breast milk in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be.

“They think it is public indecency. We want people to know they can feed anywhere,” she said. “It shouldn’t be a shock. It’s how a baby eats.”

The record for the most babies globally during the event was 14,000 babies two years ago, said Dana Bennett, regional breast-feeding promotional coordinator for 11 counties and a lactation consultant at the Allen County Health Department. About 31 countries participated last year. The event kicks off World Breastfeeding Week, which continues through Friday. Bowling Green’s Big Latch On numbers doubled from 12 the first year to 24 last year. There were 18 babies latched to their moms Saturday.

“We’re small, but we count,” Bennett said.

Tara Bissell of Bowling Green nursed her 2-month-old daughter Madeleine. Her 5-year-old daughter, Emmy, sat beside her in a stroller.

“This is the second baby I’m breast-feeding. I think breast-feeding needs to become more normal,” she said. “It’s to spread the word that breast is best for babies. It’s the healthiest thing for them.”

Bissell breast-fed Emmy for eight months.

“After you get past the first couple of weeks, it’s convenient,” she said.

Patricia Ardary of Bowling Green continues to nurse her 2-year-old son, Porter, even thought nursing a toddler is not necessarily a popular thing to do. She remembers once when she spoke with someone who commented on her choice.

“I told her that the World Health Organization recommends the first two years (for breast-feeding). She said, ‘But he’s a boy,’ ” Ardary said. “I just gave her a blank stare.”

Breast-feeding has changed for Ardary over time. When Porter was a baby, he’d nurse every three hours until about 5 p.m. and then he’d stay latched on for three hours. Now “it’s a little silly,” and he mainly nurses at naps and bedtime, she said. She plans to breast-feed him until he quits.

“Sometimes he wants to nurse upside down. Sometimes he doesn’t want to nurse,” she said. “Sometimes he wants me to nurse Mickey Mouse. He just wants to share with his friend.

“It’s a different ball game when you’re nursing a little baby,” she said. “Newborns were a little easier in some ways.”

Holly Ellis of Bowling Green brought her 4-month-old son, Asa. Her daughter, Audra, 2, nursed until Ellis was five months pregnant with Asa.

“She got bored of it. When you’re pregnant your supply drops and your flavor changes,” she said. “She was interested in breast-feeding before I got pregnant so I felt pretty bad.”

Ellis was at the Big Latch On last year with her daughter and plans to continue nursing her son.

“If everything works out, we’ll be here next year with him,” she said.

— Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter at twitter.com/bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.