The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA posted the third of a three-part video series on 28 November 2020 via NNC MIMAROPA Facebook page which focused on Milk Code, risks of formula milk, ensuring adequate milk supply, donor human milk supply, donor human milk bank and the overview of the human milk banking system.

Guest resource person, Dr. Aurora Gloria I. Libadia, Clinical Associate Professor and Head, Lactation Unit and Human Milk Bank, University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital started the discussion by sharing the importance of the Milk Code and how to the human milk bank system works. The following are key points shared by Dr. Libadia:

1. Donations of formula milk during emergencies were prohibited because of the Milk Code. Safe clean water during the emergency were compromised that were needed in powdered formula milk. It may cause threat to the child.
   
   
2. Milk Code promotes breastfeeding. No promotion of breast milk substitutes, breastmilk supplements, feeding bottles, teats, pacifiers in health facilities.
   
   
3. Formula milk can alter the practice of a breastfeeding mothers that may lead them in switch their child to formula milk. These formula milks were expensive which will be difficult to sustain for the less fortunate families.
   
   
4. Interferes with bonding, diarrhea, respiratory infection, pneumonia, malnutrition, more allergies and milk intolerances, overweight and lower IQ were the risks of formula milk to a child.
   
   
5. The mothers were also at risks when they gave formula milk to their babies. It may cause higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer and anemia. Mothers who opted formula milk to their babies has a higher rate being pregnant again. Dr. Libadia exclaimed that breastfeeding is 98% contraceptive.
   
   
6. Milk Code should be implemented strictly during emergencies for the good of the children and mothers and their families as well.
   
   
7. Antenatal Education, early latch, exclusive breastfeeding, positive thoughts, support, and environment, sensitive on feeding cues, value of correct position and attachment, hand expression and storage of breastmilk can ensure an adequate milk supply of a mother.
   
   
8. Human Milk bank is a service established for the purpose of collecting, screening, processing, storing, and distributing donor human milk to meet the specific needs of individuals for whom human milk is prescribed by physician.
   
   
9. If a mother is not possible to breastfeed, first alternative if possible, should be use of human milk from other sources. In this case, Human Milk Bank should be made available in appropriate situation.
   
   
10. Mothers can donate breast milk if they can express breast milk and willing to undergo verbal and written screening and submit physical examination and serologic testing.
    
    
11. Donations from Human Milk Bank were very important in times of emergency in support of EO 51 to continuously promote breastfeeding.
    
    
12. Mother’s own milk is always the safest for the babies. Human Milk Bank is a temporary solution because it compromises as well the immuno protection content of human milk due to pasteurization and other processes in storing in Human Milk Bank.
    
    
13. The Human Milk Bank prioritizes babies who are pre-term, have congenital anomalies, experiencing asphyxia and underwent surgery.
    
    
14. Human milk donations were undergoing extensive processes to ensure the safety ang quality of the milk that will be providing to the recipients.
    
    
15. For lactating mothers, Dr. Libadia recommends to always collect every 2-3 hours of breastmilk for the continues supply of the milk and prevent it from drying out.

NNC MIMAROPA aims to strengthen its promotion on its advocacy on Milk Code and strengthening the breastfeeding awareness among mothers. It will be a response in preventing the worsening of malnutrition not only in the MIMAROPA region but for the whole country as well.