Hakab Na 2015: Breastfeeding and Work - Yes we Can!

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News 5 coverage

Milk Mama Diaries: Top 10 things to know about HIV and Breastfeeding

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Milk Mama Diaries present Guest Writer Lola Robin Lim: Human Rights: Infant Rights At Birth

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Hakab Na 2014: the Big Latch On

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Breastfeeding Awareness Month 2014: Unang Yakap

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Breastfeeding in HK: Sassy Mama's Top Breastfeeding Spots in HK

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Hakab Na 2014 for August 2 (Saturday)!!!

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Hakab Na 2014 for August 2 (Saturday)!!!

I *heart* Being A Mom! Project 2014 Update

07 May 2014, Quezon City -- Mother's Day came a little early to 13 mothers of Nazareth House. Initially, what was thought up to be a simple mentoring and support visit, became something bigger. It was a baby shower party!

Have a look at the wonderful decor and food provided by our generous sponsors and donors!

Participation was a success and the mothers were all actively participating to each of the activities.

Newborn babies slept quietly while their mommies listened and had a wonderful time.

The program proper started with an opening welcome and introduction of Nazareth Home by Ms Cecile.

Some background about Nazareth Home:-

Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF) came into being in 1975 as a branch of Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. Holt was founded in 1955 by Harry and Bertha Holt in Eugene, Oregon, USA, as a child welfare organization whose mission is Christian inspired service – reaching out to different countries where children need help.  Harry Holt institutionalized Holt’s vision “Every child deserves a permanent loving family of his/her own”. In 1987, KBF created Nazareth Home in Project 4, Quezon City, to provide shelter for single pregnant mothers, which is also called “Bahay ni Maria". 
There were 13 "girls" that are living in Nazareth Home when we visited while about 5-6 mothers have already given birth.

Continuing on...a short prayer of thanks and blessing was done by Sister Joy, the one dressed in blue then a short baby shower game by Jennifer that got all of the mothers excited.

Speaker Mae (Nagtalon) gave relaxation techniques and shared experiences that helped a lot of mothers get relaxed after the fun game.

 

* I later got to bond and talk to Ms Mae since her daughter is in the same culinary school as where my sister-in-law is teaching. So nice to get to know her and her experiences more also!

Birth/Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Discussion by yours truly with much assistance and support by Sister Clarice. The discussion was new to me because it's the first time I had to do it in Filipino. I totally fumbled a few times but thank goodness for much assistance from Clarice and Denise so the conversation was flowing and we got a lot of questions of "breastfeeding myths", how to properly latch ("hakab"), etc. The discussion took longer than expected but definitely audience appreciation was felt all around.

Cloth Diaper expert and owner of Tickled Moms, Clarice introduced and discussed cloth diaper use with Ms Cecile. Tickled Moms donated cloth diapers to the home for all the mothers use. I love those fluffy minky diapers!

As a sign of thanks, the mothers prepared a song and dance number for us. It was a really thoughtful and fun gesture. I enjoyed it a lot! The pregnant mothers are the ones that were giving lamaze/spinning baby movies! Go twists!

 

After eating and the festivities, the blogger mommies were able to do some one-on-one talks with our assigned "girls". I was happy to have met Ms C and learned that although she had the option of giving up her baby for adaption, she decided to keep her baby and go back to work soon in Quezon. Her former employers were the one that stirred her to Nazareth Home and assisted her in every way that they can. They are still in touch and visited her and the baby a few days ago. What a lovely and supportive couple/family!

The loot bags provided was lovely...so healthy nice and I love the crafted tool basket by Wooden KidiKraft and King Sue!

After going through this experience and speaking to the "girls" of Nazareth Home, I am fully convinced of the following:-

1.) Every Child Deserves a Loving and Permanent Family!
2.) Women/Mothers can do amazing things, if they allow themselves to grow and develop
3.) No matter what happens, there is always help as long as we ask. God will send help and provide
4.) Always strive to be the best person you can be...someone who your parents and family will be proud of!

Special thanks to the following sponsors who without their support and donations, this project wouldn't be a success:-

• M Catering & Fine Foods
• Wooden Kidikraft
• Party Boosters
• Sisters' Sweetness
• Tickled Moms
• DigitalFilipino.com

Thank you, Nazareth Home also for welcoming all of us! Thank you, JLofied for the opportunity!

