Happy Breastfeeding Month!
August 17, 2012 § 7 Comments
This post is not just about Breastfeeding but also about NewlywedsAtWork (N@W). Ok backgrounder. N@W is an offshoot of WeddingsAtWork (W@W). We have our W@W Website and our W@W eGroup who live, talk & breathe wedding preps day in and day out. Since it is inevitable for the members who are married to discuss others things after their wedding, we created N@W, in N@W we discuss anything and everything, showbiz, recipes, shopping, travels, investments and whole lot more but of course majorly about being parents. N@W is my magic place, my solace, my refuge, my go to place. Things I cant post in FB as they are too personal I can easily post in N@W. My motherhood journey is made doubly and triply better because I got N@Wies to share and enjoy it with. I was able to successfully and easily breastfeed solely because of N@W. I actually hesitate blogging about N@W because I am not keen on making it a bigger group than it already is… ssshhhh (di ko talaga binigay ang link noh)
Ok now that you understand how much N@W means to me, then you can easily understand why I wanted to organize the N@W Breastfeed Marathon Shoot. Am actually dumbfounded why I didnt think of this last year or the year before. I was tagged by Stan and Jenny on their Breastfeed Shoot Project and it was just then when it hit me why not make one for N@W. On Aug 2 I sent some text message here and there, emailed the N@Wies asking if anybody’s interested and by Aug 4 the shoot was set and we had 16 mommies (with varied ages of babies from 2 months old to 3 years old and we also have a twins in the set, galing!) which grew to 20 and 19 made it 🙂 We didnt have a theme nor a look nor a peg we just wanted a breastfeeding shot so we can join in celebrating Breastfeeding Month and at the same time have the N@Wie moms have a nice portrait of them breastfeeding for posterity. Hopefully it would help make them ambassadors of breastfeeding among their own peers.
How the shoot came about and thank you’s… First to Stan Ong for saying yes he is willing to do it; to Abie & Clarice for saying yes it is a great idea and they will join… those were my first yesses and it fueled me to go on so when schedule with Stan didnt work out, my next yesses came in the form of Lisa and then John Mateos Ong. Aug 3 when the studio we were eyeing still didnt reply I got a yes from Nelwin agreeing to let us use his studio Cocoon then Chichi came in to say she would want to put some quick make up on the moms, all this while the excited mommies kept emailing they wanna join. Then finally I spoke with Jong and Monique everything was easily set, Life by ImagineNation na daw bahala, then ako pa ang choosy I asked sino pipicture haha when he said Arlene of The Boudoir Dolls I knew it will be perfect na, then he said we can shoot in his place where there is daylight, where there is a big space and he can send us photogs (with S) aside from Arlene to shoot us. And just like that the shoot was finalized na. Special shout out to Bea, Olive & Brianna for being so gaan and so accommodating with all of us being such stage moms and dads, sorry walang kain break atat na stage parents andun eh! Special shout out to Chichi who didnt have along line aba minsan sila pa naghihintay ng next! Iba kayo Team Chichi (am proud to say before she became a professional make up artist W@Wie din siya)! And special shout out to Monique who made things happen, a day before she texted me what do we need, I said water and she had a water dispenser and cups ready, I said we will bring snacks na lang and she had tables for snacks ready, I told the group come early then let kids play, she made a play area with mats and provided toys for the kids too. Diba ang smooth!
Day of the Shoot! It was so much fun, no stress, no complain, no I WISH, no WE SHOULD HAVEs during the shoot and I was truly amazed how it all just worked out. We were even able to take advantage of the shoot and not only did we have breastfeeding shots but also kiddie portraits and family portraits as well. Each family got to shot at all the 3 set ups (black background set up; white background set up and the daylight set up) and we even had Jeff & Lisa take behind the scene shots while waiting for our turns. We didnt have diva moms who wanted to hog time, we didnt have bratty kids who ruined the mood of other kids (oh of course we had whiny kids but none that whined the whole time) I was wondering how come this shoot was so smooth and my only conclusion was because it was a family, we didnt care if a mom had to singit and shoot first kasi her kids suddenly went to the sofa na, it didnt matter if I am the next but a baby is suddenly feeding na so siya na una nag fe-feed na eh, it didnt matter if some had a go at the set several times and some once lang. It was a FAMILY and there was so much love in the set. There so so much love that we ended up posting and texting endless thank you’s the whole night via phone and via FB as we all felt the magic. Before I get too sappy… here please enjoy our shoot. Am proud to say N@W has been and will continue to be a big tool, resource, support to breastfeeding mommies.
