Who says having a baby bump can’t be fun?

‘Preggies’ of all ages from the different districts covered by Rural Health Unit (RHU) II are set to disprove that, as they attend a series of ‘Buntis Parties’ in different venues starting on October 3 and lasting until November 15.

The first one was held at Wawa Elementary School Covered Court, and it was attended by 52 participants from Wawa, Darawey, Pugo, Amancosiling Sur, Amancosiling Norte, and San Gabriel 1st.

Dubbed “Araw ng mga Buntis: Journey of Life/Lakbay ng Buhay sa Unang 1000 Days,” the party aims to teach maternal and infant healthcare to the mainstream population. “Dapat mapangalagaan ng maigi si baby sa umpisa pa lang upang paglabas at paglaki nito, ito ay maging maliksi at matalino,” RHU II’s head Dr. Adrienne Estrada told the invitees.

The event also hopes to debunk commonly held but harmful myths. “For example, there are those among newly birthed women who unknowingly discard colostrum — the first milk produced which is high in antibodies — by throwing it away, believing it to be dirty,” revealed Municipal Nutritionist Venus Bueno.

In his speech read by Dr. Nicolas Miguel, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao commended the National Nutrition Council, RHU II and Municipal Nutrition Action Office for undertaking the project, saying we cannot overestimate the importance of mainstreaming the knowledge gained in caring for pregnant women and their babies.

In his own message, Dr. Miguel could not help but advise the women about their current state based on the wisdom he had gained from the field as a veteran doctor and hospital administrator. “Procreation is not recreation. You are carrying within you new life, which is God’s gift. Manlapod impannginew yo sirin, aroen yo tan ya balon bilay, ta pian walay unsublay ed sikayo tan aroen to kimet no untakken kayo.”

“Abuo tan ya bilay ed impanplano yon san-asawa. Kumon et alagaan yo’y anak yo anggad ibaleg to pian angapo’y umapaway naani ya agnanaral o mandodroga.”

Among the activities lined up for this party are zumba dancing, pertinent lectures, laboratory tests, hepatitis B screenings, dental checkups by Dr. Zaida Alcantara (“because pregnant women are prone to dental caries”), and consultations – all for free. Also part of the treats included a game of draw lots with fun surprise gifts as well as giveaways comprising of one month supply of ferrous sulfate and folic acid plus milk for the would-be new moms.

This event came on the heels of the first-ever one-time-big-time Buntis Congress that the RHU I organized earlier on October 3 at the Balon Bayambang Events Center.