Author: Admin

One of the biggest challenges that a new mom faces is being able to successfully breastfeed her newborn baby. The first few days after delivery can be quite overwhelming. Running on very little sleep, being unsure of what you are doing and being bombarded with so much information coming from health care staff, well meaning friends and relatives can surely be the perfect recipe for disaster. You can, however, turn this around by following a few tips that can help any first-time mom have a successful breastfeeding journey.

 

1. Be prepared. Attend a pre-natal breastfeeding class on your third trimester that teaches basics such as correct position and latch, baby’s breastfeeding cues and how to know that your baby is getting enough breastmilk. If you have conditions that might make breastfeeding a little more difficult (eg previous breast surgery, flat/inverted nipples) or you just want a more individualized approach, you can see a lactation consultant for a pre-natal breastfeeding consultation.
2. Follow Unang Yakap or Essential Intrapartum Newborn Care (EINC). These are a set of practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Department of Health (DOH) that not only reduces maternal and newborn mortality rate but increases breastfeeding rates as well. EINC delivers time-bound interventions after birth that includes immediate drying, properly timed umbilical cord cutting, early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding initiation. Find out if the institution where you will deliver implements these practices to ensure that you get the best start to breastfeeding.
3. Get support. Involve your husband. Urge him to attend a breastfeeding class with you. Burping your baby after a feed, changing the diaper, encouraging you to persevere may seem trivial but it can make a world of difference to any new breastfeeding mom. Supportive husbands have happier and more motivated wives.
4. Take it one day at a time. Breastfeeding may seem very natural to some but it actually takes some skill and technique to get it right. You may not get it right the first few times but don’t allow this to discourage you from trying. Recognize when you need help with your latch and ask for it early on so you and your baby can adjust right away. If you take it one day at a time, you’ll be surprised that you’ve already been breastfeeding for a year and you wouldn’t want to stop.
5. Take care of yourself. Eat healthy and filling meals. Be well hydrated (always have a bottle of water nearby). Sleep when your baby is sleeping. Make yourself beautiful. Go to the parlor. Get a massage. Enjoy every single day with your most precious bundle of blessing.

 

Our gratitude to Dr. Jaimie Isip- Cumpas for sharing this article. Dr. Cumpas is a Pediatrician and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is a mother of three beautiful children.

The Annual Dinner and Induction of Officers of PPS CV Chapter for Year 2016-2017 was held last Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Cebu City.  The affair was formally opened with the procession of the Past Chapter Presidents, the Outgoing and Incoming Members of the Board of Directors with the Liaison Officers of Bohol and Dumaguete, Visayas Chapter representative, Dr. Winston Felix Quebec, Keynote Speaker: Atty. Ma. Margarita P. Ardivilla, Inducting Officer and the National President,  Dr. Alexander O. Tuazon.

The activity was then followed by the Induction of our New Officers.  The audience was also entertained by the children’s production number .

 

 

Our gratitude to Dr. Jean Francis F. Alcantara for this article. Dr. Alcantara is the Chapter President for Central Visayas.

        The Makati Medical Center Department of Pediatrics in partnership with the Philippine Pediatric Society held the widely successful 2nd International Breastfeeding Conference & 4th Breastfeeding Congress at the Marriott Grand Ballroom last August 2 -3, 2016. This also ushered the hospital’s celebration of the Breastfeeding Month. The Congress was attended by a record-breaking  902 attendees, the most for any Breastfeeding Congress in the Philippines, and was comprised of Pediatricians, Obstetricians, Family Medicine Physicians, Nurses, Midwives and Breastfeeding Advocates.  Foreign delegates from Thailand, India and Indonesia were also in attendance. The Scientific Program entitled “The Breastfeeding Triad: Be In and Win” touched on  the Mother, the Baby the Support Groups — and the  challenges that they may face en route to a successful breastfeeding journey. The Opening Remarks was led by our newly appointed Medical Director, Dr. Johnny Sinon.  Dr. Alexander Tuazon, President of the Philippine Pediatric Society gave the Welcome Remarks. Dr. Rita Dolendo, Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics & Over-all Chair, gave the course overview and discussed Makati Medical Center’s Breastfeeding History and Journey.

