CITY GOVERNMENT OF VALENZUELA

VALENZUELA CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

VALENZUELA CITY EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
G. LAZARO ST., DALANDANAN, VALENZUELA CITY

Breastfeeding Policy

 The hospital has a policy that no advertising of all breastmilk substitutes within the
vicinity of the hospital premises, no free samples to mothers, no promotions of products
in hospital, including no free or low-cost formula, no company representatives to
contact mothers, and no gifts or personal samples to VCEH staff.
 New employees will be oriented to the policy within 4 weeks of hire. All staff will receive
training necessary to implement this policy within 6months of hire.
 All pregnant women will be provided with information with breastfeeding and
counseled with the importance of breastfeeding, contraindications to breastfeeding,
and management of breastfeeding. The facility will collaborate with prenatal care
providers in the community to provide breastfeeding education and support.
 Utilizing an alternative feeding device (eg., cup, syringe, finger feed, spoon) is the
preferred method of supplemental feeding compared to nipple/bottle feeding method.
 Hospital staff should never pass products on to the mothers, no words or pictures
idealizing artificial feeding, including pictures of infants, on the labels, information to
health workers must be scientific and factual.
 Unsuitable products, such as sweetened condensed milk should not be promoted for
babies. Manufacturers and distributors should comply with the Code’s provisions to
protect breastfeeding.
 All bags will be inspected by the guard for bottled water and feeding bottle. Any feeding
bottled confiscated will be put to non biodegradable receptacles.
 VCEH employees working in all services / units should :
 Participate in the efforts to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as the
cultural norm. Encourage breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding.
 Create a positive and supportive environment at the health care settings by
displaying breastfeeding posters on public areas; providing a private space for
breastfeeding client as required.
 Be conversant and comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes.
 All frontline staff working should support breastfeeding by adopting the following
allow breastfeeding mothers the freedom to choose where to breastfeed; and the
presence of the breastfeeding room does not mean that she must choose to use the
 room, do not disturb a breastfeeding mother, and ask her to cover up or move to
another area.
 If a mother wishes to have more privacy to breastfeed, offer an appropriate location
as far as practicable.
 Toilets or restrooms are not appropriate places for feeding babies and should not be
offered.
 Supporting breastfeeding mothers if they encountered difficulties.
 Breastfeeding-friendly workplace policy supported employees to continue
breastfeeding after returning to work and employees who plan or need to express
breastmilk during working hours should approach their supervisors to work out an
appropriate arrangements.
 Supervisors should support by providing an enabling environment for lactating
employees. Specific measures include the following: A. Allowing lactation breaks
( about 2 30 minute-breaks during an 8 hour shift ) for expression of breastmilk for
at least one year after childbirth, and to adopt a flexible approach thereafter; B. A
private space with a comfortable chair and an electric outlet for operating the breast
pump will be provided; C. Also refrigerating facilities for safe storage of expressed
breastmilk. All other staff members are trained to support their colleagues to
breastfeed by adopting a positive and accepting attitude.

Breastfeeding Committee
Chairman : Dr. Lhemmuel M. Fiesta, MD, DPPS ( Pedia Consultant )
Co-Chairman : Dra. Aimee F. Pacariem, MD ( OB-Gyne Consultant )
Secretary : Ms. Agnes Languayan, RN ( Ward Breastfeeding Nurse )
Members : Ms. Yves Pueblos, RN ( Emergency Room Breastfeeding Nurse )
Ms. Angelina Martin, RN ( OPD Breastfeeding Nurse )
Ms. Joylyn Camasa, RM ( Delivery Room Breastfeeding Midwife )
Ms. Marynel Falle
Ms. Melinda Galang