Go Breastfeed: A New Go-To Website on Breastfeeding Launches in the Philippines!

I've proudly breastfed both my kids and I am also proud that I've influenced both my sisters and friends to also breastfeed their kids. But I wouldn't be successful without the help of my husband (my No. 1 supporter), support groups (online and offline), breastfeeding books, and helpful websites that made me gain my confidence and trust in myself that I can do it!

I am so happy to see that more moms want to breastfeed and are breastfeeding their child but of course it's not always a smooth sailing journey and some moms stop breastfeeding because of the hurdles they encounter like they think they don't have milk or that it's "masakit magpa-dede" Always remember that our body is designed to produce milk and the latch of the baby to the breast must be correct.

Unfortunately for Filipino babies, these myths surrounding breastfeeding are not easily washed away, as most moms have nowhere to turn to for information. Babies are thus deprived of benefits they can only get through breastfeeding, and mothers, who would gasp had they known what they are unwittingly doing, remain unaware.

In this day and age of internet, searching about breastfeeding is just within our fingertips but four years ago, when I was pregnant with Y, there's only a few and limited resources on breastfeeding in the Philippines but not anymore!

Kate Delos Reyes, a trained breastfeeding peer counselor, former country editor of Yahoo Philippines, and a mother to an exclusively breastfed two-year-old, put up Go Breastfeed, an online resource that helps educate and empower parents to breastfeed their children.

“I believe that no parent who completely understands the power of breastfeeding would choose any other way to nourish a child,” says Kate Delos Reyes, creator of Go Breastfeed. “We want Go Breastfeed to be a platform for breastfeeding advocates to reach more parents online,” Delos Reyes said, noting that the website aims to amplify the efforts of these groups, not to duplicate them.

Sign up today! I did yesterday!

The Crash Course section is useful for expecting parents as it covers breastfeeding facts and myths, what to expect at childbirth, and how to adjust to the new baby.

The Breastfeeding Diaries is where mothers can share their inspiring real-life stories about the joys and challenges of breastfeeding. I have many of these stories!

Helpful articles on breastfeeding

 And you can join online discussions on a wide range of topics on breastfeeding.

All of these in just one website! I think this is brilliant! Go Breastfeed would definitely help a lot of moms, dads and even grandparents or friends who wants to know not only about breastfeeding but also about childbirth and the fourth trimester (adjusting to your new life with your baby and as a mom) and get connected with fellow breastfeeding mommas! Breastfeeding mommas need all the support they can get!

“Breastfeeding benefits children, mothers and the whole community so the dismal state of breastfeeding in the country should concern everyone. I hope more Filipinos rally support,” Delos Reyes said.

Go Breastfeed

www.gobreastfeed.com

Go Breastfeed Facebook Page

Go Breastfeed Twitter

Go Breastfeed Instagram

Go Breastfeed is currently raising funds to support the production of online training materials, which would help mothers learn how to breastfeed without having to pay for classes. To support Go Breastfeed, especially their efforts at making breastfeeding classes available to everyone, please click here. (http://igg.me/at/gobreastfeed)

I Think R Has Weaned...

And I miss nursing him already!

He still "nurses" pag feel niya but for about 3 seconds lang then he lets go na. He sometimes smells my me lang then he goes on playing na. Tears... :( Sometimes Ako pa nag-ooffer hehe! I am still in denial that my baby has weaned.

But I am happy and proud of myself for breastfeeding R this long. No formula at all. Nothing is more fulfilling than being able to breastfeed my kids.

And because I truly believe in the power of breast milk, and I want to help moms out there to wants to breastfeed successfully, I trained to become a LATCH Peer Counselor! Yay!

My LATCH Peer Couselors Batchmates

August is a very busy month for LATCH. THE Dr. Jack Newman will be here on a 3-city tour to give talks about breastfeeding! I am very excited!!!

And if you're a pregnant mom who wants to know more about breastfeeding, you can attend Yahoo Philippines's Breastfeeding Class on August 23!

See you all there! And Happy Breastfeeding Month!

How to Win Over Breastfeeding Challenges + A Giveaway!

Today, my little boy R turns 21 months. And I'm proud to say we are still breastfeeding! Yay! Though R already takes fresh milk during the day, he still nurses from me during nap time and at night since we co-sleep.

I love it when my R wants to nurse from me. And I intend to continue breastfeeding him until he wants to. Our breastfeeding wasn't as smooth sailing as it looks.