Mommy Abie feeding Baby Raja (7 months)
Mommy Carolyn feeding Baby Carl (10 months)
Mommy Cheng feeding Baby Andric (11 months)
Mommy Chichi feeding Baby Marco (5 months)
Mommy Pittipat feeding Baby Janina (32 months)
Mommy Angela feeding Baby Dylan (11 months)
Mommy Bing feeding Baby Rafa (7 months)
Mommy Liza feeding Baby Nikko (14 months)
Mommy Ivy feeding Rafa (8 months)
Mommy Mona feeding Baby Lara (2 months)
Mommy Maricar feeding Baby Joaquin (24 months)
Mommy Kate feeding Baby Jacob (16 months)
Mommy Clarice feeding Baby Jia (49 months)
Mommy Monique feeding Baby Ezra (1 month old)
Mommy Hannah feeding Jaime Luiz (35 months)
Me feeding Baby Laya (28 months)
Our finale, Mommy Nikki tandem feeding Babies Fonso / Sancho (21 months)
🙂
To the mommies… N@W is happy to be able to give you this portrait. May you find these pictures when your kids are all grown up and be transported back to this wonderful chapter of your journey as a mom. If these photos help convince even just one of your friend to breastfeed then what a great gift we gave back to the world.
And Happy Breastfeeding Month to all.
Read Mommy Chichi’s account on the marathon shoot and her breastfeeding journey.
Read Mommy Tina of TrulyRichMom’s blog on this.
Arugaan needs help :)
September 20, 2011 § 4 Comments
Last week, while watching tv shows I’ve downloaded parang I was surprised, bakit may time ako manood at nakakapagbasa ako? then I remembered may blog pala ako na di ko na pinapansin… I was so surprised to realize I forgot all about this blog. Oh well, I finished the entire season last night. Also wala akong ma blog na pwede kong gawin in super short time, until I got an email from Velvet (yes the very person I majorly credit for my smooth breastfeeding journey) regarding Arugaan and the Breastfeeding counselor program she is part of. Ok read about it at Jenny’s blog na lang kasi dun ko din lang ico-copy eh. But yun nga am hoping you guys will be encouraged to share, give & help out maski maliit na amount it will go a long way if there is enough people to give. Come on help na. Imagine these Breastfeeding Peer Counselor goes from barangay to barangay in the hope of teaching counselors per area so each barangay will have a peer they can go to for breastfeeding support. We are talking about the very people who really needs to breastfeed, who stand to gain a lot if they do. I really am hoping you get your support for this.
If you have whatever goodies kikay kit, hand towels, toothbrush, toiletry kits, alcohol, basic medicines. Also items for babies like baby clothes, lampins, toiletry kits, etc as incentive for their games during the trainings. Let’s make it fun for them para ma enganyo silang tuloy tuloyin na. I believe super laki ang masosolve na problem if the urban poor will breastfeed.
Please help pray too for the success of this project.
Please email Velvet of Arugaan to discuss donations. I will personally vouch for her integrity and honesty 🙂
What a great way to be back to blogging 🙂
A Breastfeeding Year in Pictures
September 2, 2011 § 9 Comments
This entry was supposed to be up yesterday (the other day na pala kasi lumampas ako ulit) last day ng Breastfeeding month. The idea came to me after I saw Clarice’s breastfeeding picture, kala ko madali lang, just grab the pictures from FB then post isang entry na agad. Nyeks di pala kasi I would remember may iba pa palang picture so hahanapin ko muna sa external disk ko, tapos chineck ko din iPhone album ko if I have more etc, then finding out what date the picture was taken etc. Tapos siningit ko muna yung entry for Didda’s Bday ayun naiwan na ito.