#IBM2014

BLW: New Guidelines on Choking and Infant Resus (via BabyLedWeaning.com)

It is important to know the difference between Gagging and Choking especially when a parent starts BabyLedWeaning for the babies.
Article location is here.

******************************************************
First of all, it goes without saying that if you’re doing BLW this is an area that you will have looked into already. (And if you haven’t… as they say on the adverts… just do it. Crazy not to.)

Personally, I think every parent should try to investigate some basic infant resus, because as those little blighters become more mobile and more curious they have a habit of picking more daft objects up to check if they are food or not. I cannot tell you how high we had to keep our first daughter’s brightly coloured school erasers in order to keep them away from our younger child.

From what I saw on our Facebook page this morning, it seems like this is a technique already advocated in the US and Australia, but for the benefit of the UK and anyone else who is interested, here is the latest video as featured in a Sky news report.

In fact, it differs only very slightly to the rather brilliant UK National Health Service video ‘How to help a choking child’

Can you see, in the NHS video the baby rests on the woman’s arm throughout much of her resus? Whereas St John Ambulance are now saying that there will be better support if the child is on the arm AND thigh? A tiny difference but if it’s best practice, let’s do it! (Might have been better if the St John uniform wasn’t so dark, eh? Can you even see those trousers?)


As an aside, it is also interesting to query the figures mentioned in the Sky News report, reproduced below. In a survey of parents of 1000 under-fives, 380 said they had seen their child choke, with only 50% knowing what to do in that event. There are two ways of looking at this… one, 190 children choked, and their parents didn’t know what to do but everyone (we assume, for Sky News would have looked for the goriest story possible) was okay. That’s encouraging (but still do your homework).

The other way of looking at it is that parents STILL don’t know the difference between choking and gagging and some of the chokes were mis-represented gags. It is worth knowing the difference as going straight for resus when they’re dealing with a gag can cause babies to aspirate food.

Gagging is actually a safety response to food travelling too far back into the mouth so when we see our babies gagging they are actually handling the problem and it’s best just to keep calm (or at least look calm) and wait until it passes. Choking, you will know about. The baby looks panicked, no or very little sound can come out, and lips may actually start turning blue. Be smart, educate yourself and know how to act quickly.

So all in all, it’s good news for the BLW crew, in that each and every one of us should already have considered choking, and how we will respond should it happen. (For the record, it happened once with my first child… dratted raw apple, and this below was her a minute later, after she had gotten over it and was onto a rice cake. It just never happened with my second.)


FROM SKY NEWS TODAY

“New first aid advice on how to help a choking baby has been issued to parents.

St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and St Andrew’s First Aid have updated their advice after research suggested that many parents did not know what action to take.

The new advice is to place the baby face down along the thigh while an adult strikes the child’s back.
First aid experts say this gives the baby more support compared with the previous advice, which was to place the baby along the adult’s arm.

A survey of 1,000 parents of under-fives found 38% had seen their child choke.

Half of the parents said they did not know the correct way to help their child or how to clear the obstruction.
Nearly half said they avoided giving their child certain foods in case they choked.

Clive James, training officer at St John Ambulance, said: ‘If an infant is choking then, in the first instance, they should be laid face down along your thigh and supported by your arm, give them five back blows between the shoulder blades with your heel of your hand.

“Previously this was done along the arm but the leg is felt to be more secure and provide more support.

“Check their mouth for any obstruction. If there is still a blockage then turn the infant onto their back and give up to five chest thrusts.

“Use two fingers, push inwards and upwards against their breastbone.

“If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, call for an ambulance and continue until help arrives.”

Breastfeeding: Block Feeding for Overactive Let-Down?

I've been reading in the BFP forums that there are some concerns about newborn or fairly new babies having trouble coping with her fast milk flow. During feedings, these babies would sputter, cough and then pull themselves off the breast crying. Mothers of these normally assume that she has an overactive let-down (OALD) and would, on my occasions, start using a “block feeding" strategy.

Before I get ahead of myself again...I better explain better and with proper research.

What is Block Feeding?

Block feeding involves restricting baby to one breast for 3-hour or longer blocks of time before giving the other breast. It is very effective at bringing down milk production when a mother is making way too much milk. Allowing the breasts to stay full for a set period of time sends the signal to slow milk production.

