August of every year is Breastfeeding Awareness Month pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10028, otherwise known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. This aims to promote and raise public awareness on the importance of breastfeeding in the country. As we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month, here are some facts that you should know about breastfeeding.
Why Breastfeed?
Breastfeeding as defined by DOST, is the safest and cost-effective way to protect infants, young children and their mothers against morbidity (illnesses) and mortality (death). Breastfeeding is important during the first months of life, especially with the acquisition of colostrum which is the ideal first milk that helps a newborn’s immature digestive tract to develop. It contains nutrients and antibodies which help improve an infant’s sensory and cognitive development. Contrary to breast milk, infant formula being an alternate lacks colostrum, thus our law prohibits its promotion, and it is also unrecommended as stated in the Revised Implemented Rules and Regulation of Executive Order No. 51 in the country popularly known as the “Milk Code of the Philippines”.
Why Breastfeed exclusively?
Exclusive breastfeeding means for the first six months of life, the newborn must only receive breast milk without any additional food and water. According to scientific studies and based on surveys, babies who were found to be not breastfed in the first 6 months of their lives are 25 times more likely to die than those who have been given exclusive breastfeeding from the time they were born until they reached 6 months. This is attributed to the fact that breastfeeding exclusively lowers the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, cholesterol, allergies, diabetes asthma, cancer, high blood pressure, pneumonia along with the passive vaccination it gives to the baby against common illnesses and infections that the mother had been previously exposed.
How can I breastfeed when I’m at work?
The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act (Republic Act 10028) requires all health and non-health facilities and establishments to allocate space for lactation stations. The lactation stations are private, clean, sanitary and well-ventilated rooms or areas in the workplace or public place where nursing mothers can wash up, breastfeed or express their milk comfortably and store this afterwards. Breastfeeding mothers must also be given an additional 40-minute break in addition to their regular time-off for meals to express their breast milk as stipulated in Section 12 of RA 10028.
How to store and introduce expressed breast milk to babies?
It is important to know how to store expressed breast milk properly. For sanitation and safety, practice regular washing of hands before and after milk expression and storing. The Department of Health (DOH) recommends the use of storage containers free from Bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful compound found in plastic bottles, baby bottles, etc., and avoid using disposable plastic bags. Store expressed breast milk in a thoroughly washed container that is properly labeled with the date and time of expression and make sure that the lids are tightly sealed. Breast milk stored at room temperature is safe to be offered to the baby within 8 hours. However, placing it inside the refrigerator and in the freezer prolongs further its shelf life. Also, it is advised not to directly warm expressed breast milk prior to its introduction to babies. Instead, warm it by soaking the container with breast milk inside in a bowl with hot water and introduce it to the baby using a small cup, syringe, dropper, or a teaspoon.
Breastfeeding not only saves babies from death but also provides long-term benefits. By supporting mothers to practice proper breastfeeding and with our collaborative efforts, we can save infants from common illness and even death. It can also help mothers lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers later in life. This advocacy will help our country to have a healthy, well-nourished and productive future generation, and in turn, make a good impact on the overall nutrition and economic status of our country. Make way to a healthy baby by breastfeeding responsibly!
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
- An Act Declaring The Month Of August Of Every Year As “National Breastfeeding Awareness Month”
www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/34522832!.pdf
- Breastfeeding Awareness Month
https://doh.gov.ph/Health-Promotion/breastfeeding-awareness-month
- August is National Breastfeeding Month, and the theme for 2020 is Many Voices United.
https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/breastfeeding-benefits/index.html
- Hundreds of Mothers Gather to Celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month
https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/hundreds-mothers-gather-celebrate-national-breastfeeding-awareness-month
- 6 Facts about Breastfeeding
https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/events/6396-6-facts-about-breastfeeding
- Executive Order No. 51: National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplements and other Related Products
https://pcw.gov.ph/executive-order-no-51-national-code-of-marketing-of-breastmilk-substitutes-breastmilk-supplement-and-other-related-products/