All About Breastfeeding

All About Breastfeeding

Saturday, October 6

Exclusive breastfeeding of infants rate in the Philippines is only at 48.8% in a survey conducted in 2015. This is slightly lower compared to the 52.3% in 2013.

In response to the global campaign to promote breastfeeding, the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines was launch. 

Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines is a two-year project of World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. (WVDF) in partnership with Department of Health (DOH) whose goal is to improve the implementation of  EO 51 (the Philippine Milk Code 1986) and RA 10028 (Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act 0f 2009 ) and to ensure the well-being of children.

Dr. Anthony Calibo from the Department of Health emphasizes that the responsibility to uphold the breastfeeding rights of mothers is not just the responsibility of concerned organizations and government sectors  but is also the responsibility of the general public. He said that if a mother is investing herself for the betterment of the future of her child, then she is also investing in the betterment of the future of the country.

During the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines Mommy Forum held last October 2, 2018, Ms. Erika Padilla was introduced as the World Vision Breastfeeding Ambassador. 

"It is a huge sacrifice. It is difficult, painful, and a lot of work. But definitely worth every single drop because I see my son getting stronger and healthier every day.", shared Erika. Erika has pre-eclampsia during pregnancy and his son was born prematurely. 

Why is breastmilk is best for babies?

• Breastmilk contributes to mother's birth spacing and recovery from childbirth
• Breastmilk protects infants from infection
• Breastmilk is free and complete food source for the first six months
• Breastfed babies are found to have higher IQ

The laws about breastfeeding in the Philippines that you need to know

Executive Order 51: The Philippine Milk Code of 1986

Ang EO 51 ay ibinatay sa International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes na nagtitiyak ng ligtas at sapat na nutrisyon para sa mga sanggol sa pamamagitan ng pangangalaga at pagtataguyod ng pagpapasuso ng ina at ang pagsisiguro sa tamang paggamit ng breastmilk substitute o anumang pamalit sa gatas ng ina.

Republic Act 7600: The Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992

Ang Republic Act 7600 ay ang polisiya na nagbibigay ng proteksyon at suporta sa pagpapasuso ng sanggol sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng kapaligiran kung saan ang pangunahing pangangailangang pisikal, emosyonal, at sikolohikal ng nanay at ng kaniyang anak ay masisiguro sa pamamagitan ng pagsasagawa ng rooming-in at breastfeeding.

Republic Act 10028: The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009

Kahit tapos na ang maternity leave ng isang ina, dapat ay tuloy-tuloy pa din ang pagpapasuso sa sanggol. Ang Republic Act 10028 ay nagbibigay ng mandato sa lahat ng establisimyento, pampubliko o pribado, na suportahan ang pagpapasuso ng ina sa pamamagitan ng:

• paglalaan ng pasilidad o lactation station sa kanilang pinapasukang kumpanyan kung saan maaaring magpasuso o mag-express ng gatas
• pagbibigay ng lactation break sa mga nanay na nagpapasuso 

Alam mo ba....

na hindi dapat bumaba sa 40 minuto ang lactation break bukod pa sa regular na lunch break at coffee/snack break, ang ilalaan sa bawat araw

(L-R) Carleneth San Valentin, Health and Nutrition Technical Programme Manager of World Vision Development Foundation; Erika Padilla, World Vision Breastfeeding Ambassador; Dr. Anthony Calibo, Department of Health; Mommy Celebrity Influencers Camille Prats-Yambao and Jennica Garcia-Uytingco 

To learn more about the policies and laws on breastfeeding and to know how you can support the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines, visit https://mbfp.doh.gov.ph/  or download the MBF PH app available in iOS and GooglePlay.

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Probiotic and Prebiotic in Infant Nutrition Supports Babies Health Revealed in New Scientific Evidence

Probiotic and Prebiotic in Infant Nutrition Supports Babies Health Revealed in New Scientific Evidence

Thursday, March 29

We all know that the mother's breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborns and infants. If possible, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended within the first hour after birth up to six months of age. Breastfeeding complemented with solid foods can be continued up to two years or beyond.

Studies about the nutritional composition and benefits of breast milk never stops. In a recent round table discussion I attended at Holiday Inn Makati, Dr. Eduardo Lopez-Huertas from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) shared with us new scientific evidence regarding the combination of probiotic and prebiotic in infant nutrition and how it supports the health of the babies.

Recent studies published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition & Pharmacological Research reveal that a combination of the probiotic lactobacillus fermentum and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) given to babies over a six-month period significantly reduced the rate of gastrointestinal and respiratory infection in babies between 6-12 months of age. In addition, it was demonstrated that l.fermentum was safe and well tolerated in babies from 1-12 months of age. As a secondary outcome, the consumption of the combination of l.fermentum and GOS improved the health of infants (1-6 months) by reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal infections by 71%. 

Breastmilk is the gold standard in infant nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding is the recommended way of feeding infants. The new study shows that, if breastfeeding is not possible due to the mother’s condition, infant nutrition may be an alternative. Breastmilk contains lactic acid bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactobacillus, including l.fermentum, and prebiotics containing galactose. The administration of l.fermentum in infant nutrition to babies between 6-12 months of age produced reductions of gastrointestinal infections (46%) and reductions of upper respiratory infections (27%) such as common cold, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. 

Combination support of probiotic l.fermentum & GOS and CS born-babies 

During birth, bacteria, including probiotics, are transferred from mother to baby as it passes through the vaginal canal. The presence of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract protects the baby from diseases and infections. 

Women who deliver babies by CS are less likely to breastfeed or delay breastfeeding initiation. It has been shown that CS-born babies possess less beneficial bacteria and more potentially pathogenic bacteria in the gut. This increases the risk of diseases later on in life like asthma or atopic dermatitis. For CS-born babies who cannot be breastfed, infant nutrition containing a combination of l.fermentum and GOS may be considered. 

“For babies who cannot be breastfed, the combination of the breastmilk probiotic l.fermentum and the prebiotic GOS in infant nutrition presents advantages regarding community-acquired infections mainly gastrointestinal infections. In addition, for babies born by CS who cannot be breastfed a formula with pre and probiotics should be considered due to its possible benefits,” said Dr. Eduardo Lopez-Huertas, a research scientist and author of published clinical researches on babies’ nutrition and health.

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