Occasionally if the baby is nursing in a very, very frequent pattern - meaning that the baby is nursing hourly or even closer than hourly and experiencing marked fussiness and perhaps has consistently green stools - a loose block pattern may be suggested as well.  It is good to note that frequent nursing - meaning about every 2 hrs from start of one feeding to start of next feeding - is totally normal.

This is totally different in normal breastfeeding patterns wherein breastfeeding experts recommend "baby led" or "feed-on-demand" nursing patterns. Baby should be allowed to finish the first breast, before burping and offering second side. This may mean baby will nurse, for example, 20-ish minutes on first side, burps, then may or may not be interested in the second side.

**Note: Time of the breast, doesn't mean that the baby is effectively feeding.  You have to still observe the baby on the breast, wherein the following conditions are met: (1) long gulping is done - "long pause", (2) proper weight gain is observed but compared via exclusively breastfeed babies chart, and (3) baby is happy and thriving.

Block Feeding DO's and DON'Ts

DO Consult with a breastfeeding expert, such as a board-certified lactation consultant. An expert in breastfeeding management can assess the situation and help mom determine if she might benefit from using a block nursing pattern, and if so, what type of pattern to use. Most experts recommend starting out with smaller blocks of time and increasing them if needed after a couple weeks.

DO Use this strategy especially in some cases where oversupply (aka “hyperlactation” or “overabundant milk production”) can decrease the quality of life for both mother and baby. For a mother, the drawbacks include regularly full and uncomfortable breasts and recurring plugged ducts. For the baby, oversupply can cause a very fast milk flow that can be hard to manage. In this case, block feeding used for no longer than 1 week would be good for both mother and baby.

DON'T What seems to be more and more common, though, is the assumption that any struggle with milk flow is due to OALD or oversupply when there is usually another cause. As a result, some mothers bring down their milk production with block feeding when their supply is actually at a healthy level, leading to other problems, such as slow weight gain.

Remember that it takes practice and maturity for babies to learn to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing during breastfeeding. Some episodes of milk flow struggles and pulling away are completely normal and are not necessarily signs of OALD or oversupply.

How to Know if Block Feeding Will Help?

The most reliable gauge of whether block feeding may be helpful is baby’s weight gain. If breastfeeding is going well, during the first 3 months, most babies gain on average about 2 lb/mo. (0.90 kg/mo.). If baby’s weight gain is double this or more, block feeding for no longer than 1 week makes sense.
If baby’s weight gain isn’t this high, it is likely that block feeding will cause more problems than it solves.

How Long Does It Take?
Block nursing is not an "instant fix" for oversupply, but it almost always helps if given enough time to help. In mild cases of oversupply, it may only take a few days to a couple weeks to see good results. In more severe cases, it may take several weeks to a couple months to see good results; although almost always mom will see improvements in the situation within just a few days of implementing the use of the block pattern.

Do I Need To Continue Using the Block Pattern, Once Supply Adjusts?
No, one doesn't need to continue using a block pattern once the situation is resolved. Mom can go back to using a "normal" nursing pattern of offering first breast until baby is finished, then burp and offer second side. If things continue to go well, there isn't a need to do any additional adjustments. If the symptoms of oversupply begin to return, she can resume a block nursing pattern once more for a while longer, and then later on can see if a "normal" nursing pattern will work.

As suggested above, it is recommended that mom locate a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) to assess each individual situation, provide assistance, information and support.

Alternatives When Baby Struggles with Milk Flow

What can you do if your baby’s weight gain is average but she is struggling with milk flow during breastfeeding? The best strategy is to use feeding positions that give the baby more control overflow. The most difficult feeding positions for babies from a milk-flow standpoint are those in which milk is flowing downhill into their throats, such as all those in which mothers sit upright.

I find either the Australian Laid-back (infant to toddler) or the Japanese Sitting positions worked well for controlled milk flow.

Australian Laid-back position

Japanese Sitting Position

Other positions can be found here.

If baby continues to have consistent problems with milk flow, it's time to see a lactation professional to check for anatomy, swallowing, and breathing issues.

References

Caroline, G.A. and van Veldhuizen-Staas, C. G. Overabundant milk supply: An alternative way to intervene by full drainage and block feeding. International Breastfeeding Journal 2007; 2:11.

Breastfeeding: Inverted Nipples - how do you know you have it and what do you do?

Now you know if you have a inverted or flat nipple…what do you do?

