Philippine Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. Monday backed the setting up of "lactation stations" in the work places and even in public places where working mothers can breastfeed their babies.

Pimentel said the lactation stations should be adequately equipped with the necessary tools and facilities by government agencies concerned, as well as by private firms that employ the workers

In the wake of the ongoing "World Breastfeeding Week", the United Nations has kicked off a new theme for this year called "Breastfeeding: The First Hour", to encourage new mothers to breastfeed right after birth.

Two United Nations agencies namely UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN World Health Organization (WHO) are urging new mothers to nurse their babies immediately after birth to prevent a significant number of neonatal deaths in developing countries

Attorney-General John Hatzistergos has announced new laws in the state of New South Wales, saying he was concerned some mothers, especially those returning to work, stopped breastfeeding because they feared discrimination.

Hatzistergos said to reporters Friday, "Unfortunately, there are still some people who retain an unsympathetic attitude towards breastfeeding in public, including the workplace

A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that nearly three-quarters of new mothers in the United States are breast-feeding their babies. However, the figure falls short of national objectives of "exclusive breastfeeding" as many mothers are switching over to infant formula too soon.

The survey, which is published Thursday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), found that only about 30 percent of new moms are feeding their babies breast milk alone three months after birth. At six months, only 11 percent are breast-feeding exclusively

Advocates of breastfeeding in the Philippines will lead 20 other countries in the first-ever global synchronized breastfeeding event next week. Their goal is to promote breastfeeding as still being best for babies.

Organizers of Nurturers of the Earth said the Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide event will gather mothers from 21 nations across the globe. On Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. in their respective time zones, mothers will breastfeed their babies