Mom and Baby expo showcases benefit of breastfeeding

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1044430
• Saturday, August 11, 2018

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The City Health Office (CHO) is now gearing for the fifth year of its Mom and Baby Expo that aims to showcase healthy breastfed babies.

On Friday, mothers and their babies gathered at the third floor of the City Hall for the pre-selection pageant in preparation for the final selection this August 23.

“This aims to showcase that breastfeeding babies can led to healthy babies. One of the criteria is breastfeeding and complete immunization,” said Dr. Jennifer T. Anceno of the CHO.

She said that it is difficult to convince mothers to go into an exclusive breastfeeding, “especially in culture where mothers are working”.

Anceno hoped that with the kind of activity, they would be able to encourage more mothers to go into exclusive breastfeeding, especially during the first six months of the baby.

She added that the first 1,000 days of babies, although it was extended up to five years old, will reflect if the mother was healthy while she was carrying the baby inside her womb.

“A healthy child is a happy child,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Mom and Baby Expo has two categories: Star Baby and Mother and Child.

For the Star Baby, their growth and development will comprise 50 percent of the criteria and the other 50 percent is for personality and charm.

On the other hand, for the Mother and Child, 70 percent will be for the personality of the mother and child and 30 percent for charm.

The expo is also part of the activities in celebration of the 81st Charter Day anniversary of Iloilo City.