Well, first and foremost it to:-

1.)    Knowing what a proper latch looks like. I have searched online and always refer to the Breastfeeding Guro of Dr Jack Newman. He has a video posted on Youtube that can help describe what the good latch is all about.
Proper Latch:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9tLgYn-bA
Asymetric:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHs2Ql5Kylo
Latch with a Lactation Aid:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezGIkIkhC_o
More videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jack+newman+breastfeeding

During your initial feedings, your baby may be able to open his mouth wide enough and suck vigorously enough to draw the nipple far into his mouth and close his gums on the areola, so the flat or inverted nipple may not present a major problem. Having someone to help you with latch on and positioning can be very helpful.

You will want to nurse as soon as possible after birth, and every 2-3 hours after that. You want to avoid engorgement, because breast swelling can cause the nipples to flatten out, making them more difficult to grasp. (See article on Engorgement for tips on how to avoid this problem).

For initial learning period of breastfeeding, try to avoid the use of any artificial nipples. Supplement with alternative feeding methods, because the baby who is learning how to nurse, especially on a nipple that isn’t the ideal shape for nursing, is more likely to become nipple confused. See article Introducing Bottles and Pacifiers to the Breastfed Baby to get more detailed information on alternate feeding methods.

If feedings become stressful, stop and comfort your baby. Try rocking, swaddling, walking, giving him your finger to suck, or offer him some expressed milk or water or until he settles down. You want him to associate feedings with positive feedback, not negative.

2.)    What is an inverted/flat nipple?

A) The nipple below is what a nipple is normally shaped. 

 

B) The nipple below is an example of what an inverted nipple looks like. 

C) A simple "pinch test" will show you whether your nipple is inverted: Using your thumb and index finger, gently squeeze the areola about 1 inch behind the nipple. This technique will make a normal nipple protrude.

 D) The pinch test will make an inverted nipple pull inward.

3.)    What if you DO HAVE an INVERTED NIPPLE? It’s not the end of the world. It is helpful if you have help from a Lactation Consultant, if possible during the first feedings, as these are likely to present the most problems.

Many mothers with flat or inverted nipples experience some degree of nipple soreness. You may experience soreness as the nipple is drawn into the baby’s mouth, and the adhesions are stretched or broken. If the nipple draws back into the baby’s mouth during or immediately after feedings, moisture may become trapped and contribute to soreness. Try patting the nipples dry after feedings and apply a thin coating of lanolin or olive oil.
Here are some of consolidating tested techniques in getting them out and easy for your baby to latch on:-

a.       Hoffman Technique.
Doing this technique several times a day may help loosen the adhesions at the base of the nipple. To employ this technique: place a thumb on each side of the base of the nipple - directly at the base of the nipple, not at the edge of the areola. Push in firmly against your breast tissue while at the same time pulling your thumbs away from each other. By doing this you will be stretching out the nipple and loosening the tightness at the base which will make the nipple move up and outward. This exercise should be repeated 5 times a day, moving the thumbs in a clockwise fashion around the nipple. It can be used during pregnancy and after baby begins breastfeeding.

b.      Nipple stimulation.
After birth (unless the nipples retracts completely), if the nipple can be grasped, a mother can roll her nipple between her thumb and index finger for a 30 seconds to a minute or two and then quickly touch the nipple with a moist, cold cloth or ice wrapped in cloth, immediately before offering it to your baby. A disposable nursing pad that is dampened and put in the freezer makes a great ice pack can also to help the nipple evert immediately before nursing.

NOTE: Avoid prolonged use of ice as it can inhibit the letdown reflex and numb the nipple too much

c.       Pulling back on the breast tissue/areola before you latch the baby on.
As you support your breast for latch-on with thumb on top and four fingers underneath and way back against the chest wall, pull slightly back on the breast tissue toward the chest wall to help the nipple protrude.

d.      Nipple Shield.
WARNING: Nipple shields should only be used when a lactation professional recommends them and supervises their use, they can be helpful in certain situations.
This is a thin, flexible silicone nipple with holes in the end that fits over your nipple during feedings. Nipple shields, in the past, were made out of thick rubber that caused a significant decrease in the mother’s milk supply. They were handed out freely to new mothers in order to ‘reduce nipple soreness’ or to get babies to nurse at the breast. Under these circumstances, they created more problems than they solved. Modern nipple shields are made from a clear, thin layer of silicone, which means that more stimulation reaches the areola, and the reduction of milk volume is minimized.

