PURR
SM City Iloilo opens breastfeeding station
Plus, a prayer for all mothers
The cutting of ribbon with health and
social welfare representatives and
Girlie Libo-on, SM City Iloilo manager.
Nursing mothers have special needs. They always plan their baby's feeding schedule when they plan their activities. This is the reason why most nursing mothers rather stay home for convenience rather than go malling with their family.
They won't have it otherwise, because breast milk is rightfully so, "the best for baby." Apart from the vitamins and the nutrients that breastfeeding provides in the first six months of a baby's life, breast milk has disease-fighting substances that protect the baby from illness. That is why doctors recommend that for at least six months, mothers should provide exclusive breastfeeding (no solid food) to offer the best protection.
The secret here is colostrum, the first milk that the mother products. This forms a protective layer on the baby's mucous membranes, thus guarding against invading germs.
Prayers before the blessing of the SM
City Iloilo Breastfeeding Station..
Now that SM City Iloilo opened its breastfeeding station, nursing mothers can enjoying malling and at the same time provide her baby the natural milk he or she needs while in the privacy of the said area.
The opening was held last Dec. 19, 2008. The station is located at the lower ground floor, beside Negros Navigation.
Girlie Libo-on, SM City Iloilo mall manager, said that the opening of the 25th breastfeeding station of SM Supermalls is another milestone in the company's history. "This is the first and only establishment in Iloilo that has a breastfeeding station," she said. The project, which is part of the company's social responsibility, was implemented in Manila two years earlier and now, there are 27 breastfeeding stations. Hopefully, more stations will be put up, completing SM Supermalls 34 branches nationwide.
"We know that breastfeeding moms have special needs. Now, you can have the option of nourishing your babies in the confines of the breastfeeding station while you're going shopping. And this is for free," she added.
"Breastfeeding is a profession because you are preparing your children in their battle against illnesses that they will face when they grow up," Councilor Julienne Baronda, reminded the women present.
Way to the SM Breastfeeding Station.
Purr learned from Baronda, the Iloilo City Council's chairperson for women's concerns, that a quarterly Buntis Party is being held. Here, mothers are taught about caring for their children. Thus, she is quite happy that SM City Iloilo has opened a station that will benefit mothers.
Libo-on assured the public that SM will continue to come up with steps to promote health and safety to every individual within its community.
* * *
Inside the breastfeeding station.
To end this column, here's a prayer for every mother (biological mothers, stepmothers and adoptive mothers) out there:
Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Gitting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last week's mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I seen then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile