momma dilemmas

just when i'm starting to appreciate the real benefits of breastmilk, i am faced yet again with another challenge. i've heard so many good things about breastmilk but i didn't know it would give me so many headaches as well.

my first dilemma was i didn't have milk when uno was born. they didn't want him to take formula so to feed him, we just gave him this water solution of some sort. no wonder he was crying all the time and just wouldn't sleep. i really thought he was getting his nourishment. that's when i told myself, it's time to drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. (still struggling with this rule actually.)

the 2nd problem was my boobs were too big. i think i went from 32b to 36c! i swear, the girls were just too heavy for me during the first few months. i already had back problems and they just made it worse.

then came the third, bml (breastmilk leakage). disposable pads are a big help -- when you're dressed. getting a leak just when you are about to towel yourself dry was too darn frustrating.

on uno's 3rd and 4th months, i struggled with him. why? coz he had breast preference. my left boob had more milk but for some reason he liked my right more. that left me with one boob bigger than the other on most days. not a pretty sight!

going through all that was worth it, knowing that uno will benefit from my milk. but to face another dilemma that i think i cannot handle, would be too much.

so what is it? well, he still wants my milk that's for sure, as long as it's from a bottle. seems like he prefers silicone than mine. grrrr. why would he want a hard teat in the first place?! 

ever since i introduced uno to formula, i have this rule that whenever i'm with him, he will only "feed" from me. nowadays, that's a daunting task. he just wouldn't. the only time he feeds from me is when he's asleep. maybe coz he's too sleepy and hungry to care.

the more he rejects my milk, the more my milk will diminish. until eventually, he'd prefer formula and i'd stop producing milk. noooooooooooooooooooooooo! that's just too much. initially, i only intended to breastfeed uno until 6 months. but after realizing what the real benefits of my milk are, i want to breastfeed him for as long as i can. 

i don't really know what the benefits of breastmilk are to uno. from what i've read, experts say it's better than formula. honestly, i wouldn't really know. all i know is:

1. i can save a lot of money from breastmilk because it's free! it comes from me.
2. when we're not at home, we don't need to lug around a very heavy bag with milk bottles. i just whip out my nursing cover and snap open my nursing bra and we're good.
3. my milk has just the right temperature -- not too hot and not at all cold. just warm and perfect.
4. my many sleepless nights are less stressful coz i don't need to get up every single time uno wakes up and needs to feed. same as #2, i just snap open my bra and that's it. i can continue with my sleep while uno eats at the same time. (if i haven't mentioned it, i practice co-sleeping).
5. breastfeeding time is bonding time. it's uno's time with me, myself, and i. no one else.
6. and last but not the least, i cannot keep uno all to myself. he needs to interact and play with other people. he needs to build relationships with his cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. uno needs friends and relatives so he can learn how to play, laugh, and love more. what's the connection with breastfeeding you ask? the activities that we do together, he can do them with other people. but i am proud to say that breastfeeding is the only activity that i do not share with anyone else. it's that one special thing that no one else can provide him but me.

i really would like to breastfeed longer. i just wish he'd prefer my soft (you know), than the silicone ones. i don't think i ever experienced post partum depression but if uno stops feeding from me, i think that would be the day.

momma dilemmas aside, seeing this just makes me smile and stop worrying for a bit.

the great aventure

happy breastfeeding awareness month!

i know, i know...i'm probably the only  mommy blogger out there who has not posted anything about this special month. but, better late than never, right? and besides, we still have a few more days to go. ;-)

you may not know it, but i am an advocate of breastmilk. uno was exclusively breastfed for 3 months.  the 1st 2 months were easy coz i was on mat leave -- we were practically together 24/7! the 3rd month was a bit difficult since i already had to go back to work. if only i could supply his demands, he wouldn't be taking any formula until his pedia tells me to do so. it just so happened that when he turned 3 months, "harvesting" at least 10 oz a day at work has been a challenge. 

still, i am happy to say that even when at work, i can breastfeed uno. and nope, i don't bring him to work. i can still provide him the breastmilk nutrition all thanks to my bffs (breast feeding friends).

and here they are...

 avent isis manual breast pump. never been used

hand me down from my sister. budget saver!

(sorry about the recycled photo from this post)

 avent via storage system

uno may not be feeding directly from me but my bffs have been a great help in my goal of breastfeeding him for as long as i can.

avent is just the best. i simply love it. they're like mommy's little helpers coz they make our lives easier and cost-efficient. see for yourself.

source: avent 2008 product catalogue from ljs.com.ph

awesome isn't it? i love the idea that a 4 oz feeding bottle can be changed to a sippy cup and a via cup can turn into a feeding bottle. bonkers! (sorry, just shallow like that and you know, still experiencing the 1st time-mom excitement)

what's even more awesome is that avent has a promotion this month!

source: ljs.com.ph

just to give you an idea...

this retails for php8,199.75

source: avent 2008 product catalogue from ljs.com.ph

now available for only php5,739. 

or how about this...

source: avent 2008 product catalogue from ljs.com.ph

for only php3,709?

if you've been eyeing an avent product for the longest time, i think now's the best time to grab it. *wink*

happy shopping! and again, happy breastfeeding!

tricks of the trade

finally!

if carrying proves to be exhausting at some point, there are other ways to help with baby's crying.

a mobile in a rocking playpen.

a baby hammock.

and lots, and lots of love (and patience).

the 3rd one is a given. we love our babies! but before you resort to the 1st two, check if:

1. your baby's hungry.