The below is from Dr Jack Newman’s account regarding Nipple Shields on his Facebook account.

One of the situations in which a nipple shield can be useful is in helping an infant latch on to a severely inverted or flat nipple, especially when other measures described above have failed. Mothers who use the shield should be instructed on how to wean the baby off the shield as soon as possible, and should weigh their baby frequently to assure adequate milk intake.

For many mothers, use of a shield is the first step in getting her baby to nurse at the breast, and may mean the difference between continuing to nurse or weaning. The mother’s ability to feel her baby sucking at her breast may encourage her to continue nursing after other attempts have failed. She needs to be encouraged to periodically put her baby on the breast without the shield until she is able to discontinue its use entirely. If the baby will take one breast without the shield, she should nurse him on that breast at each feeding, and use the shield only if the baby won’t take the other breast without it. While some babies move quickly from nursing with the shield to nursing without it (sometimes after only one or two feedings) other babies have to be weaned from it gradually. My niece, who had one normal nipple, and one that was severely inverted, used the shield on and off for several months. She monitored her baby’s weight gain carefully, and he is now happily nursing (without the shield) at the age of 18 months. Considering the severity of her inversion, I am not sure that her baby would have ever been able to nurse on that breast without the use of the shield.

***UPDATE!!! (Source International Breastfeeding Center)

MYTH: Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.

ANSWER: Not true! Babies do not breastfeed on nipples, they breastfeed on the breast. Though it may be easier for a baby to latch on to a breast with a prominent nipple, it is not necessary for nipples to stick out. A proper start will usually prevent problems and mothers with any shaped nipples can breastfeed perfectly adequately. In the past, a nipple shield was frequently suggested to get the baby to take the breast.
THIS GADGET SHOULD NOT BE USED, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS!
Though it may seem a solution, its use can result in poor feeding and severe weight loss, and makes it even more difficult to get the baby to take the breast. (See Finger and Cup Feeding). If the baby does not take the breast at first, with proper help, he will often take the breast later. Breasts also change in the first few weeks, and as long as the mother maintains a good milk supply, the baby will usually latch on by 8 weeks of age no matter what, but get help and the baby may latch on before. See When a Baby Does not yet Latch.

e.       High Quality Pump.
If the soreness lasts for more than a week or two, you may need to use a high quality pump (See article Pumping and Storing Breastmilk) to help maintain your milk supply. When a nipple is severely inverted, the baby may compress the nipple buried inside the tissue, rather than the milk sinuses underneath the areola. The sucking action of the pump pulls out the center of the nipple uniformly, rather than compressing the areola. This can help gradually break the underlying adhesions.

If both nipples are severely inverted (which is not usually the case) you may need to double pump every 2-3 hours and feed your baby with an alternative method until the adhesions are broken and the nipples protrude. This is a situation in which renting a pump may really be worth it. In some extremely rare cases, the baby never successfully goes on the breast and you may need to continue pumping and feeding your expressed breastmilk by bottle. (See article Introducing Bottles and Pacifiers to the Breastfed Baby) for information on using bottles as well as alternative feeding methods.)

Usually, only one nipple is inverted and one breast is easier for the baby to grasp. In this case, you may want to feed on the ‘good side’ while you pump the other breast until the adhesions are loosened. You can feed the baby the milk you expressed on the inverted side after nursing on the other breast.

Some mothers can draw their inverted nipples out with just one pumping session. Others may need to continue pumping for days, weeks, or even months, depending on the degree of inversion and the baby’s sucking patterns. If the nipple inverts again during pauses in the baby’s feeding, you may need to stop and pump again for a few minutes and then put him back on the breast. In almost all cases, the adhesions will loosen and the baby will be able to nurse effectively as he grows bigger and stronger and becomes more efficient at nursing.

4.)     Other Resources:

a.       Breastfeeding Canada Inc
http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-WBD

b.      Dr Jack Newman on FB with a relevant posting:- https://www.facebook.com/DrJackNewman/posts/213653845452336

In almost all cases, the adhesions will loosen and the baby will be able to nurse effectively as he grows bigger and stronger and becomes more efficient at nursing, whether you invest in gadgets or not. Remember that the baby doesn’t ‘nipple feed’, instead the baby BREASTFEEDS. Once he is able to draw the nipple into his mouth, the shape of it doesn’t matter much at all.

