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- Category: Region 11
"The first six months were the most crucial because I was exclusively breastfeeding. My workplace is part of my success story. My co-workers knew why I take some time off to express breastmilk. There was never any unnecessary or unhelpful remark about that special space of my breast milk in the new office refrigerator. Exclusive breastfeeding while working full time can be done!”
Dang Buenaventura-Snyder
Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility Department, Employers Confederation of the Philippines
Taken from Healthy Beginnings for a Better Society, Breastfeeding in the Workplace is Possible: A Toolkit (2015)
Indeed, mothers can continue exclusive breastfeeding or express their milk even at work. A 2018 study by Ocampo-Guirindola et al. among 5131 breastfeeding mothers showed that: “The use of lactation stations was positively associated with longer breastfeeding duration”. This is supported by the Republic Act 10028 also known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, which adopts “rooming-in” during the early days of childbirth and creation of lactation stations and breastfeeding breaks for mothers in the workplace. It was stated in Section 11 of the law that “….all health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions shall establish lactation stations.”
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- Category: Region 11
Did you know that babies born in birthing facilities from 2009 up to present are the babies who got to experience the Unang Yakap? In 2009, the Department of Health instituted the Unang Yakap - a local implementation of the World Health Organization’s Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC) which is an evidence-based program for safe and adequate quality care for newborns and mothers. It has four time-bound interventions that skilled health professionals must perform right after you deliver your baby:
1. Immediate and thorough drying. The newborn is immediately dried with a clean piece of cloth to prevent hypothermia or very low body temperature which is important to their survival.
2. Early skin-to-skin contact. The newborn is placed on the mother’s abdomen or chest and allowed to crawl up to the mother’s breast even if the umbilical cord is still attached. Skin to skin contact also keeps the newborn warm and prevents very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and bacterial infection (sepsis). Healthy skin bacteria from the mother are also transferred onto the newborn’s skin which serves as their skin’s first line of defense against infection. It also improves breastfeeding initiation.
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- Category: Region 11
Based on the 2021 National Household Care Survey, fathers spend 8 hours of childcare now as compared to the pre pandemic average of 5 hours back in 2017. The COVID pandemic has forced many Filipino families to stay at home which is an opportunity for fathers to spend more time with their family. For first time fathers, parenthood is a transformational phase in their life, and it starts during the child’s first 1000 days which begins at conception up to the child’s 2nd birthday. In a 2016 study on first time Filipino fathers, one respondent stated:
“I didn’t think about anything else other than having a kid soon. I kept asking myself, ‘Am I ready for this? Am I mature enough for this? Can I handle it? Am I tough enough?”
This is a common question that first time fathers might ask, and they are not alone. Being a Super Dad for your family is a process and here are some guide on how you could be more involved in your child’s first 1000 days:
Read more: A Father’s Quick Guide to his Child’s First 1000 Days of life
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- Category: Region 11
In many surveys and studies conducted in recent past, it has been noted that one of the factors that hinder exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months is the need for mothers to return to work after a 60-day maternity leave. Recognizing this difficulty for women in the workforce, the Philippine Government, in 2019, went to great lengths in crafting the Republic Act 11210 or the “105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law” which extends the paid maternity leave to 105 days or up to 3 months. This gives mothers more time for recovery and more opportunity for exclusive breastfeeding. Here are 5 things you need to know to avail your maternity leave benefits:
1. Who is entitled to receive Maternity Leave benefits?
● Female workers in public and private sectors regardless of civil status (Single or Married).
● Self-employed/Voluntary/OFW SSS members.
● Terminated employees who had childbirth or miscarriage for not more than 15 days after her service is terminated.
● Solo parents.
● Female athletes.
● Women who had emergency termination of pregnancy or miscarriage.
Read more: 5 Things you Need to Know About RA 11210: 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law
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- Category: Region 11
Did you know that pregnant women have higher iron needs compared to other non-pregnant women? Iron is needed for the development of additional red blood cells that deliver nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus. Although iron needs can be met by eating iron-rich food such as fish, meat and poultry, pregnant women need more iron which can only be met by intakes of iron supplements. This is why the country’s community health centers are providing FREE iron supplements for identified pregnant women who regularly comes to the health center for FREE prenatal check-ups.
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- Category: Region 11
Weight gain during pregnancy comes from the additional weight of the placenta and the developing fetus. When weight gain is inadequate, the baby may come out Small for Gestational Age (SGA) who may have difficulty in initiating breastfeeding, more prone to illness and may experience developmental delays. On the other hand, too much weight gain produces a large baby which contributes to delivery complications, possible cesarean delivery and increased risk of obesity during childhood. The mother is also at risk of developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Gestational Hypertension. Too much weight gain will also make it harder and longer to lose weight after pregnancy.