Anyway, I am not naman wanting to have breastfeeding pictures but sometimes we dont have time to wait till Laya finishes feeding and take the picture so if on the go, picture na kung picture keber kung feeding siya o hindi. I guess lucky ako kasi unang breastfeeding picture ko si Stan ang kumuha (am comfy with him kasi asawa yan ni Jenny na breastfeeding advocate so he had seen his share na, besides when I breastfeed for sure walang exposure involved (I am super not comfy seeing exposure while breastfeeding, I super do not like it, please dont impose your boobies to others naman na), also sayang yung 1 hour allotment sa Stork Studio session so maski Laya needs a break to feed ayy picture time pa din yun hahaha) tapos umani pa ng puri yung shot so na flatter naman ako.
Here goes:
My very first Breastfeeding Pictures na umani ng comments sa FB | Laya at 3 months (photo by Stan Ong for Stork Studio | nursing wear by Plume) June 2010
Wedding ni CJ & Ira nag gate crash si Laya dito, nasalubong namin si Oly di ko alam paano sasabihin am feeding so nagpose na lang ako 🙂 | Laya at 4 months (photo by Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto | nursing wear by Plume | Santuario San Jose) July 2010
Breastfeeding Month 2010 Latch’s Exhibit in Eastwood Mall | Laya at 5 months (photo by Didda | nursing wear by Plume) August 2010
6th month Photo shoot (photo by Stan for Stork Studio | nursing wear by Au Lait) September 2010
I love this shot taken by Didda via his iPhone, banca ride back to Club Paradise | Laya at 9 months December 2010
At Bataan | Laya at 10 months (photo by Didda |nursing wear by Mamaway) January 2011
Mae’s Baby Shower at Threelogy Office | Laya at 10 months (photo by Cielo? | nursing wear by Mamaway) January 2011
Circus Act at home | Laya at 11 months (photo by Kite | nursing sleepwear by Mothercare) February 2011
Sydney Harbor Bridge & Opera House at night | Laya at 15 months (photo by John Sudario | nursing wear by Mamaway) May 2011
Bondi Beach, Australia | Laya at 15 months (photo by Didda | nursing wear Mamaway) May 2011
Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall | Laya at 15 months (photo by Leng & Didda | nursing wear Mamaway) May 2011
Sydney’s Darling Harbor | Laya at 15 months (photo by Kite | nursing wear by Blissful Babes sleepwear actually yan) May 2011
Ninonuevo-Reyes Mansion at Lyla’s 1st Birthday Party | Laya at 15months (photo by Rey Tuazon | nursing wear by Au Lait) May 2011
Sorry this is just an indulgence post. It’s me patting myself on the back. There’s no more picture of me feeding the past few months kasi Laya feeds mostly at night time now.
Thanks. I doubt if next breastfeeding month am still this active, oh well. Happy Breastfeeding Month to all!
Guide to Breast Pumps
August 4, 2011 § 7 Comments
I am also asked every now and then what breast pump I use. I got several friends who also bought the same brand but some friends find it too expensive. Although I think majority in the group uses Medela pumps (I used MedelaFreestyle) I remember reading about other well recommended breast pumps that are cheaper in N@W so I asked them to recommend and tell more about their breast pumps. Here’s what I got:
Ameda Purely Yours
From Meng: I used Purely Yours of Ameda. It’s basically the same with Lansinoh, but brand new is a bit pricier than Lansinoh (am not sure why). I wanted to buy din Medela sana noon, but my cousin advised that Ameda is still better and a lot cheaper.