Babies grow unbelievably fast, and his tiny mouth will ‘grow into a large/ flat/ or inverted nipple before you know it. Once the nipple inverts consistently, it seldom inverts again. Also, inverted nipples are much less common with second babies. Their older siblings seem to have paved the way, and pulled out the nipples for their baby brother or sister and making everyone in the family much happier!

**Need more info? Visit AlphaParent for All Breasts Can Breastfeed for more detailed discussion with regards breasts that were reduced, enhanced, etc. I find it all empowering!

At Villamore Airbase...relief efforts (Nov 17, 2013 and beyond)

A very very late posting...but still an important post. Read on my friends...

I have been busy with a lot of things but among all that I've done and I think this will count as a life-changing and notable factor in my mind. It's so engrained even as I write this...it will be noted as sign that what I am doing is all in a Higher Being's will.

Oh my…I'm getting ahead of myself...I think the best thing is to do a timeline instead.

November 06, 2013

By November 6, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigned the storm the local name Yolanda as it approached their area of responsibility.

[NOTE: Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, in early November 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,069 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the fourth strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.]

November 07, 2013

Typhoon Hailan (Yolanda) made landfall to Eastern Samar. Devastation started.

November 08, 2013

A weakened Haiyan, with its core disrupted by interaction with the Philippines, emerged over the South China Sea late on November 8 and left the Philippines.

November 11, 2013

The provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, and Samar, were placed under a state of national calamity, allowing the government to use state funds for relief and rehabilitation and to control prices of basic goods. Manila weather was still decently favorable with some showers but definitely not a typhoon compared to what our Visayas area was experiencing.

November 12, 2013

I left for Hong Kong for a short trip. Little did I know that I would be working offshore as part of the Breast Feeding Pinay’s relief efforts.

November 14, 2013

A correspondent from the BBC reported Tacloban to be a "war zone," with tanks and armed military personnel entering the city. To ensure the safety of the citizens of Tacloban, families are being flown from affected areas to Villamor Airbase (VAB).  The first batch of these came that evening and a lot were asking for milk formula.

Doc Lei Alfonso came up with a system on how to process the situation because we have to protect these babies and formula is never the solution and especially in calamities. She got in touch with Mrs. Ona, head of the generals’ wives, who wanted to know how to feed the infants. This is where help was provided.  Volunteers from Breastfeeding Pinays (BFP) and Latch Philippines were immediately immobilized upon the confirmation that VAB will be the hub of arrival of Tacloban survivors via C130 cargo places.  Both groups, BFP and LATCH, joined forces to set up an area for mothers and babies/toddler (0-2 years old) that can be a place of refuge.  The volunteer moms of both groups would help survivor moms and babies on breastfeeding, health checks, nutrition, etc. There will be a trained expert on hand; in case, there is a need for intervention like teaching how to cup feed, latch, etc.

November 15, 2013

While I was still in HKG, I was coordinating that afternoon for diaper deliveries via a diaper agent/contact of ours. From ordering sizes and number of pieces to maximize the contribution budget to finding transporting to ensure the fastest delivery date/time we could do. I was on edge all afternoon and I remember “biting my nails” in ensuring that we can get the whole thing set-up ASAP. I was thankful that things did worked out in the end like contacts were able to get the orders done, delivery arranged by another BFP friend, CW, with the proper schedule, long distance connections worked out well and all done before my next appointment in Hong Kong. It was exhausting but definitely felt the urgency of the moment and all the other mother volunteers were ready to step-up-the-plate to lend support, logistics and knowledge.

Aside from the diaper donation, I sent a heads-up to my whole family that I hope they would support me with regards to anything that would be needed later for relief efforts. Later requests were as random as tarpaulins, hot pots, rechargeable lamps, water dispensers, mosquito repellants, beddings, pillows…you name it, we welcomed it with open arms!

November 17-23, 2013
The Nanay Bayanihan was formed as a place of refuge for mothers and babies 0-2 years old with the assistance of LATCH, BFP, DOH, Villamore General Wives' Association, while waiting for the survivor's family members to pick them up, contact their relatives in Manila before pick-up or transit to another location. It provided food, shelter and relief goods to these families who have lost everything.

