Our Lady of La Leche

October is the month of the feast day of Our Lady of La Leche.  I first heard about Our Lady of La Leche when it was featured in the Inquirer two years ago.  I haven't exactly become a devotee but have become more aware of her because of her connection with breastfeeding.  Also, fellow advocate Claire (and Batch 3 peer counselor trainee) is quite active in identifying where the various images are enshrined.  In fact, she has collected several photographs of Our Lady which I'm sharing with her permission below:

Famealy Day

Today is Lucky Me's National FaMEALy Day - which is the perfect time to publish this post which has been languishing in my drafts folder for 2 months now.

Sometime in July, N's school invited Mr. Francis Kong to talk about the importance of dining together as a family. 

Sunshine Babies

If you haven't noticed yet, I have another new blog sponsor!  I'd like to extend a welcome to Sunshine Babies Boutique, one of my blog sponsors for September.

Sunshine Babies Boutique is owned by Em Malana, a mom of 2 who singlehandedly runs and manages the boutique.  Em launched her store when her interest in cloth diapers was piqued during her pregnancy with her second baby, Sophia.  She fell in love with the variety of cloth diapers available abroad and discovered that most of the shops she patronized were started and run by moms!

Guest Post: Breastfeeding: PURE and PERSONAL

I'd like to share this testimonial written and delivered by LATCH President Buding Aquino-Dee for an SM Baby Company Event, entitled Nourish with Love. Breastfeed. last 27 August 2011.  It is such a beautiful and heartfelt piece which explains how and why she became the breastfeeding advocate that she is today.  Buding is the creator of several brands such as Blissful Babes, Saya, Corsierre, Eden, among others and hopes to inspire others with her own breastfeeding experiences.

=======================
HI! My name is Buding Aquino-Dee, I am a nursing mother and I am so thankful for this opportunity for me to share my breastfeeding testimonial. I am the president and co-founder of LATCH and usually, we are asked to teach about breastfeeding, latching and positioning or counsel breastfeeding mothers but today, I have the task of sharing with you my thoughts…..my reflections...my story…pure and personal :-) I am warning you…medyo malamim ito…lol!

Formula Marketing at the Manila Book Fair

It's time for the Manila Book Fair once again - and this reminded of a post about last year's event that I had been meaning to do!  One of the side events during the Manila Book Fair is Super Kids 2011.  Last year was the first time that I had heard of it so I was quite excited when I saw the flier promoting the event and the description of the event, especially when I read about the special feature pavilions.

SUPER KIDS FAIR is an active learning experience that will empower young children through diverse opportunities that will leave both the young and young-at-heart blown away. The Fair also boasts of a host of special learning sessions, workshops and cool activities that will equip parents, guardians, educators and adults with the latest in child care and development, parenting, education and others. Special feature pavilions like "Toys Galore", "Kraftsville" and "Glam Up" are expected to draw interest among visitors
while stage presentations such as "Kids Got Talent" will add fun, thrill and excitement to the event.

WikiLeaks Cable on the US Lobby Against Breastfeeding

photo from http://nonewshoesforme.blogspot.com/

Last weekend, several people tagged me in this news report about a Wikileaks cable that the US Embassy lobbied against breastfeeding in the Philippines.  This was actually not something new.  In fact, during the height of the Supreme Court case on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR), there were news reports about the American Chamber of Commerce calling then President Arroyo's attention to the RIRR of the Milk Code.   The AmCham stated that the Philippines' reputation as a stable and viable destination for investment would be at risk should the RIRR be signed and implemented.

Arugaan needs your help!

Arugaan, a mother support community, currently has a project with WHO, DOH and they need your help!!  This is an offshoot of the DOH Breastfeeding TSEK Program and Arugaan is tasked with the
training of breastfeeding peer counselors for TSEK Exclusive Breastfeeding or Gumagabay sa Nanay sa Tamang Pagpapasuso.

