Busy Breastfeeding Promotion Month 2013

My favorite month of the year is coming up.  August is Breastfeeding Promotion Month and there are several activities lined up for this month!  This will be a long but informative (I hope) post.  I've collated different activities from various groups.  Please contact the organizers directly if you are looking to join one of the listed events.

First off is a Thanksgiving Mass over at the PGH Chapel with a special visit from our Lady of La Leche.  This will kick-off an entire week of activities.

Also on August 1-2, 2013, the Philippine Pediatric Society and the St. Luke's Medical Center will be holding the very first Breastfeeding Congress.  This is a huge move forward!  Previously, seminars and conventions were held abroad and there were only very few people who can attend.  Happily, as the importance of being updated about breastfeeding has been emphasized, trainings are now locally available.  Breastfeeding training and education is never stagnant and constantly changing and evolving.  Hence, if you are someone who works with breastfeeding problems/issues, this is something that you might want to attend.

Meanwhile, VRP will be having different activities for the entire first week of August to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

The first Saturday of August is a big event! There will be a gathering of breastfeeding moms in Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Bacolod.  Organized by Breastfeeding Pinays (join us if you haven't yet), our goal is to build a breastfeeding nation and keep the Philippines breastfeeding.  If you are in any of those 4 cities, see the posters above for details.

On Sunday, St. Luke's Medical Center will have their quarterly Mom 101 seminar, where they have talks for pregnant moms in preparation for breastfeeding.

The Philippine Pediatric Society will also have their own activity on August 5, 2013 with the unveiling of their breastfeeding photo exhibit.  LATCH President Buding Aquino-Dee will share her first hand experiences as a peer counselor - in line with this year's theme.

August 10 is a very busy day!  First, we have the special LATCH class for Breastfeeding Month - Save the Best for LATCH.  LATCH classes are bi-monthly and since we had a class last July, our next class is supposed to be on September.  But of course, breastfeeding month cannot be without a LATCH class.  This class is special because not only will we have our regular class but we will also have slots for on-site counseling and orientation on how to become a LATCHer.

After the LATCH class, head on to All About Kids at Rockwell Tent.  Mama.Baby.Love will be participating with several friends.  Get great bargains on your nursing lingerie and accessories.

As with previous years, dear hubby Stanley Ong Photography will be opening his exhibit of various breastfeeding photographs.  Ever since I became active in the breastfeeding advocacy, he has supported me by taking these precious mementos.  He started in 2008 and this is the 5th year that his breastfeeding photographs have been exhibited in different locations.

This year, Stan's photographs will be exhibited from 12-16 August 2013 together with other N@W breastfeeding photographs at the Senate of the Philippines.  Then, a special exhibit entitled Breastfeeding: Bond of Love will open at Shangri-La Plaza.  The exhibit is co-organized by my good friend Jonie Cheng of Mamaway Philippines.

Mamaway recently opened a store at Shangri-La Plaza and they will celebrate their store opening and exhibit opening on 17 August 2013.  The "Bond of Love" exhibit will be displayed at Level 3, near Figaro until the end of August 2013.  Mamaway will also be holding a special "What to Expect" class on 24 August 2013 at Figaro Cafe, Shangri-La Plaza.

Our favorite bazaar organizer, Mommy Mundo will also be having their annual clearance clearout sale from 16-18 August 2013.

Over at my workplace, I'm pretty excited because our lactation policy is almost ready!  Our Human Resource Sector confirms that this policy will be launched in August - in time for breastfeeding month. Along with the launch of our policy, we will be having a peer counseling training at our work place.  This ensures the establishment of a breastfeeding support group to comply with the requirements of the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act.

Finally, August will end with a bang! As I previously shared, breastfeeding rockstar Dr. Jack Newman is coming to Manila.  This is a big first not only for LATCH but for the local breastfeeding movement.  This is the first time that an internationally recognized breastfeeding expert is coming to the Philippines.  Don't forget to register as tickets are selling out fast.

While I feel overwhelmed with all these August activities, I also feel really blessed because this means that the importance of breastfeeding is already recognized by different sectors in the Philippines - and this is a good thing not only for Filipino moms, but more importantly, for Filipino babies.