AS PART of the International Breastfeeding Week celebration, the Modern Nanays of Mindanao (MNM) started the first day of Hakab Na, on Friday, August 3, teaching the mothers of Cagayan de Oro City on infant and young child feeding.
Hakab Na, the Philippines counterpart of the Global Big Latch On activity, is global synchronized breastfeeding event that aims to popularize breastfeeding.
"Ang (The) Modern Nanays, we promote optimal infant and young child feeding during the first 1000 days. So this is the golden window of opportunity to get that best foundation to start their life," Nadine Angelica Casiño, the founder of Modern Nanays of Mindanao, said.
The MNM started the afternoon event with Bump to Breast, an activity where moms were taught on how to prepare for breastfeeding while still pregnant.
According to Casiño, they invited the best neonatologist in the city to inform the mothers present during the activity on how to be mentally, psycho-socially and emotionally prepared while still pregnant.
"Gihatag namo nga (We gave this) chance for the pregnant mothers of CDO to come and learn about it and prepare. So they can start it right gyud. Kay sometimes ang birth is such an anxious moment for families because it’s like the unknown, especially for first time moms," Casiño said.
"But this is their chance to look into the lens of the experts, the lens of mga (the) moms who have been there also," she added.
The second part of the event was the Kids EAT Right, wherein moms were informed of what they should feed their children, especially the picky eaters, for them to achieve the nutrition they need.
"So we want our kids to eat right, it’s not enough that we feed them, it needs to be the right kind of food. Ang EAT actually means Educate, Ask, and Taste. So we're going to educate the moms about the proper food, unsay naa anang nga (what is in that) kind of food, when to feed your baby, how much food ang i-feed sa baby, ana," Casiño said.
"Tapos ask, it’s a time for you to ask on 'my child is a picky eater, what should I do?' or mag ask na like 'she only likes to eat eggs, what should I do?' So ma-answer sya dinhi. It’s practical advice by modern nanays nga giagi gyud ana nga problems (who underwent those kind of problems)," she added.
The MNM founder also stressed out how information on breastfeeding and proper care and feeding of infant and young child are important, especially in the society where misinformation or fake news is prevalent.
"This is to really bring families together to inform them. Because you don't get this kind of information anywhere. Kung i-google nimo (If you google it), overwhelming ang information there. And too much information, if it’s not confirmed to the right people is dangerous. Too little information is also dangerous," Casiño said.
Modern Nanays of Mindanao is a peer support organization that consists of mothers whose advocacy is to protect and promote natural infant and young child care to provide the best foundations for lifelong health.