LINGAYEN–Breast-feeding is still best for babies.

Thirty one babies from Binmaley and this town mindlessly sucked milk from their mothers’ breasts, joining thousand others nationwide in the simultaneous breast-feeding program of the Children for Breast-feeding and Nurturers of the Earth to set a new world record for the most number of mothers in simultaneous breastfeeding.

The event was held May 2 at 10:00 a.m. during a program, dubbed “Sabay-sabay Sususo sa Nanay Year 2” sponsored by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) at the Radyo ng Bayan.

The PHO sponsored the program here that aimed to break the groups’ own Guinness World Records they set last year when 3,541 mothers breastfed at the same time.

Twenty other mothers from Dagupan City participated in the activity held at the Region 1 Medical Center, which was among the chosen centers.

Apart from Children for Breast-feeding and Nurturers of the Earth, the nationwide project is also supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The youngest baby who “participated” in the program here was one-month old Jesselyn who was born last April 8 to Lenny Gallardo. The eldest was two-month old Mariel born on April 29, 2007 to Violeta Ramos.

       Maricel Abulencia, a staff of the PHO, said all the mothers who participated never gave their babies milk formula. “They are all purely breastfed,” she said.

A document also read during the program listed the many benefits of breastfeeding and the most applauded by the mothers was its “slimming effect”.

It noted that former Ms. Maja Philippines Iza Bungubung gained 63 pounds during pregnancy, but lost 65 pounds during the two years that she breastfed her baby.

Breastfeeding for two years protects the mother from ovarian cancer diabetes, osteoporosis, and anemia. It also protects the mothers from unwanted pregnancy for six months after giving birth.

For working mothers, they can pump milk and keep it at room temperature for 6-8 hours, in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, and in the freezer for 3-6 months. It can also be kept for 24 hours in a cooler with ice.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, the provincial health officer, said he was breastfed as a baby and that “could be the reason why I was very close to my mother.”

       He admitted though that many mothers breastfeed their babies because they cannot afford to buy expensive formula. Nonetheless, breastfeeding is the best thing they can give their children, aside from the many benefits for the mother.–EVA

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