PURR
A gathering of breastfeeding moms
There were mothers, babies and toddlers everywhere when SM City Iloilo celebrated the National Breastfeeding Month at its Event Center recently. The event was in cooperation with the Office of Councilor Julienne Baronda and the SM Committee on Breastfeeding, and supported by Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog.
Majella Libo-on, SM City Iloilo mall manager, said that SM was the first mall that constructed a breastfeeding station, in line with their process of making the mall friendly to everyone through their “SM Cares” program.
Councilor Baronda said that we should all advocate breastfeeding because she has witnessed several benefits from doing such. Dr. Cristita Lacuron of the Department of Health, enumerated these.
“First, the colostrum contained in the mother’s first milk is considered as the child’s first ‘bakuna’ or immunization against diseases because it is already a complete food for the child. This has antibodies that protect the children from diarrhea, pneumonia, flu and sepsis. Second, the bond between the mother and the child is strengthened. Third, the child will become more mature and intelligent and fourth, the family could save on purchase of canned milk. The money will be used on other purposes,” Lacuron said. For mothers who are working, she advised that they store her breastmilk in a container and keep it in a refrigerator. If there’s no refrigerator, the milk can still be kept in room temperature for six hours. Then, this should be given to the baby with a cup or a dropper, not the baby bottle. She encouraged the mothers to breasfteed their children up to six months or even until two years.
After the speeches, an intermission number from the Bida Superheroes took placed, followed by an awarding of plaques of appreciation to the speakers.