What is the reason for the TSEK campaign?  Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the Philippines are at a dismal low of 34% (for babies 0-6months) and a lot of moms give their infants water.  Even if moms just eliminate the water, exclusive breastfeeding rates will actually increase.  Research shows that 1 out of 4 Filipino kids are malnourished.  Studies have shown that malnourished kids are usually those who started with being bottlefed.  If moms choose to exclusively breastfeed their babies, then rates of malnourished children will definitely decrease.  Malnourishment is seen to be a chain of events which starts with the wrong feeding practices at infancy.  TSEK seeks to curb malnutrition by promoting and increasing breastfeeding rates in this country.

listening to the lectures

Basically, Arugaan will train and mentor selected peer counselors from key cities to be knowledgeable in the art and skills of breastfeeding counseling in their respective communities for sustainability.  Target reach is 32 cities in the Philippines and since starting in May 2011, Arugraan has already trained more than 1,600 peer counselors in Navotas, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Caloocan and Taguig!

It's a Back to Back Weekend!

If you haven't heard yet, there are several exciting activities coming up in the remaining September weekends!

September 10, 2011 will be the start of the much awaited 2-day Warehouse Sale Part 2.

Some of your favorite mommy brands need to clear out their inventory and you'll get a chance to shop at great discounts!  See the Facebook event page for more details. Don't forget to print out the flier to be allowed entry into the complex.

Meanwhile, La Leche League Manila will be having its monthly Ortigas support group meeting this Saturday 1030am, 10 September 2011 at Baby Company, Podium.  You can find more about La Leche League Manila at their Facebook page.  Read here to find out what to expect during La Leche League meetings. If you want to join, please register through 09178292268.

The Medela House is also holding a full day's worth of classes this Saturday.  There will be a Yaya Seminar on Toddler Care from 9-11am with topics focused on feeding, bathing, dressing, sleeping, playing, keeping toddlers safe, caring for toddler toys and food preparation.  There is a fee for this seminar (from P400-P600 depending on how many participants are joining and whether you are a MedelaMoms' Pump customer).
For those looking for breastfeeding classes, it will be Breastfeeding 101 from 130pm with topics on the basics, advantages, tips, early troubleshooting.  If you joined last August's baby shower, this class is free for you.  Otherwise, there is a fee of P500 which entitles you to attend Breastfeeding 102 and 103.  For more details, email MedelaMoms or text 0917-5614366.  Medela House is located at 29 1st St. New Manila, Quezon City.

On September 24, 2011, we will be having Babywearing 3 - with the manufacturers/distributors of Next9 Ring Slings and Pouches, Saya Baby Carrier, Maya Wrap, Indigo Baby Pouch and Bosom Buddy Slings.  The activity will be held at Gymboree Shangri-La at 4pm.  The event is free but pre-registration is required and slots are limited.  There will be a brief talk on the history of babywearing plus the different types of carriers then the participants can ask each individual resource person for help/instructions on how to properly use a particular carrier.  Head on over to The Painter's Wife for more details.

Got anymore September activities you'd like to share? Drop me a line!

STEP UP for Breastfeeding

Did you know that the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 has been signed last 22 August 2011?  You can download a copy here.  The IRR was published on 28 August 2011 and will be effective on 12 September 2011.  This means that establishments are now required to have lactation stations and workplaces must set up their lactation programs!

After the successful launch of the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Program, UNICEF, WHO, DOLE, DOH and ILO has another exciting project in the works! Remember my series of posts on setting up a workplace lactation program? Well, the consortium has made things even more easier with their S.T.E.P. Up for Breastfeeding Program!

Blog Giveaway: Butterfly Twists - Super Shoes for Super Moms!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED.  WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. 

We have a winner!!

Congratulations to Rachel Anne Del Rosario!  Please check your email.  Thanks to everyone for joining! Next contest in mid-October ;)

=========================
A couple of weeks ago, Trina, Stan's high school friend contacted me about hosting a giveaway on the blog for Butterfly Twists - rollable, twistable, foldable shoes that you can pop in your bag and take with you anywhere.  But before sharing the giveaway, let me share with you Trina's own breastfeeding story about nursing her now 3-year-old son (this is a breastfeeding blog after all! ;D).

Trina was able to give her son breastmilk for 1 year despite leading a hectic lifestyle.  She wasn't able to produce a lot of milk but she made it a point to express milk on both sides after she directly fed to save for rainy days. A few weeks after giving birth, Trina went back to work and teaching (once a week in fashion school).  Barely two months post-partum, she had to attend a wedding in Boracay where she was the maid of honor.  Then at four months post-partum, she and her husband took a 2-week vacation in Australia.  Did these hinder her milk expression times? No - in fact she successfully expressed milk every 3 hours and brought the milk home for her son.