From Maize: I’m using Lansinoh double electric pump for about 10 months already. It’s so cheap but works really great. I bought it from Mi’Ann of Babymama. During the first few weeks post partum, I had difficulty latching Brent. Kaya I resorted to pumping. I was able to exclusively pump for less than two weeks then after that, Brent learned to latch na. That pump helped me produce a lot of milk during the days na di ako makapag-direct feeding. Now that I’m working, nagagamit ko siya 3-4x a day. It usually takes 3-4 months before having to change valves. Kaya I would say laking tipid ko sa pump na yun and di na-sacrifice ang quality. I’m able to pump 16-20 oz during my 9-hour work. I really recommend Lansinoh double electric pump to budget-conscious working moms like me. Very portable, lightweight, easy to assemble, nice color, fits all standard size bottle, inexpensive, and very good quality. 🙂 Bought it for 7k, with 3 pairs of white valves free. Complete spare part kit is 1500 if needed to be replaced. I use it 3 to 4x every workday. But during the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding, I used it every 2hrs round the clock.
On Manual Pump naman, which I heard is more effective but yung nga with effort talaga.
Manual Pump
From Iya: My very first pump was Pigeon manual. It was ok and effective naman but tried 2 more just to know which one is really effective (more milk being expressed) Price is 2K in Rustan’s. The second one Medela also a manual pump. My friend lent it to me but didn’t like it, it was painful and the membrane was so delicate. May milk din na su-stuck sa mga gilid gilid na mahirap matanggal. The last and what I’m currently using is Avent Manual On-the-Go. I bought online sa TipidBABY pROducts. Can’t remember the exact amount but it was around 3,500-3,800. It has a bag and 2 4oz bottle plus ice pack so you can express it when you’re outside or away from baby. Avent became my favorite. It doesnt hurt when expressing and dami milk lumalabas and mabilis ako natatapos mag express. So for me avent breast pump talaga.
Will add more as they come.
Hope this helped!
Guide to a Breastfeeding Newbie
August 4, 2011 § 2 Comments
I know new moms have so much on their mind and even those who are dead set on breastfeeding sometimes fail because there’s lack of preparation and all sorts of reasons come in. Some find it hard to actually pursue because they thought it will come naturally like pregnancy & birthing. Well it is but there are several bottleneck on the breastfeeding journey that I would advice new moms to learn about it and find out as much as they can. Yes online reads are very helpful but to actually join a support group is the most ideal, aside from you actually get inspiration from those who were able to do it you also get to find your support group. There is nothing more powerful than knowing people who actually did it, I think about my friend who did it and tell myself doable yan ang daming naka gawa eh.
Here are ways to arm yourself with breastfeeding knowledge before birth. (I personally think the work is 5x harder if you start seeking help when you are actually there na. I even think that is 95% why breastfeeding fails, the other 5% is medical condition na.)
1. Attend classes to learn how to breastfeed
a. L.A.T.C.H. (Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help) is a hospital based non-profit organization established in 2006 that offers quality lactation education and peer counseling services to mothers who wish to breastfeed.
LATCH will have a FREE breastfeeding talk at The Medical City (TMC) this August 13, 2011 from 9:00-12;00 nn. Best to attend with partner/support person.
Read about What to Expect During LATCH Classes. I have never been to their class so I have no first hand info.
b. Medela Moms – they are the exclusive and authorized distributor of Medela Breast Pumps here in the Philippines, they also accept repair and check ups for pumps even if bought abroad or thru online sellers. They hold breastfeeding classes in 3 modules. I will try to get hold of their modules and schedule and price too. Will update this as soon as I get them.
Breastfeeding 101: Sept. 10 (1:30pm-3:30pm)
Breastfeeding 202: Oct. 15 (9:00am-11:00am)
Breastfeeding 303: Nov. 19 (8-10am)
To register, just email back or text 0917-5614366. Indicate if you will be accompanied or not (for the snacks’ headcount :). Fee is P500 for 3 classes
c. Join birthing classes, usually those who are interested to do birthing the natural way are also the same people who are very interested in breastfeeding. I know of two groups that offer birthing classes. That of Chiqui Brosas-Hanh & the one from Rome Kanapi. I recommend these classes to first time mom, we took it when we had Kite and we learned a lot, you dont have to want to do Lamaze or anesthesia free birthing o join the class, we joined it to learn about birthing and just know more. Classes included newborn care & touches on breastfeeding too.
