Recently I had attended a peer counseling training for mother's and soon to be mother's organized by Arugaan under the Department of Health TSEK Campaign (see my post here about the campaign), a non-government organization that aims to promote and boost the breastfeeding advocacy in our country. I am one of the fortunate bloggers to witness how barangay health workers are trained to train the nursing moms especially in rural communities.
At exactly 8 o'clock in the morning we all gathered at the Merced Bakeshop's function hall and started the program with a prayer. The talked was conducted by the Arugaan's representatives and each and everyone of them has its own mastery of the craft so the participants are separated into two groups to accommodate and gave the quality time to absorb the knowledge that Arugaan prepared for them.
To keep the ball rolling, the first topic was all about the importance of breastfeeding for mother, child, family as well as to our country. Breastfeeding is very important for a baby especially the first hours of his life, so 'colostrum' or the first milk from the mothers breast should be given to him at once because it contains antibodies to protect the newborn against diseases. Moreover it is the right kind of milk that only absorbed by the newborn baby's stomach because it has lower fat and higher in protein that is very useful for the baby rather than the formula milk that is made from animals milk.
Furthermore, essential newborn care is initiated and the proper positioning in administering breatsmilk is illustrated. Since the baby has what you called 'sucking reflex' they can suck the mother's milk and dissolved it significantly.The mother has to learn the proper position like assymetric latch technique, wherein holding back the baby's head as it position properly on the breast of the mother including the areola (the darker skin of the breast) exactly into the mouth of the baby while holding the his whole body close to.
Aside from lectures and discussions, the organizers also prepared different activities that enhances and adapt the lessons that they learned like separating magazine cut-outs or pictures which are good results of breastfeeding and the bad causes bottle feeding babies.
It was a day of learning and fun way of attending peer counselor training. Hopefully you could also joined in one of DOH's TSEK campaign soon. And you can also shared and spread the goodness and better health starting from our baby and for the country.
Like the TSEK on Facebook HERE and See you soon in one of they're events and campaigns.
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