2. his diaper is soiled.

3. you didn't forget to burp him.

i hope this helps!

care to share more tricks of the trade?

the turn of the century

i was ecstatic the 1st time i saw him do it.

but i didn't see him do it again until the other night. i thought, maybe the bed's just not even. to my delight, this is now one of his favorite moves.

isn't this exciting?!

i've only seen him turn to the right and he likes sleeping in this position, just like me! actually, he can now get himself on his tummy but he can't pry his right arm loose. *scary* 

i'm still trying to figure out how to help him. any tips?

x rated

was only planning to stay at my mom's house until wednesday but decided to stay 'til the weekend. we're "testing" out the new nanny. ;-) i ran out of clothes to wear since i only brought 3 outfits with me. the pants are mine (luckily some of my laundry were already done), the white shirt is my sister's, and that xl sized gray thing i'm wearing is actually a hoodie. (sorry for the blue colored photo. took it inside the classroom while waiting for the trainees to finish their exam.)

anyway, don't you think my boobs are too big for me? (and they look like they're all over the place. yikes! better bra please!)  i've always complained about not having the right boob size and having a whole lotta booty. and now that i'm breastfeeding, my boobs are just way too big and my butt is now flat. life is indeed unfair. 

imagine being called a porn star. eep. no thanks. i'd rather have an ample behind than big bumpers. oh well. i guess when it comes to breastfeeding, the bigger, the better. 

p.s. i can't stop picturing this in my head: little red riding hood scene. "mommy, what big boobs you have!" "the better to feed you with, my dear." lol.

is there a fairy godmother out there?

coz i really need a wish right now.

when her fairy godmother appeared, cinderella was crying and her clothes were torn. my clothes may still be in tact and i may not be shedding a tear, but i really, desperately need my fairy godmother. if i don't have one, can i borrow hers?

these past few days, it's like i'm going thru hard labor.

1. work in the morning.
2. give uno a bath when i get home.
3. feed him. put him to sleep
4. clean and sterilize the used bottles, teat, breast pump, cups, etc
5. wake up every 2 hours to feed him.
6. wake up early to do #1.

i have no qualms with 1-3 and 5 -- those are my bonding sessions with my little prince. all i want is for someone else to do #4.

well, what i really want is a nanny for uno.

we've gone through 4 nannies in a month's time. wow. 1 lasted for 3 days, the other was just a day...i thought the 3rd was a charm since she stayed for 2 weeks until she finally said she couldn't handle it anymore. and finally, the 4th lasted only for 2 days.

reasons for not staying? they can't handle my baby coz he's too big for a 3 month old boy and moves a lot.

sigh.

i wish...

...i was rich so i wouldn't have to work and i can stay at home to take care of uno.
or
...i can work at home.
or (to make it more realistic)
...i can find the perfect nanny.

unlike cinderella's granted wish, i hope mine won't just last until midnight.

my milk cafe experience

aps gets 5,000 pogi points for coming up with this.

is it a very small office?

a loner's pantry? ;-)

a detention room perhaps?


presenting...(drum roll please)

...

...

...

...

yipee!

it's just a cubicle but it works for me.

 

i like the swivel chair. it's not as comfy as a sofa but at 

least i don't have to stand up (wearing high heels) for at 

least 20 minutes just to pump milk.

 there's a mirror so you can check and fix yourself

after all that "pumping" action...lol.

mood lights! to help you relax and get into your rhythm. 

it also has 110 and 220v sockets for electric pumps.

t

there's a makeshift table for your breast pump lunch box...

there's a hook on each side so you can hang your 

shirt or jacket.

and the most important thing we need when it comes to breastmilk...

 ...a breastmilk refrigerator! i hope i won't see any

tupperware with rice and viand. =D

 

i know i've posted too many pictures but this experience won't be complete without taking pix of myself. *wide grin*

ewww. oiliness is next too motherhood... =P

i like the poster! bravo! it shares a few of the benefits of

breastfeeding and how you can still continue this

even after returning to work.

a must: mirror shot!

more flyers that talk about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

see that one on the right? i was able to "harvest" around 7

ounces. sabi nga ng friend ko, "good job, mum!" hihi

it's super cold inside so make sure to cover up. ;-) the cubicle's door is facing several workstations so don't forget to check the lock too.

it may not mean anything to the 9,000 (give or take) employees of aps, but it means a lot to me. it's a good thing i remembered it was already up and running, otherwise i would have waited for the disabled restroom to be available... then i would need to ask someone from maintenance to spray lysol inside...wait another 5 minutes or so for the spray to subside. and as mentioned, pump milk standing up wearing high heels. plus of course there's the pantry refrigerator with all sorts of things. yikes.

