Lactation counselors come to the rescue
MANY important issue. And now here come your friendly lactation counselors to the rescue! They are here to help breastfeeding, from learning how to latch her baby on to helping her out to overcome mastitis, which is an infection of the breast tissue, which can lead in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. They also lend their hand to help a struggling family.
Interested parties are required to render a 45- hour training based upon the footprint of the World Health Organization and UNICEF Breastfeeding Counseling Training Course. Other standards follow work of 90 hours based on the standards for an International Board- Certified Lactation Consultant.
This is the job of 36-year-old Cristina Alterado, a mother of three kids. Fondly called “Tinay” Lactation Counselor. Her job is to reach out to mothers, especially those in the remote areas, with counseling and massage sessions for free in order to make them aware of breastfeeding.
Being a lactation counselor doesn’t depend on one’s highest educational attainment. More important is that they have the training and experience for the work at hand. Tinay is a college undergraduate. She took Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education, major in Industrial Arts at the Technological University of the Philippines.
What is the advantage of her job?
“Yung advantage sa trabaho namin ay on-call kami; o kapag emergency ay pinupuntahan din namin.” (The on-call; or in case of emergency, we also go there),” Tinay said. “Ako rin ay nagma-massage, pero hindi ito yung usual na massage lang kasi minamasahe ko ay yung mga pressure points for secreting milk.” (I also give mothers a massage, but not the usual massage because there are pressure points for secreting [breast] milk)” she added.
The usual problems that she encountered are the engorgement breast, particularly mastitis, and provide their children with proper breastfeeding. They also give training for pregnant mothers for them to have awareness before they give birth. Lactation counselors also assess the conditions of both the mother and child, and provide them the care they both needed. Working moms are also being trained to do breast pumping to supply milk while they are at work.
Prior to Tinay’s current job, she did wet nursing where she breastfed and cared for another child for a short time. She still does this in some instances.
Aside from the remote areas, Tinay and her fellow lactation counselors do visitations in some public hospitals and health centers breastfeeding but also the proper nutrition for older kids. to level up things about her job? “Siguro, yung ma-improve ko pa yung pag-aaral ko sa pressure points sa pagse-secrete ng gatas.” (I want to improve my skills on acupressure for lactation) Tinay said.
The good thing about this job is
time needed to balance her schedule with her responsibilities at work and at home. Tinay has an 11-year old son who is in Grade 4, a 7-year-old daughter who is in Grade 1, and another daughter who is in pre-school. She is also expecting another child as well. Despite having this occupation, she still obtains the responsibilities of being a full-time mom.
Patience, that is the only thing Tinay wanted to be on her job. It could be hard for her to have this rare kind of work, but having the patience of Job is indeed a virtue.
not just for the babies, but also for mothers. Lactation counselors are at your service to guide and educate them about the advantages of breastfeeding. Tinay experienced these things before, and now it’s time for her to share her knowledge with the other mothers. Without their help, maybe mothers and babies would rely on infant formulas othat might have adverse health consequences.
Indeed, Tinay is a living proof that breastfeeding remains the “best” not just for babies, but for mothers as well.