Breastfeeding was a big challenge especially during the first time. I had my fair share of challenges when Y was born, the first day I went back to work after my maternity leave, my family and even with some of friends. But I surpassed them all because of the support I got from my husband and "breastfriends".

Y when she's three months old!

Last year, author Teresa Gumap-as-Dumadag a[[roached me to share my breastfeeding story. I took this opportunity so that I can share my experience can reach more people. And I'm happy that I did.

I'm on page 186!

This is the first breastfeeding book by a Filipino author.  What I love about the book is it tells breastfeeding success stories of different moms from all walks of life.  When I shared my story, I was still working full time, when the book was launched, I was and still am an awesome mompreneur! :) Heehee!

Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag, the author

Teresa will have a talk and book signing  on March 29, 2014. Full Life Cube and Medela Moms in cooperation with Mom Baby Fabric (check their super chic and cute nursing covers!) presents How To Win Over Breastfeeding Challenges!

More info on the event here

If you are pregnant or a breastfeeding mom but still struggling, I highly recommend you to attend this talk. Be sure to sign up here!

And because breastfeeding is an advocacy that's very dear to me and I want my readers to be successful in breastfeeding as I did, I'm giving away two copies of Breastfeeding: A Journey Worth Taking to two pregnant or breastfeeding mommies! Just join by using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BREASTFEEDING ADVOCATES: KILL BILL

Repost from Chronicles of a Nursing Mom Blog

BREASTFEEDING ADVOCATES:  KILL BILL

205 congressmen misled with real intent of proposed

“Breastfeeding Promotion and Infant Formula Regulation Act”

            Breastfeeding advocates denounce the proposed House Bill entitled “An Act Promoting A Comprehensive Program on Breastfeeding Practices and Regulating The Trade, Marketing and Promotions of Certain Foods for Infants And Young Children”, or short title “Breastfeeding Promotion and Infant Formula Regulation Act.”   

The proposed House Bill is a substitution of House Bills No. 3396, 3525, 3527, 3537, as approved by the Technical Working Group held on July 2, 2012.

            According to Innes Fernandez, lead convener of Save the Babies Coalition, the consolidated bill includes provisions authored by Reps. Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I, Josephine Vernonique R. Lacson-Noel, Lani Mercado-Revilla, Lucy Torres-Gomez and Rufus Rodriguez that undermine breastfeeding and indulge milk manufacturers.

“The true intention of the “Breastfeeding Promotion and Infant Formula Regulation Act” is to water down the Milk Code, or Executive Order 51,” Fernandez declared. 

In the proposed House Bill, milk companies will be allowed to advertise their products intended for children over six months; conduct promotion on breastfeeding; give information, education, and communication materials about breastfeeding; place health and nutritional claims for their products; and donate infant formula during times of disaster, calamities, and emergency cases.

All those provisions are prohibited under the Milk Code

In their position paper, Save the Babies stated that the “consolidated Bill does not serve the interest of the Filipino people, rather it propagates the commercial interest of the multinational milk companies.”

She also condemns the manner in which the signatures of 205 representatives were acquired.  “205 representatives were misled, misinformed, and even deceived to believe that this proposed bill will help improve the health and welfare of children and women,” Fernandez revealed.

            The Save Babies Coalition is comprised of four non-government organizations namely: Civil Society for Educational Reform, Ecowaste Management Coalition, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc., Health Justice and Mother Support Groups Nationwide.

            Likewise, various medical professional organizations released a position statement on the consolidated House Bill on breastfeeding.  Speaking on behalf of “millions of Filipino infants and young children, their mothers and fathers”, the group expressed dissent over the attempts to “substantively amend the existing breastfeeding-related laws” which have shown positive impact in improving breastfeeding rates in the country.

            The statement also reaffirmed their role as responsible health professionals who work “conscientiously towards decreasing child mortality.”

            Child rights organization, Save the Children also issued a statement, opposing the proposed House Bill amendments.  It declared that the modifications will only “advance business and profit interests of milk companies” and called on communities, LGUs, legislators, and even President Benigno Aquino III to uphold the rights of Filipino families by dismissing any changes to the landmark Milk Code.

The Milk Code, which was signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino in October 1986 is based on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly, is given a “very good” rating by the Breastfeeding Scorecard of the SOWM 2012 and is positively noted by the Concluding Observation of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 2009.

            The breastfeeding advocates are working with various sectors, groups, and noted individuals to help kill the bill.

            Senator Pia Cayetano, author of the Expanded Breastfeeding Act, has been vocal that the proposed provisions will not gain ground in the Senate as long as she is the chairman of the committee on women and health.