X
TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Together Against RSV
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

Mum sends her breast milk from Singapore to Philippines, "I want to give it to them even though I'm far from home"

4 min read
Mum sends her breast milk from Singapore to Philippines, "I want to give it to them even though I'm far from home"

Distance wasn’t an issue for this OFW mother in Singapore, when it came to breastfeeding her children. Find out how she did it.

Meet Felirose Bartolome, a medical technician who has been working in Singapore for the past 8 years. She is also a mother of 2 adorable children. Her children live in the Philippines, far away from her. It is the plight of many a foreign worker in Singapore. What is extraordinary though, is how this OFW mother in Singapore has been breastfeeding her children, from outside her country!

Read this beautiful story of a mum’s perseverance and love.

How this OFW mother in Singapore breastfeeds her children

It was year 2016 when Felirose gave birth to her first child. She used her maternity leave to be with her baby. She also got her child a passport so she could breastfeed longer, but after a month, Felirose had to be separated from her baby.

“You know the bond between a mother and a child…especially when your baby looks at you when you’re breastfeeding, I didn’t want to lose that, but I needed to work because I’m a breadwinner”

This mummy had only planned to breastfeed her baby for 3 months but since she had a lot of milk, she continued to breastfeed using a breast pump.

Even when she is busy with work, she still follows her breastfeeding schedule every 3 to 4 hours. She makes sure to send her milk to her little ones. She saves the milk in milk bags, preserves them in the freezer and sends it to the Philippines using a cooler.

“It proved to be comforting for me emotionally because even though I’m far away from home I can still provide them the best of me, my nutrients and antibodies in the milk,” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN.

OFW mother in Singapore

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

“I just want to give myself to my children…”

Because there is a chance the frozen milk might get spoiled while shipping, she requests other Filipino mums who are going back to the Philippines to carry it for her.

40 milk storage bags that each contain 180 ml of breast milk are inside the cooler that gets checked-in on airplane as baggage.

Felirose pays her fellow Filipino mums an extra 20 kg baggage allowance to make sure her milk gets sent to the Philippines safe and sound. From the airport it then gets delivered to their house in Dasmarińas, Cavite.

Even though the milk is being delivered far away, it is usually still frozen when it arrives. “In the event that my milk thaws, that’s the first milk that my mum will give my baby”. She still does this, now that she has 2 children – a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old.

“Actually, I wasn’t thinking about the money when I was sending my milk” Felirose says, “I have a supportive husband and I just want to give myself to my children through my breast milk. I want to give it to them even though I’m far from home.”

OFW mother in Singapore

This OFW mother in Singapore saves a lot of breast milk. She also gives the excess to friends who lack breast milk. PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

Felirose tries to go home every month or brings her child with her mother to Singapore.

She also says that she wouldn’t be able to continue breastfeeding without the support of her family.

“Thank you for never getting tired of taking care of my child, for hugging them while they sleep at night. Even though I’m far, they can still feel my hug… Thank you, Lord, for giving me very loving and supportive parents.”

We salute this mum, whose love and dedication has made the impossible possible. More power to you, mummy!

*This article was originally published on the theAsianparent Philippines. Translated from Tagalog by Richelle Croley Morana.

Also READ: Read why this Singapore mum still breastfeeds her 6-year-old

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/07/07/18/from-singapore-with-love-ang-breastfeeding-journey-ng-long-distance-mom

Partner Stories
Want to Know Every Busy Mum’s Secret Weapon for Healthy, Happy Kids?
Want to Know Every Busy Mum’s Secret Weapon for Healthy, Happy Kids?
6 Best Baby Food Pouches in Singapore for Optimal Nutrition and Convenience
6 Best Baby Food Pouches in Singapore for Optimal Nutrition and Convenience
Straight-A Chicken Essence Helps Your Child Stay Focused and Study Better
Straight-A Chicken Essence Helps Your Child Stay Focused and Study Better
Unleashing the Power of MFGM: Clinically Proven to Enhance Your Child’s Long-Term IQ and EQ Development
Unleashing the Power of MFGM: Clinically Proven to Enhance Your Child’s Long-Term IQ and EQ Development

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Candice Lim Venturanza

  • Home
  • /
  • Pumping Milk & Storage
  • /
  • Mum sends her breast milk from Singapore to Philippines, "I want to give it to them even though I'm far from home"
Share:
  • Bolehkah Bayi 9 Bulan Makan Nasi Utuh? Simak Penjelasan Ini

    Bolehkah Bayi 9 Bulan Makan Nasi Utuh? Simak Penjelasan Ini

  • Ask The Expert: How to Promote Healthy Eating Habits to Picky Eaters?

    Ask The Expert: How to Promote Healthy Eating Habits to Picky Eaters?

  • How to Increase Platelets in Children, Parents Need to Know!

    How to Increase Platelets in Children, Parents Need to Know!

  • Bolehkah Bayi 9 Bulan Makan Nasi Utuh? Simak Penjelasan Ini

    Bolehkah Bayi 9 Bulan Makan Nasi Utuh? Simak Penjelasan Ini

  • Ask The Expert: How to Promote Healthy Eating Habits to Picky Eaters?

    Ask The Expert: How to Promote Healthy Eating Habits to Picky Eaters?

  • How to Increase Platelets in Children, Parents Need to Know!

    How to Increase Platelets in Children, Parents Need to Know!

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
  • Family Occasions
  • Lifestyle
  • Normal Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
  • Trying To Conceive
  • News
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it