The below are some of the scenes between the 17^th to the 23^rd night shifts (10pm to about 3am to 4am) that I’ve done. I still can see some of the faces of those mothers and babies that just pinched my heart as I see how resilient they were and took everything in strides. Most of them were so shy that I had to be the ones to pull them over or I would go directly to the grandstands of Villamore Air Base.

We (BFP and Latch volunteers) instructed the habit that when the C130 planes landed, we would go directly to the grandstands, instead of having DSWD workers refer mothers/toddlers to us, directly ask them to come to the relief shelter/area. It was an effort but it was also a good thing because there were so many mothers who need to change their babies, get away from the crowds to rest, breastfeed in private, re-lactation, etc.

I have to say, I was in awe with the sheer volume of people but also of the huge cargo planes and the relief goods, people around the area.  Individual/Single, couple/families. Young and Old. Male and Female.  Poor / Middle Class, etc …disasters does not choose any type.

It was exciting most of the time but of course, there were nights where I was so tired from my day chores and ready to give up…but I would step back and think about what those arriving moms and babies went through was nothing to anything my day could have been...this helped motivate me to go up to the grandstands area for weary moms and babies that just needed a place of refuge for a few minutes, hours or days. I sought the help of the runners, DSWD marshals, announcers, etc to keep on telling everyone that there is a Nanay Bayanihan tent who offer mothers with babies 0-2 years old to rest and change their babies/toddlers.
Each group of people helping came and set-up their own tents like mushrooms! I wasn't able to take a photo of the 1st Nanay Bayanihan tent.

There were a few survivor moms who would reluctantly come and ask for formula, cloths, food and diapers.

Little is really advertised that UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) strongly urged all who are involved in funding, planning and implementing the emergency response in the Philippines to avoid unnecessary illness and death by promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding. Community leaders are called on to monitor and report any donations that may undermine breastfeeding.  This is targeted at infant formula distribution. Any formula milk or milk substitute donations are to be coursed through the Department of Health (DOH).  To add also, UN Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) also noted that “Non-breastfed infants are more likely to need hospital treatment and more likely to die from infectious disease post-flooding.”

One of those running restless nights, I was able to bump into a ex-colleague also MikeyB that totally caught me off-guard since I know he had a really tough day job (banker) and still he was able to help out with so much gusto that I couldn’t give being tired as a Stay-At-Home-Mom as an excuse not to give the same energy to the weary survivors. It really woke me up and re-direction to my purpose there.

I was fortunate to experience a few wet nursing opportunities and re-lactating assistance since the moms have one or another are not available, either mom was asleep, had gave up on breastfeeding and resorted to giving the bottle (re-lactating was being done at our tent), and those who were left orphaned.  I was having flashbacks on the Dr Newman seminars and the book club that BFP (including my past experiences) as I help re-lactate and assist in feeding these mother’s babies. Though I am sure I would forget their names, the faces I surely won’t.

The transfer back from Aguinaldo to VAB had quite a few glitches and laced with controversies and stress but somehow, God had His Plan all lined up for all of us. Things worked out well in the end with the help of Sen. PC who assisted us while our tents were being transported for the next day.

 

When God plans...He plans BIG! From a mere 3 connecting tent, to a huge "mansion"! 

Nanay Bayanihan continues on...

 

I will surely miss the:
(1) nightly updates between shifts and what happened during the day, etc;
(2) home-cooked food offered to volunteers by chefs in “truck style” operations;

(3) the families (mom and babies) that I met who shared stories one way or another;
(4) the cute foreigner volunteers from all over;
(5) the repacking of customized lootbags/relief goods per recipients – it was shopping on a per baby/toddler that came in. We really got some awesome donors with great fashion and practical sense.  Generosity was so evident.

All in all, the whole experience:-

1.)    Strengthen my faith to God, fellowmen – all in the goodness of the group of people around me and my family. There was never anything that wasn’t provided at His own time.

2.)    Reaffirmed my conviction in Breastfeeding and Babywearing. It is all for the betterment of future society and the ones that will be with my children.

3.)    Reinforced my knowledge with passing on Breastfeeding, Relactating, Baby Care information to mothers that need it most.

4.)    Enabled me to experience being a wet nurse and compare bottle-fed versus direct feeding babies.

5.)    Gave me the opportunity to meet, mingle and forge friendships/connections with some awesome wonderful people (doctors, wet nurses, fellow mothers, etc) in Arugaan, BFP and Latch Philippines!

These are friends for life!