     The prestigious roster of speakers included 3 foreign lecturers who came to share their expertise. They are  Dr. Lori Feldman – Winter, the Section Chair of the  Breastfeeding Policy Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics,  Dr Nancy Wight,  Medical Director for Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services and co-founder of the San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition, and Mr. Willibald Zeck, Chief of Health & Nutrition of UNICEF. The other speakers were MMC’s Dr. Patricia Kho (OB-Gyn) who talked about “Antenatal Enhancement of Breastmilk Production” and Dr. Ma. Lourdes Martinez, MD (Pediatrics)  who lectured on “Informal Human Milk Sharing: Benefits & Barriers”, as well as other local speakers, all experts in their field.  Special workshops were also held  – namely the MBFHI Workshop headed by DOH’s Dr. Anthony Calibo,  the Wellstart Workshop for  Doctors  facilitated by the PPS Breastfeeding Committee & Lactation Consultants, and the Wellstart Workshop for Nurses held by representatives  from the MMC Nursing Staff and MCNAP. The event was capped  with the turn-over ceremony to the next host hospital, Medical Center Manila, for the 2017 Breastfeeding Congress.

Our gratitude and sincerest thanks to Dr.  Anna Lisa Lopez- Gabriel for sharing this article. She is a diplomate of the Philippine Pediatric Society. She is currently the Committee Chair of the Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative ( MBFHI ) of the Makati Medical Center. She is also a Lactation Consultant .

Dr. Alexander Tuazon, PPS President ,met with a group of  members last July 26, 2016 at the CVJ in Marikina City.  Dr. Lolita Uy led the group in prayer . Dr. Chona S. Collado introduced the speaker , Dr. Frances M. Tan, who gave a lecture on “Growing Up with Allergies, Managing Allergies from Kids to Teens”. The activity moderator was Dr. Martini Ventura. The forum provided an opportunity to bring together our members practicing in Marikina and in the different towns of Rizal for an intimate conversation with the National President. Discussions regarding the different aspects of the profession were brought up including the active role of our members. The doctors shared their concern with PHIC, PPS policy statements, immunization standards and more . Dr. Tuazon gave updates on the new PPS website and his vision of paperless and online transactions. This would provide for efficiency in handling member needs and requirements. He shared with the group ,also, the stories of his journey for the past two months as PPS President and his dreams for the Society .  A promise for another visit is much awaited by the group.

 

The PPS South Western Mindanao Chapter recently held its 2nd induction last July 23,2016 at the Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City. National PPS president Dr. Alexander Tuazon was the inducting officer and guest of honor. The PPS-SWM chapter was founded in 2013 with charter president Dr. Fortunato Cristobal, Dr. Mario Arciaga as vice president, Dr. Wilhelmina Hocson as secretary and Dr. Leonora Que as treasurer. The newly inducted officers for 2016 are: Dr. Bernadette Santiago (President) ; Dr. Analiza Santamaria( Vice-President) ; Dr. Dino Hailil ( Secretary)  ; Dr. Lito Concepcion (Asst. Secretary); Dr. Mary Ann To ( Treasurer ); and Dr. Jane Quibilan( Asst. Treasurer) .The board of directors are: Dr. Mario Gemzon, Dr. Al Habsi Hashim, Dr. Nerissa Ong, Dr. Leilyn Tan and  Dr. Bernadette Macrohon.

Aside from the monthly CME lectures conducted, the PPS-SWM chapter will embark on a new radio program  discussing health issues of children on air. This project  is spearheaded by Dr. Mario Gemzon, CME chairman. Other CME projects that are being planned include a regional postgraduate course and a neonatal resuscitation  training ( Aug. 18, 2016) which will be facilitated by  neonatologist Dr.Jeffrey Masilungan, Dr.Mary Ann To and Dr.Jane Quibilan.

Yearly projects conducted with the Zamboanga City Medical Center, Dept. of Pediatrics are Regalo sa Bakunados, where all children who completed their primary immunization are given a gift.This project significantly increased the number of children vaccinated. Another yearly project is the Shoebox Christmas gift for the children at the pediatric ward at ZCMC. Physical examination of school children and free pediatric clinics are regularly being conducted. Noteworthy was the  free clinic conducted during the Zamboanga seige, where PPS members bravely ventured to  evacuee sites amidst the critical condition of a raging war.

Our gratitude to Dr. Bernadette Santiago and the South Western Mindanao Chapter for this article .