There is an urban legend about a known society figure who had more than 10 children but remained as beautiful as a young girl even when she was already in her late 30s and well into her early 40s. The society figure’s beauty secret was supposedly simple: She never breastfeed any of her children, believing that the act would ruin her slimness and cause her to develop more wrinkles.
In the 1970s and 1980s, this story was met with awe by other mothers, who were “forced’’ by circumstance to breastfeed their children. In fact, wet nurses were the rage among the wives of hacienderos in the provinces. These days, however, this story would probably be met with disbelief and a bit of distaste.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, 88 percent of Filipino mothers begin breastfeeding their babies although they quickly begin to introduce other liquids such as water or formula. Only 34 percent of Filipino mothers give their children only breast milk up to six months as recommended by Unicef, World Health Organization and the Department of Health.
Unicef says that mixed feeding—the introduction of other liquids or foods before six months—can lead to health problems such as allergies, respiratory infections, diarrhea and dehydration.
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months has many benefits for the infants and mother as breast milk is an important source of the energy needs between 12 and 24 months. It is also a critical source of energy and nutrients during illness and reduces mortality among malnourished children.
According to Unicef, adults who were breastfed often have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol as well as lovel rates of obesity and type-2 diabetes.
Nuriza Abeja, executive director of Beauty, Brains and Breastfeeding Inc. and breastfeeding counselor, breastfed her son Joaquin until he was six years old and still breastfeeds her three-year-old Amina.
During the breastfeeding event hosted by SM Supermalls in cooperation with Unicef and Beauty, Brains and Breastfeeding, Abeja reveals that she continued breastfeeding her son while she was pregnant with her daughter.
Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, a sportscaster and TV host and mom to two boys, is also a breastfeeding advocate.
TV host Daphne Osena Paez, the mother of three girls, is a Unicef special advocate for children.
“I’ve spent the past eight years either being pregnant or breastfeeding. Sophia (seven), Lily (four) and Stella (one) were all breastfed for at least 12 months. I’m still breastfeeding the youngest. That’s a long time to be giving up one’s body for your children but it hasn’t felt that way for me at all. These eight years have been the most beautiful and powerful time of my life,” Daphne points out. –Dinna Chan Vasquez, Manila Standard Today
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