Chiqui’s Prepared Childbirth Class
PCC 202
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER CLASS 2011 (4 Sundays)
DATE: (Aug. 21, NO CLASS), Aug. 28, Sept. 4, 11, 18
TIME: 2:00-5:00PM
Prepared Childbirth Class
PCC 203
SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2011 (4 Sundays)
DATE: Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16 (or 23, not confirmed which of the two dates)
TIME: 2:00-5:00PM
2. Join breastfeeding support meet. This is to make the journey fun and to have some people to talk to for support when the going gets tough.
a. La Leche League Phils is formed by Abbie Yabot it is an international support group organization for expectant and nursing parents. Meets twice a month, every 4th Saturday at Mothercare Greenbelt 5 at 1030am, join their facebook page to get latest update re meet schedule it changes sometimes eh. (I attend this one as much as I can)
b. The BreastFriends Support Group – join their YahooGroup for meet update, though the mailing list is inactive you can still post your questions and get the ball rolling. The group meet every 2nd Saturday in Baby & Co. Podium at 10:30am confirm muna if there is a class before attending, they require registration thru text too. (I attended this one a few times)
3. I got Nanay Lita Nery to massage me to prepare me for birthing and also massage me to help me relax and guide me in breastfeeding Kite the first time and again when I had Laya. I heard she no longer accepts pre natal massage because of her busy schedule. Actually I tried getting her services when I wanted to relax but she couldn’t fit me in her schedule. But am glad she made time for my friends who were in dire need, so I am assuming she picks whom to go to base on the urgency of the case and I commend her for that 🙂 Call Nanay Lita at 0918.5557565
Now that you have armed yourself and prepared for it. Here naman are the list of people to go to if you encounter problems Breastfeeding Counselors in the Philippines or if you need to consult or ask for help call the Latch Warmline 0917.5325643 (pls remember the people in Latch are ALL volunteer moms so there might be days when it takes a while before a reply is given) start rate for home visit consultation with Latch volunteers is at P500.
In case you are wondering what you need to buy to prepare for breastfeeding well NONE, you dont even need to buy a breast pump. Pumping is suggested when you reach 6 weeks na so wait for the need to buy before you go and buy one. I am also asked what pump I used I used Medela Freestyle Pump, I got it from an online seller. I am very happy with my choice and have recommended that too to several friends. But that doesnt mean it is the only good pump. I am actually now on a hunt for cheaper pump.
Hope this gives you a headstart for now. See you in one of the meets I hope 🙂
Mga breastfeeding friends, if you are willing to accept emails from people you dont know please leave your name & contact info or blog info sa comments so they can also go to you if ever.
Laya’s Breastfeeding Story
August 2, 2011 § 9 Comments
After sharing my Breastfeeding Story of Kite. Here is Laya’s naman:
We had Laya 11 years after Kite and 11 years din after forming NewlywedsAtWork (N@W) so we were armed with a thriving support group whose members have practically been through everything that could possibly happen, we have all kinds of moms there: breastfeeding moms, formula feeding moms, mixed feeders, those who had a hard time breastfeeding, never attempted breastfeeding, longing to be a mom, wouldn’t want to be a mom ever, being a mom more often than they would want to and what have you. I knew motherhood will be so much more fun this time with so many mommies to run to for any of my most trivial questions. I knew my chances of successfully breastfeeding Laya is high, as I am very good friends with Velvet and Abbie who are experts and studied breastfeeding (their actual title escape me now); am friends too with Jenny who’s blog Chronicles of a Nursing Mom is all about breastfeeding; am friends with a lot of the members of Latch (another breastfeeding group) and there’s so many breastfeeding moms in N@W (that we can even form our own breastfeeding group if needed), need I add more? Ahh I almost forgot, hubby Abet is I think keener than me in making this breastfeeding business a success.
