Did you know that babies should depend on breast milk alone for the first 6 months of their lives (exclusive breastfeeding)? I didn’t know that and no one told me so 10 years ago. I breastfed my daughters when they were babies since it was a requirement at the hospital then for moms who are healthy enough to breastfeed after you give birth. I gave them my milk for 3 weeks and that was not full breastfeeding. They were also fed infant formula upon the recommendation of the pediatrician.
I can only remember these 3 main reasons why I didn’t breastfeed fully and all these may have been have solved only 10 years after.
1. My milk didn’t flow after 3 weeks (for both of my 2 kids)
2. I thought milk powder will give the best nutrition for my babies.
3. I had no one to talk to about breastfeeding.
And my husband and I thought we did good enough already with the expensive infant formula we were able to provide my child. Until I met the amazing moms of Beauty, Brains & Breastfeeding, the beautiful advocates of breastfeeding in the country. I had the opportunity to know them when they launched their Nurture Run project and how I wish that I have known them long ago when I had my babies. From the event, I think I absorbed mostly why breastfeeding is the best way to nurture a child instead of infant formula.
photo courtesy of Beauty Brains and Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding VS. Infant Formula
- Breastmilk is free — Infant Formula is expensive
- Breastmilk can be given any time of the day, like plug and play – Infant Formula should be manually prepared and given fresh or else your baby will have tummy aches.
- Breastmilk has all the right nutrients – Infant formula has varied nutrients depending on the brand
- Breastmilk is all natural – In infant formula, you depend on what the manufacturers put on their can
- During times of distress, you can still breastfeed – Infant formula limits the nutrition because you still need clean water and bottle to prepare your child’s food.
- Mothers lose weight when breastfeeding — Mothers lose their wallet’s content when they use infant formula 🙂
Nurture Run Information Drive
During this media event, my eyes were opened about what’s really happening in the country because of the lack of information when it comes to breastfeeding. BBB (Beauty, Brains & Breastfeeding) had been to the remotest part of the country and they saw that the ironic thing happening is that even in the poorest areas, women go for infant formulas than breastfeed their children. Why? Because they were not informed and they didn’t have the support they need to be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Exactly just like me 10 years ago.
Breastfeeding Is God-Given
There are a hundred things to know about this topic but the major thing is that for me, it’s a God-given way to nurture the newly born. What can be better than that? Science and Nutritionists will all back that up. One of the celebrity advocates of BBB is Ms. Iza Abeja and she breastfed her babies for six years and she looks amazing! Maybe if I had breastfed then, I could have that lovely figure now. The point is breastfeeding won’t ruin your body, makes your child healthy with all these right nutrients, and you won’t conceive while you are breastfeeding!
Join The Campaign For Breastfeeding
I cannot bring back the past and I can’t breastfeed my children anymore because they are all grown-up. I also know that there are moms who just can’t breastfeed because of different circumstances. But majority of women are still physically equipped for breastfeeding and they need our support. We can help them by joining this campaign to increase awareness about breastfeeding because we know it’s the right thing to do. The country needs more fund to help organizations like BBB to get to the most number of Filipina moms, give them the proper education and the right tools for them to start or continue breastfeeding for the longest time.
This coming April 13, my whole family will be joining hundreds of runners to a fundraising event called “Nurture Run”. As I have two girls who are likely to become mothers after maybe 15+ years (I hope not earlier than that), I would like them to know about breastfeeding young as they are.
With knowledge comes power so the more participants Nurture Run can have, the more women who will be breastfeeding even during calamities or even while they work. Breastfeeding is not about how rich or poor a woman is because breast milk is free. They just need the education and the support.
So let us all give the help we can give by joining Nurture Run this coming April 13, Sunday at Quezon City Memorial Circle. Run with the whole family and get your tickets to the Nurture Run event at NurtureRun.com. Join the community of breastfeeding advocates at Beauty, Brains & Breastfeeding Facebook Page.
See you there on April 13!
