An empowered woman knows her rights and self-worth, she can make her own decision and can impact societal change for themselves and others. She doesn't define herself by how she looks, her past actions, or what others think of her.
A breastfeeding mom is considered an empowered woman. In other words, women can make decisions about their bodies based on accurate information without pressure, fear, or discrimination. With the full support of their families, communities, workplaces, and governments, women should be able to breastfeed whenever and wherever they want.
How does breastfeeding empower a woman?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure in mothers can be decreased through breastfeeding. Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and high blood pressure are less common in breastfeeding mothers.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrients. The mother's breast milk will change as the infant grows to meet the baby's nutritional needs. Breastfeeding allows mothers to nourish their infants and fight off illnesses using their bodies, even in emergencies and crucial situations. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and Sudden Death Infant Syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to get stomach illnesses and ear infections.
Breastfeeding contributes to birth spacing by postponing the menstrual cycle. Providing proper reproductive care and information can encourage women to pursue their education and employment outside the home, both essential for achieving equality for women and financial independence.
Contrary to popular belief that breastfeeding is free and easy, it needs access to trained counselors and time to breastfeed or express milk. To guarantee that moms have access to a healthy diet and can breastfeed their children for as long as possible, leaders must support it by creating policies and programs.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), Pasig City is one of the cities that sees the importance of supporting breastfeeding for the welfare of the mothers and their children by providing nursing covers to all lactating mothers at medical facilities and evacuation centers and to nutritionally at-risk mothers participating in feeding programs. By obtaining accreditation with the Department of Health (DOH), private and public hospitals in the city continue to maintain facilities that are friendly to mothers and babies. Breastfeeding mothers are also encouraged by the Pasig City Human Milk Bank to donate their extra milk to those in need. It aims to provide sick infants, moms with trouble breastfeeding, and abandoned infants with a continuous source of breast milk. (PIA-NCR)