Hubby would bribe me by saying sige breastfeed ka, if you are still breastfeeding mag Cebu na tayo as reward by May. Syempre ako atat sa lakwatcha kaya effective naman his idea. We stayed in a hotel muna for a night to try it out. Successful kami so we went to Tagaytay for a night the week after to see if we can do it again and see how Laya behaves to traveling, aba it was easy! Off we went to Cebu as soon as Laya turned 1 month old 🙂 Hiya ko lang tumigil after Cebu diba? hahaha
Seriously, I think what really clinched it for me was hearing Mimi say I never entertained the thought I wont be able to breastfeed, basta ako mag be-breastfeed, it was so simple, yet so powerful! Whenever I wanted to stop or doubted I would remember how she said it and I remember, of course I am going to continue breastfeeding.
Let me start on the day I gave birth. I was induced March 29 and had Laya that afternoon. Wasn’t able to see Laya again til 12 hours after, by then I was told she was given glucose water already. Am old na, I dont sweat the small stuff anymore. Fine, I just told the nurse nothing anymore after that kasi I will purely breastfeed. I tried to make Laya latch and was so happy she took it in so naturally but she wasn’t hungry and was more interested to sleep. Me too, I wanted to sleep too so I went back to my room na but I requested rooming in of Laya as soon as possible. Well she was roomed afternoon na. And Velvet, my one and only visitor (we didn’t let friends visit kasi we intend to breastfeed so we dont know the schedule when Laya would want to feed, ayaw ko naman mag feed with visitors around; she dont do personalvisits anymore ha, she did it for me lang kasi love niya ako heheh) was able to visit me that day to help make sure I will be off to a good start. She watched and taught me how to latch, taught us to look at the jaw to watch and listen to her swallow, to feed and feed and feed by demand, to not even look at the clock and worry just let baby lead, to put as much of the areola in and make sure it is not just the nipple (it is the nerves in the areola that signals the mind to produce milk) most common mistake is the latching, if you latch right I think there’s 80% success. Velvet also taught us how to massage Laya. We had a smooth breastfeeding routine with Laya at the hospital that night.
As we were about to discharge from the hospital the next day I felt pain in my nape, it felt exactly what they said high blood pressure would feel like, had my BP taken yes it was getting high. I was still discharged but what I was feeling was scary na. Got home and immediately texted Nay Lita Nery (lactating masseuse) to help relax me and at the same time make sure latching is correct. She came and taught me how to feed lying down and I think 2 more positions. My BP remained high and went higher pa. The fact it was Maundy Thursday made things worse for me as I didnt want to go to the hospital on Good Friday all my doctors are away! To make things worst I was also instructed by my OB not to take care of Laya and I am not allowed to breastfeed at night! Huwat? I didnt want to feed formula and I didnt have extra milk. Worst I didnt have a yaya as the yaya who will take care of Laya is our helper whom I haven’t trained yet. And hubby the only other possible person to take care is sniffing and looks like he is going to get sick! Oh that was one super stressful Thursday for me. Lucky I have friends! First Dee came to the rescue she not only gave me milk, she delivered it pa! I had no way of getting the milk at this point (this is also why whenever I donate and I feel that the mom or dad asking for the milk have no way of getting I do personal deliver of the milk as much as I can, aside from not knowing how to handle the milk it is a really a very busy time for new parents). Milk problem solved! Now I needed someone to care for Laya, one whom I can safely leave Laya with, lucky for me Medical City’s nurse station helped me secure one. Sigh! All my immediate problems are solved. The midwife stayed with us that night and cup fed Laya. I wasnt able to sleep a wink. It was hard having somebody else in our bedroom and I missed Laya too. Oh added to the already stressful situation was my dilemna, all the ge-lai food I should eat are also the same food a high blood patient shouldn’t be eating ayayyay! Good think my childhood friend Nancy (my friend since I was 1 year old) took me under her wing, she’d cook a big pot of whatever food I am to eat that day, she’d bring it to me before lunch and then I would reheat the remaining portion for dinner (inaagawan pa ako ni Abet! kasi yummy) she’d carefully choose and ask what are the food allowed sa ge-lai and allowed sa high blood, yes fish nga with lotsa soup! She’d bring it to our place while I am asleep and would teach my helper what to do with it. Am so blessed with so many friends talaga those days! We got over the high blood episode on Easter Sunday (so apt no?), and the midwifes trained Laya’s yaya on how to care for a baby too, she can do everything except she is not comfortable giving Laya a bath. Fair enough, I am also not comfortable entrusting Laya’s bath to her yet.
