10 Activities for Celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Month 2014

August is a very special month, especially for pro-breastfeeding moms and breastfeeding advocates — it has been designated as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and the first week of August is also celebrated annually as World Breastfeeding Week.

It’s a known fact that breastmilk and breastfeeding is best for babies and mothers. It is widely believed that breastfeeding nourishes babies not only physically but also emotionally as well, and helps both mother and baby recover from childbirth more quickly.

To celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, here is a round-up of activities that you might be interested in attending:

1. Cebu Breastfeeding Photo Exhibit
Dates: August 2-16, 2014
Venue: 3rd level Rotunda, Ayala Center Cebu

This Breastfeeding Photo Exhibit will feature photos of breastfeeding moms and their babies. For more details, please contact the La Leche League – Cebu Breastfeeding Club on Facebook.

2. The Philippine Pediatric Society Breastfeeding Congress
Dates: August 7-8, 2014
Venue: Unilab Bayanihan Hall, Pasig City

The Philippine Pediatric Society is holding a two-day Breastfeeding Congress for doctors, nurses, midwives and other allied medical professionals. For more details and inquiries, please contact the Lactation Center of the Victor R. Potenciano (VRP) Medical Center at (02) 464-9999 local 489.

3. Pregnancy Fair & Lay Forum
Date: August 9, 2014
Venue: CHBC Building, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City will be holding a Pregnancy Fair and Lay Forum on August 9. The Fair will be from 9am-6pm at the CHBC Auditorium I, while the Lay Forum will be from 1pm-4pm at CHBC Auditorium II.

The Lay Forum, entitled “Project Blossom: How to Stay Fabulous and Healthy During Pregnancy,”includes a talk on “The Stylish Mom” by celebrity mom Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio.

To register, please call the St. Luke’s  QC Ob-Gyne Department at (02) 723-0101 ext. 5542 (look for May Ann Dalisay) or 0922-8372308 (Christine Angeli Buendia).

4. Breastfeeding Uncovered 2014: Mission Possible with Dr. Jack Newman
Dates: August 9, 11, 13, 2014
Venues:
Metro Manila (August 9) — Henry Sy Auditorium, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, Taguig City
Davao City (August 11) — SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City
Cebu City (August 13) — Chong Hua Hospital, Don Mariano Cui Street, Fuente Osmena, Cebu City

Dr. Jack Newman is a renowned pediatrician, educator and thought leader in the international breastfeeding advocacy scene. He has been a consultant for UNICEF for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, evaluating its first candidate hospitals. He is also a founding member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and is much sought after as an international speaker.

Last year, Dr. Newman was here to speak at a breastfeeding symposium organized by LATCH (or Lactation Attachment Training Counseling Help, a non-profit organization established in 2006 that offers quality lactation education and peer counseling services to mothers who wish to breastfeed). He spoke on breastfeeding norms and controversies.

Due to insistent public demand, LATCH,along with SM Cares, is organizing a three -day symposium this year featuring Dr. Newman, entitled "Breastfeeding Uncovered 2014: Mission Possible”. The topics will focus on breastfeeding challenges commonly experienced by Filipino families, such as poor weight gain and latching issues.

Aside from providing explanations on the causes and solutions to these challenges, Dr. Newman will also include a module on what healthcare practitioners need to know about breastfeeding that were not discussed during their training.

Tickets for the event are priced at P1,500 but groups of 10 or more will get a group discounted rate of P900 per attendee.

For the Manila event, you may register here.

For the Davao event, you may register here.

For the Cebu event, you may register here.

For more information, you may also email LATCH at breastfeedinguncovered@gmail.com. You can also visit the LATCH event page.

5. “Healthy Mothers Breastfeed Better” Mom and Baby Fair
Dates: August 15-16, 2014
Time: 9-5pm
Venue: 5th floor, St. Luke's Medical Center Global City, Taguig

This event is open to the public; entrance is free. For more details, please call the St. Luke’s Global City Marketing Department at (02) 789-7700 local 5301.

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6. Our Lady of La Leche Exhibit
Dates: August 16-30, 2014
Venue: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Mandaluyong City

Our Lady of La Leche is known as the ‘patroness’ of breastfeeding mothers. To honor her and to celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month, there will be an exhibit of Our Lady of La Leche images at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Mandaluyong City, starting August 16. The exhibit is organized by the Our Lady of La Leche Movement.

7. Breastfeeding: A Crash Course for the Busy Mom
Date: August 16, 2014
Time: 8am-12noon
Venue: Babyland at Facilities Center, 548 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City

This “crash course” on breastfeeding is organized by Best for Families, Inc. and Babyland (as per IAC permit number EO51 SA14-003). It is perfect for expecting moms, and even those who already know about breastfeeding but want to attend a “refresher” course. Entrance is free. To register, SMS or call 0917-8110821.

8. Best Beginnings in Breastfeeding
Date: August 23, 2014
Time: 2pm-5pm
Venue: Yahoo! Philippines, 20th Floor, Accralaw Tower, 2nd Ave. corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

This event is a free breastfeeding class organized by Yahoo! Philippines and LATCH. Pregnant mothers and their partners or support group can learn about the benefits of and myths surrounding breastfeeding, what to expect in the early weeks after giving birth, and going back to work while breastfeeding. There are limited slots available. Click here to register.

9. The Breastfeeding Club’s Annual Baby Shower
Date: August 30, 2014
Time: 9am-11am
Venue: Best for Families, Inc. at No. 29, 1st Street, New Manila, Quezon City

The Breastfeeding Club was founded by Abbie Venida-Yabot, a PGH (Philippine General Hospital)-certified lactation counselor. It holds regular activities for moms and families. The August 30 event is open to all and is free for all The Breastfeeding Club members. To register, please send a text message to 0917-8110821.

10. Thanksgiving Mass to Our Lady of La Leche
Date: August 30, 2014
Venue: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Mandaluyong City

The Our Lady of La Leche Movement is planning to have a special Thanksgiving Mass to Our Lady of La Leche at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Mandaluyong City.
The schedule of activities on that day include:

8-11 am - Medical Mission for pregnant women and children below 2 years
11 am - A short talk on Breastfeeding Benefits and Spirituality
12 noon - Holy Mass with A Special Blessing for pregnant and nursing moms as well as childless moms

Do you have other breastfeeding month-related activities to add to our list? Feel free to let us know via our Facebook page or on Twitter!


Sources:
Yahoo.com
SunStar.com.ph
TouringKitty.com
ChroniclesOfANursingMom.com

Image by Alessandro Conti from flickr.com