What are the odds of giving birth to a premature twin?  What are the chances of survival of the babies? All the excitement during the first ultrasound knowing a pair of angels will join this world suddenly disappears because of the nightmare of birth complications. What was worse for the parents was facing this trial in the midst of a pandemic situation where the population is under enhanced community quarantine.

On the eighteenth of February 2020, Mr. John Ignes, 21, a resident of Tumauini, and his wife witnessed the coming of their male twins in a public hospital of Tuguegarao City. Mrs. Ignes gave birth to their two premature sons baby Zeus and baby Zach.  They were separated from each other and brought to two different private hospitals as they have to undergo special treatments - incubator for both and ventilator for baby Zach.

Can you imagine going through this challenging trial? It was dire and emotional as fifteen days after, Baby Zeus did not survive the series of medications necessary for him to regain strength. This greatly affected Mrs. Ignes, who by that time was already a breastfeeding mom to her sons.

 “Una palang po talagang desididona po kaming mag asawa na mag breastfeed po si misis kasi bukod sa masustansya na ay tipid pa po sabulsa,” John shared as he narrated to us how persistent they were to ensure that their children should be exclusively breastfed.

“Yung insidente (Baby Zeus’ death) ay nagbigay ng stress kay misis kaya medyo nahirapan siyang magpasuso,” he added.  Their situation worsened when an enhanced community quarantine in the entirety of Luzon was declared due to the 2019 Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19).  This brought additional worry to the couple. It limited their movements and capacity to immediately respond to their needs in the hospital.  

“Mas na stress kami sa nangyari, kasi dati iniisip lang naming yung gastos ni baby sa hospital pero ngayon pati yung pang araw araw na naming gastusin at idagdag pa ang hirap makauwi from Tuguegarao City to Tumauini dahil sa mga checkpoints,” as he expressed some other stress factors that led to low level of breastmilk production of his wife.

Nevertheless, as the man of the family he strategized ways to ensure that his child will still get optimum nutrition specially during this crisis. “Hindi ko naisipang magformula milk si baby bukod sa mahal sabi nila mas hindi sigurado yung sustansyang makukuha niya dito.”

He then started to post a“Breastmilk donation drive”on his personal Facebook account that attracted many breastfeeding mommies and advocates, one of whom is Atty. Marjorie Martin, member of Committee of Women and Family Affairs of the City Council of Tuguegarao City.

Atty. Martin was the second link in the domino and published the couple’s cry for help. This created an impressive engagement among other breastfeeding mothers who were willing to reach out.

The limitations due to Corona were pushed out of the frame as the breastfeeding heroes, without second thoughts provided breastmilk through volunteer riders. One of the volunteer moms is Ms.Vanessa Bago-Lingan, businesswoman, who willingly donated breastmilk to the baby Zach. Truly, no pandemic can stop our culture of Bayanihan.

“I really donate breastmilk sa mga anak ng friends ko. That night was inexplainable. Yung nag urge sa kin is yung mommy’ s instinct. I just put their situation in mine, what if ako naman yung nagkaron ng premature na anak?” as she related to us what urged her to donate breastmilk for Baby Zach.

“Nakita ko rin kasi nata lagang importante ang breastmilk lalo na sa ganitong panahon kaya talagang advisable na ito ang ibigay natin sa mga anak natin lalo na yung mga bagong panganak pa lamang,” she added

“Sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga taong patuloy na tumutulong sa amin lalo nasa pagbibigay ng mga breastmilk nila para po mas masigurado ang sustansya ni baby at habang patuloy nating tulungan na mag relactate si misis,” as Mr. Ignes fervently thanked the efforts of volunteers amidst the crisis of the COVID-19.

The birthing centers of Tuguegarao City also assist in collecting breastmilk for baby Zach.

Currently, Baby Zach is still confined in a private hospital while the Ignes family continues to call for help and donations through the Facebook Group “Roar for baby Zach”. In the group are posts of the pick-up addresses of the breastfeeding mommies as well as updates on the infant’s condition and the outburst support of the public to the family.

Meanwhile, we interviewed Councilor Atty Martin of Tuguegarao City on their initiative to ensure the preparedness of Tuguegarao City in handling this kind of situation.

“The council approved the Infant and Young Child Feeding Ordinance of Tuguegarao. It aims to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. This way we can encourage and give opportunities for breastfeeding mothers in the city. The ordinance supplements the Tuguegarao Human Milk Bank Ordinance approved last November 2019. Such ordinances give hope in helping premature babies or mothers in distressed situations. The City Milk Bank can supplement the already existing CVMC Milk Bank to address needs of more babies in the city – and region as well in a situation similar to Baby Zach,”

“Your baby will be in the best of health (if they breastfeed), it's economical and you will have the best connection/bond with your little one. We will slowly build a community for you to thrive and belong to. Do not give up on breastfeeding,” upholds Atty. Martin. ###JNLB