Breastfeeding Laya was smooth but it was hard. There’s pain, lack of sleep, doubts and a whole lot of other things. Major was the feeling na I cant function, cant do anything kasi a needy child is relying on me and would need me anytime. I remember it was Mother’s Day and I was awake middle of the night so I took that time to greet my mommy friends and hopefully disrupt their sleep. I was at this point wanting to stop breastfeeding na kasi am tired and aching and was really finding a valid reason to stop. Eh yun nga wala akong nahanap na reason so I went on. Every step of the way when the going got tough I would do mass texting, (my regular text victims were Velvet, Abbie, Jenny, Rica, JenCC, Dee, Mimi… either some or all of them hmm forgot who else) always may 2 or 3 na sasagot hehe. I also started going to Abbie’s La Leche Meet and also Breastfriend at Mary the Queen. I started going with so many hang ups, questions and I got my groove there. So my BF Support Group friends saw me turn into a swan. They were with me through all my issues and now am with them egging the newer ones to go on. Now am paying it forward na.
Why am I blogging about my breastfeeding story? 1. It is breastfeeding month kasi. and 2. After reading Confessions of a milk machine and Breastfeeding: It’s a Choice I felt the urge to blog or say my piece. But I also do not like to be perceived as puro breastfeeding na lang. The blog by Frances or better known as TopazMommy, I don’t want to be a lactivist, is so so true. So there.
While I am on a roll let me share na din Why I love breastfeeding.
1. It is so convenient. We just bring a small bag with change of diapers and clothes and a small towel to wipe and we are ready to go anywhere.
2. Because I breastfeed, I had a very easy time taking care of Laya, imagine we went on an overnight stay before she turned 1 month and had her riding an airplane by 6 weeks old, went out of the country for 6 weeks when she turned one.
3. Breastfeeding is the solution to everything! She falls? I feed her and she is ok; She is cranky? I feed her and she is ok; She got hurt? I feed her and she is ok; when she wants something she cant have and is about to throw a fit, I show her my booby and she forgets everything. Breastfeeding her solved EVERYTHING!
4. You know whats amazing, you have booby antennas that tells you your kid is hungry, you actually feel it before she cries that it is feeding time! The things you will realizes are simply so amazing.
5. I watch her feed and the muscle movements from her cheek, tongue and jaws am sure help her so much, while bottle feeder just suck and the milk comes out, the breastfeeder work on it so early and get to use na their muscles.
6. A breastfeeding baby can detect boobies even while asleep. This one still amazes me until now. Sometimes at night I just watch her and she knows which direction to face and when to open her mouth! Amazing talaga.
7. Breastmilk cures everything. I was a cynic too at first, OA naman yan ano magic? Have a cut? Rash? Itch? Put breastmilk and it really does cure! Did it and it worked 🙂
Miss U moments:
People who made it possible for me and helped me with this mommy journey!
Velvet – who would be my rah rah girl talaga throughout the journey. Did I also mention I met up with her for a one on one session on what to do with a newborn aside from about breastfeeding? And when I was looking for a midwife to care for Laya and was not getting anywhere she even offered to yaya Laya sa house namin, papahatid siya kay Atan and stay the night in our place, grabe my heart was filled with gratitude for that text she sent. Super duper thank you Velvet! I owe you!
Dee – she sent me milk when I wasn’t able to breastfeed, if I resorted to formula then and had a taste of convenience I am pretty sure I it would be super hard for me and will constantly be tempted. I also learned from her how to pack and freeze the milk, hers was so flat and so pretty to look at!
