August is Breastfeeding Month!

It's August once again and it's time for Breastfeeding Month and there are a variety of activities scheduled to suit everyone.

First, let's talk about shopping!

L.A.T.C.H. will be a co-sponsor of this event and if you attended this event last year, you'd be sure to remember our Singing Bee-nefits Game, hosted by Buding!  And of course, since this is an "open" bazaar, you can be sure to see all your favorite nursing brands and stores - such as Mama.Baby.Love (my online store :D), Mamaway, Eden, Mothers En Vogue, Mommy Matters, Mama Au Lait and Maternalove.

For the entire week of August 6 to 14, the Medical City will also be holding its Annual Breastfeeding Week with the theme Talk to Me! Breastfeeding - a 3D Experience.  There will be a Mother-Baby Bazaar and Exhibit at the 2nd and 3rd floor, MATI Bridgeway.

On Sunday, it will be time for the annual Mommy Milkshake Marathon.  See poster below for details on joining.

Mommy Milkshake Year 5 is the much-awaited family fun run celebrating World Breastfeeding month every August.  It is an event that welcomes moms and expectant moms, babies and kids, daddies, and run enthusiasts to run (or walk) 5K/3K distance all in support for the cause of breastfeeding.

This year's Mommy Milkshake starts off at 530pm.  After the run, there wil be a morning snack at Mercato Centrale and a breastfeeding expo, which is open to the public until 2pm.

TIMELINES / PROGRAM FOR MOMMY MILKSHAKE & BREASTFEEDING EXPO***

TIME                                                ACTIVITY

5:30 AM                                    Assembly Time of Runners
6:20 AM                                    5k Gun Start
6:30 AM                                    3k Gun Start
7:40 AM                                    End of Run. Milkshake participants proceed to Mercato for their post-run

snack and program
                                                 

Start of Breastfeeding Expo at Mercato Centrale
**Booths open - showcasing breastfeeding & mommy products and services

8:00 AM                                    Gentle Universe

"Gentle Universe" is a nature and children-inspired ambient sound performance group from the Philippines.
8:20 AM                                    Breastfeeding Talk by Abbie Yabot
8:45 AM                                    Awarding of Runners (Special Awards only)
9:00 AM                                    First Year of Life Book Launch by Mommy Mundo & GSK
9:40 AM                                    Importance of Hydration to Breastfeeding Moms- Sponsor's Talk (Crystal Clear)
10:00 AM                                  My Masterpiece Movement Music & Mural Show

***schedule is subject to change without prior notice


Visit the Facebook page for more details.  Limited slots are available so sign up today!


Watch also for L.A.T.C.H.'s partnership with the Lifestyle Network.  For the month of August, the Lifestyle Network will be releasing public service announcements on breastfeeding on the Lifestyle Channel!

Aside from these special events, regular meetings and support groups are also scheduled. Although L.A.T.C.H. classes at the Medical City are bi-monthly, we will be having a special class for the month of August.  Class will be on August 13, 2011 from 9am-12nn at The Medical City 4th Floor.

The Milk Mama Diaries Carnival will also be having a special carnival for August - so watch out for announcements on the theme and deadlines.

By the way, World Breastfeeding Week is usually celebrated from August 1-7, 2011. For this year, the theme is "Talk to Me! Breastfeeding - a 3D experience" and deals with communication at various levels between various sectors.   I'm still waiting for the announcement from our Department of Health about August and will update this post when I receive more information.  As of now, information I received is that the launch will be on August 8, with the theme "Breastfeeding: Talk and TSEK".

Meanwhile, do you have any other special events lined up for breastfeeding month?  Email me so I can include it in this list!

Update: 8/2/2011
I totally forgot about the big Latch-On which has been actively promoted in social networking sites! This event will be on 6 August 2011, at 1030am local time in various locations in the US and worldwide! Nursing mothers will gather to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and try to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously.  Last I checked, there were no locations yet in the Philippines.  Maybe you'd like to organize one?

GMA-7 will also be joining UNICEF, WHO and DOH in the CEOs of Breastfeeding event, with a feature on 6 CEOs who are championing the breastfeeding cause in their organization.  More details on STEP up to Breastfeeding to follow.

And check out the "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" project of UNICEF, WHO and DOH - which is a program for organizations, business and workplaces to have a welcoming attitude to breastfeeding to help support women and their families who choose to nourish their babies through breastfeeding.  Signs will be distributed and displayed to help moms and their families recognize breastfeeding-friendly establishments.  This program will be in Quezon City on August 8.  Watch out for more details and an image of the actual signs to be used.