kudos to aps for being an advocate of breastfeeding (and supporting the expanded breastfeeding promotion act). i'm proud to be part of aegis... (can i mention that?)

always remember, breast is best! hmmm. i wonder when they'll allow us to have lactation periods... so  lunch time is used for eating instead of harvesting. is that asking too much? hehe...

startin' him young

he probably wouldn't understand it 'til he turns 5 or even older but i still did it nonetheless... and i'm so glad i did!

still wonderin' what it is?

it's a bdo junior savers club account for uno. weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

it didn't really matter to me what the product has to offer. i didn't even bother to check out other banks. as long as i can open an account for uno the most convenient way possible, that's good enough for me. our building's bdo branch was the best option and i was just too excited to wait another day.

to open a junior savers club account, you only need the following:

- your baby's birth certificate

- (1) 1x1 picture of your baby

- (2) of your IDs

- (1) 1x1 pic of yourself

- php500 (to open an account)

i had uno's birth certificate and 2 of my IDs (license and company ID) photo copied. i  also got him 1x1 and 2x2 pictures. just bring the original copy of your baby's birth certificate so they can compare them. bring your IDs too, of course. isn't that easy?

according to the bank personnel who assisted me, the maintaining balance can be as low as php100. this is still subject to verification, but i know i heard her right. (i wonder why i didn't ask her then.)

the bdo website also indicates that the maintaining balance has to be at php500 for it to earn a .625% interest. like i said, i don't even know what other banks can offer, but as long as uno's account can earn interest, i'm a happy customer!

all of uno's monetary gifts are now in his account.  yey! i will leave it up to him to decide  what he wants to do with his money. in the meantime, i need to make sure his account will grow. so aside from diapers, milk formula (which he would eventually get) and other things, i need to set aside an uno fund for his savings. time to budget, budget, budget!

ooooh, i can't wait to see him deposit money that he saved himself. i also can't wait to see him get all excited to withdraw money! hihi...

so that's done, finally! next on my to do list for uno: passport! wish me luck!

sent from above

**super late post**

i got a blow-up babies (bub) free photo session card from my ob when i was still pregnant. she gave it to me after one of my prenatal checkups coz she was just amazed by my tummy. here's what i posted in facebook after that encounter:

don't you just love her? she's so chic and cool. i'm so glad i switched. ;-)

anyway, a friend's boyfriend gladly took pix of me in all my pregnant glory. so i decided to keep the card for when my baby's a few weeks old. i remember seeing a black & white photo of heidi klum with baby lou sulola who was just days old. (sorry, been trying to look for it.) it was pure love and i knew i wanted something like it. the only problem was, i didn't have  that same awesome body and rockin' flat tummy as ms. klum. so, here's what i came up with instead...

i wore a white spaghetti strapped top and skirt and was brave (or maybe just stupid) enough to remove all of uno's clothes...yes, including his diaper! this was actually the 2nd shot and uno was becoming uncooperative coz of all the lights flashing. still, i absolutely love how the pic came out! and to quote a friend, "parang madonna and child ah." *heaven*

let it be known though that before uno's 3rd pose, he poop'd on my white outfit. talk about perfect timing! ;-)

a baby photo shoot is not complete without any kind of wings included. so for uno's 1st shot, my heart just melted coz of his cuteness!

my truly adorable little angel! i couldn't stop laughing though while his pic was being taken. the wings are longer than him and since it was too big for him to wear, they just placed it on his back. clever! 

and finally, the last shot was from a pic i saw from their album. i liked the simplicity and how it shows how fragile a baby is.

those are my mom's hands. doesn't uno look so innocent here? sigh. i should have placed a ribbon here somewhere with the text: handle with care.

the card entitled me to a free photo session worth php500 plus a php200 discount on photo printing. each 8x10 sheet costs php900 for non-members. i got 3 sheets so i could get a free cd with around 15 unedited photos plus the edited ones. all in all i only shelled out php2500 instead of 3200. thanks for the card, doktora!

happy sunday!

i heart the boncho

i'm so loving my purple mosaic boncho! since uno is still exclusively breastfed, i've been using it a lot whenever we're out and about.

i can wear a t-shirt and still breastfeed in public! the boncho can cover my front and back while uno feeds. plus the stretchy fabric makes it so comfy.

even when inside a breastfeeding station, i still

prefer to wear the boncho. you see that round lump? 

that's uno's head. don't worry, he can still

breathe.

bought it for php565 from indigo manila. get yours now!

clean is in

here's what i used to make uno's giveaways...

yes, i was the one who made them. so, what's the giveaway?



will post the b day pix later.

my latest achievement

uno already celebrated his half month birthday and still i have not blogged about how each day has been. i hope i get to blog about his developments and all the pictures i've taken...soon!

i just want to share about my latest achievement in the world of pumping breastmilk. this is my 3rd attempt and i'm so happy with the results.

each container has around 3 oz of 

breastmilk...and that's from each breast!

i hope i can make it a habit to pump milk each day. i feel like my breasts are going to explode with all the milk in it plus i don't want to waste milk and just let it leak. so, here's to more pumping action! ;-)

cheers!

~oohmomma