Superfood - The Philippine experience

Last week, Save the Children released their Breastfeeding Report entitled Superfood for Babies.  What made this report very interesting was that it included updates from the recent battles over the Monster Bill.  The report also emphasized on how overcoming breastfeeding barriers will save lives of children.

The report identifies 4 categories of breastfeeding barriers, namely: community cultural pressure, health worker shortage, lack of maternity legislation and the big business barrier.

Recently, I shared a photo of a mom who breastfed in the toilet because she was uncomfortable to breastfeed in public.  There was also no breastfeeding station or bench where she could comfortably nurse her baby.  Aside from community barriers, more common would be family pressure.  Filipino families are closely-knit and several new families live with their in laws.  Most of our parents were born during the time when formula marketing was most prevalent.  Hence, they grew up with the thought that formula milk is best.    Thus, I truly believe that breastfeeding seminars should properly be addressed to the people surrounding the breastfeeding mother.  Save the Children's blog summarizes it well:

The real scandal is not breastfeeding late, but that too many moms don't get the support needed to breastfeed early -- or to keep breastfeeding, should they want to.

The Real Score - FNRI Survey

Remember my post before about the FNRI survey which showed an increase in breastfeeding rates?  Well, a few things have cropped up which warrants a repost.

First, let me introduce you to IPNAP - Infant & Pediatric Nutrition Association of the Philippines.  This is a group of milk formula manufacturers - Abbot, Nestle, Wyeth, Mead Johnson and Fonterra who have banded together with the following primary purpose:

to help promote and improve the nutrition and well-being of Filipinos by providing them with nutritious and safe food products that meet the highest standards of food safety and quality. In furtherance of this purpose, the Association shall partner with all stakeholders in sharing factual and science-based nutrition information relevant to the needs of the Filipinos.

IPNAP was the number one mover against the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Milk Code back in 2007 and is now the number one support of the consolidated bill amending the Milk Code a.k.a. Milk Monster Bill.