The breast things in life come from moms

MANILA, Philippines - It’s one thing to bear children and another thing to raise them to be the best humans they can possibly be. The first takes just a few months while the second takes decades, if not a lifetime. For the past 10 years that I’ve been a mother to Joaquin and later on Amina Isabelle, I’ve been making small and big decisions on a daily basis on how to raise my kids. I’m sure every mother can say the same, but we can also agree that how and why we make decisions reflects how unique we truly are. 

When I was pregnant with my eldest, I took a free breastfeeding class as part of the Bradley birthing program. Ten minutes into the hour-long session discussing the countless benefits of breastfeeding, and the risks of not doing it, I realized how little I knew about this rather natural activity for mothers. Silly me, I didn’t even know the difference between formula milk and breast milk, when in fact the latter cannot be compared to any animal’s milk.

At that point, I decided that I would breastfeed my child. Come the time I checked in at the hospital, I did not pack any bottles or formula feeding paraphernalia. It was a difficult journey for me as a first-time mother. I was emotional and helpless and I seemed to forget everything I learned from my breastfeeding class. I didn’t know how to feed my child and he seemed hungry and frustrated. Thank God for the flyer I saw that led me to a lactation consultant named Nona Andaya-Castillo. She was a staunch breastfeeding advocate who encouraged me to take my baby and make him stay in my room, as well as eat healthy food that would help with my milk production and allow my child to latch on with confidence.

It was Ms. Castillo who brought me to my first of many Senate hearings where I sat and breastfed my son across from senators who were perhaps more than happy to be seated next to a mother breastfeeding her child. Of course, there were those who would barely look at me, although I had covered myself appropriately while feeding. I was fortunate that I was allowed to bring my children everywhere at work. I can honestly say I was able to work because I breastfed my children and not the other way around. Knowing that they would get the best nutrition, I felt more secure and confident working. I am also happy to share with other moms the existence of a law (RA 10028) that promotes and protects the rights of mothers who choose to breastfeed at their workplace.

I breastfed Joaquin and Amina Isabelle until they were both six years old, making me a newly retired breastfeeding mother. I also tandem-fed both of them the same amount of years of their age difference, despite my struggles as a wife and as a career woman. Those were difficult times and breastfeeding brings additional discomfort, but I did it anyway. I have no regrets at all: I have conquered the challenges and my children are now incredibly bright, sensitive, healthy and balanced children. They enjoy varied activities and are becoming more empathic with fellow kids and adults alike. The bond we developed made everything worthwhile.

I want other mothers to experience the same benefits I’ve experienced from breastfeeding, and that led me to start up Beauty, Brains and Breastfeeding, Inc. (BBB), a non-profit organization that aims to bring back the breastfeeding culture in our country. Breastfed children have stronger immune systems and have lesser chances of being hospitalized from diarrhea or suffer from malnourishment. For parents, that’s less expenses for medical bills and more time to be at work because children are healthy. Particularly for mothers, it helps them lose weight and also acts as a natural contraceptive.

Studies have shown too that the emotional bond created between mother and child during breastfeeding helps improve a child’s emotional quotient (EQ). Even if it’s limited to the infant’s formative years, breastfeeding develops them into more mature and confident adults, which lessens the risk of depression and the psychological and physical complications that come with it.

Breastfeeding is one major step to raising balanced and empathic kids. With such physical and emotional benefits, mothers can expect to reap rewards as early as two years old when children start to recognize their self as separate from others. It’s when this “disconnection” becomes real that they understand their connection with them.  And with great support systems like in family and school, we can expect more kids who are kind and who will reach out to others.

My breastfeeding story is not one in a million, but I am aware that I had access to things that most did not. I believe that all mothers who are given access to information, support and protection will choose to and can breastfeed successfully. A better society for me is where mothers are supported in making decisions for their children, and that my children and grandchildren are around equally healthy and empathic kids.

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BBB will hold its second annual Breastfeeding Run called “Nurture Run” on  Sunday, May 18, 5:30 a.m. at CCP with the theme “Awareness for Breastfeeding during Emergency and in the Workplace.”

To register for the nurture run, visit www.nurturerun.com.