ILOILO City – What’s wrong with mothers breastfeeding their infants in public?
None at all, according to Adhara Sebuado, co-founder of Breastfeeding Ilonggas, a group that works to raise public awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding babies.
“Breastfeeding in public is one of the issues a mother grapples with,” according to Sebuado during yesterday’s kickoff here of the observance of August as National Breastfeeding Month.
Many mothers feel uncomfortable breastfeeding their babies in public spaces due to stigma or pressure from people who think of breast as for sexual purposes only, lamented Sebuado.
“The truth is that breastfeeding in public has been a perfectly natural act for centuries,” she stressed.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, nearly two out of three infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months — a rate that has not improved in two decades, WHO lamented.
Breast milk is the ideal food for infants, according to WHO. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses.
Scientific studies have shown that breast milk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.
Sebuado said promoting breastfeeding should be done not just during August but year-round.
“This generation should be breastfed. Because ang illnesses, it takes years to develop ang cure and vaccines. So how can we protect this new generation? By feeding them with breast milk,” she stressed.
The longer the mother breastfeeds her baby, the higher protection her baby gets from antibodies, said Sebuado.
“Breastfeeding is the key to sustainable development strategies post-pandemic, as it improves nutrition, ensures food security and reduces inequalities between and within countries,” Sebuado added.
According to WHO, breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and less prone to diabetes later in life.
On the other hand, WHO added, women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
As part of the National Breastfeeding Month kickoff yesterday in Iloilo City, the art exhibit dubbed “Ilig sang Kabuhi” was unveiled at SM City-Iloilo Northpoint Event Center.
Local artists belonging to Himbon Contemporary Ilonggo Artist Group displayed their masterpieces showing mothers breastfeeding their children.
According to Himbon president Harry Mark Gonzalez, this is their way of support the advocacy on breastfeeding.
Sebuado said showcasing artworks on breastfeeding empowers modern women to breastfeed in public, educate society about it, and establish breastfeeding as a norm.
Other activities lined up for the National Breastfeeding Month observance in this city include the yearly “Hakab” or simultaneous breastfeeding of mothers on Aug. 27. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, this will be done virtually for the safety of participating mothers and their babies./PN
