DOH frowns on use of pacifiers in birth clinics

Giving newborn babies pacifiers to keep them from crying is unacceptable especially in birthing centers, a health official said Tuesday.

 

Health Undersecretary Janette Garin made the remark amid reports that a maternity house in Cebu used pacifiers to stop newborns from crying.

 

A maternity clinic recently hit the headlines after the parents of one of the newborns complained that their baby's mouth was plastered with tape to keep him from crying.  

 

The management explained that the tape was actually to prevent a pacifier from falling from his mouth.

 

“The Department (of Health) strongly supports breastfeeding. We do not allow giving pacifiers to newborns,” Garin told GMA News Online. 

 

She said the health professionals should check on the baby and address the cause of crying instead of just giving a pacifier.  

 

“Hindi pwede yung pagbibigay ng pacifier lalo na sa birthing centers. Natural na umiiyak ang baby dahil part of reflex niya yun. Maaari siyang gutom, giniginaw, may dumi o kinagat ng insekto, there will always be a reason at dapat hanapin ang dahilan at solusyunan yun,” she said.

 

'If they do that, they are doing it [for] convenience kasi dapat hinahanap nila yung cause ng pag-iyak e,” said Garin, a medical doctor trained in obstetrics and gynecology.

 

Unfortunately, the DOH cannot give direct sanction to maternity houses or birthing centers that give pacifiers to newborns.  However, the practice can affect a facility's chances license renewal.

 

“Itatanong ko pa sa legal department kung ano ang pwedeng gawin pero we can actually write a letter warning them na bawal magbigay ng pacifier sa newborn,” he said.

 

Garin believed it is time to revisit the Expanded Breastfeeding Act of 2009 which discourages hospitals and doctors from recommending infant formulas for newborn babies.

 

“Sa law ngayon e milk formula lang ang bawal, baka kailangang irevisit ang batas para maging violation na rin ang pagbibigay ng pacifier sa newborn,” she said.  —NB, GMA News