Mimi – since she is always no nonsense and frills free I go to her when I am stressed and true enough her ways are the simplest.
Rica – she is like me oldie na and habol baby na lang ito so we can relate with each other, her amazing story of being able to pump 16 oz in one sitting helped motivate me to reach that level.
Nancy, Grace & Morning – oh these are my childhood friends who fed me and made sure I dont stop the ge lai thing. Morning and I had a one on one session too on the meds and drinks to take.
Abbie, Jenny, JenCC, Rica – for always receiving my text and for most of the times replying 🙂
Didda – for making it so clear stop breastfeeding is not an option.
Laya is 16 months old now and we are still breastfeeding. She’s been taking solids since she was 6.5 months old and had her first taste of cow’s milk in Australia. Am now trying to let her get used to the taste of cows milk so she have milk to drink when I go out at night in preparation for the time I go out of the country. She is so loving the chocolate milk from MilkMan, yung fresh milk sometimes she likes sometimes she doesn’t, so what we do we milk the choco milk with milk na lang.
Again, if you are breastfeeding or would like to breastfeed, please know you can drop me a line here or thru my email or thru my facebook or text me if you have it. Would be more than happy to be part of your breastfeeding journey.
Kite’s Breastfeeding Story
August 2, 2011 § 2 Comments
Let me share with you my story on breastfeeding Kite.
Abet & I just got married when we had Kite, being so young and ideal, we wanted the purest and the best. We started by taking the Birthing Class from Chiqui Brosas-Hahn, there we also learned about breastfeeding.
When Kite arrived we breastfed, when she feed in one breast the other would leak so I was told that means I have lots of milk. And I believed. But when Kite was 10 days old she developed fever for a few hours, my sister told me to have her checked since fever is not normal for newborn. We went to her pedia the next day, she was surprised to see Kite lost weight. She was scared Kite might have sepsis and is poor in sucking that is why she isn’t able to take enough milk. She made us go home and asked us to monitor Kite’s intake and output; and to also make her consume at least 20-24 oz of milk in 24 hours, if she cant then we need to confine her, also to get urine sample for testing and culture. She peed so little and trying to catch them in a container was so hard, it was midnight when we were finally able to get some sample. The next day we brought her to the doctor and we were still told we need to confine her as she barely drank the day before and her pee is not enough. We stayed in a hospital room but her temperature kept dropping she was at 25 or 26 degrees already, the room was already warm still she was cold.
wrapped but temp isstill low
The next day we decided to let her stay in the NICU where nurses can watch her round the clock and she can be in an incubator where temperature is controlled, our pedia also told us that she wants Kite seen by a neo-natalogist (a specialist on newborn babies). Oh I can still remember the fear inside us as doctors can’t pinpoint what was wrong with her, all test are negative but her behaviors showed sepsis. She was given antibiotics but it wasn’t working. They got urine to test, to culture, her blood too for test and they even performed a spinal tap on her to test and culture. I clearly remember asking the neonatalogist if there is a chance we wont be able to bring our baby home alive. (Months before the son of our good friend passed away, it started with a simple fever caused by a heart problem and in a matter of weeks their baby was gone.) We can just watching her behind a glass window not allowed to be inside the room where her incubator/insolite was. We got to touch her only when she started improving and was just allowed to touch her inside the incubator, cant hug nor kiss her 😦 Oh this is such horrible time for us, and add to that our savings were depleting! The day she was brought to the doctor was the day I stopped breastfeeding. My doctor actually said we can breastfeed even when she is in NICU we just stay at the corridor and the nurses will call us when she is hungry, but I didnt want to anymore. Breastfeeding drained me so much when we were still at home. She was always crying at night and I would jump off the bed to go to her which caused the first layer of my stitches to tear. (My OB ordered me to bathe already and she cant allow me to continue geh lai custom of not taking a bath para di pasukin ng lamig). I was mostly on auto pilot due to lack of sleep and add the anxiety over a sick baby, it was so taxing. So asking me to continue breastfeeding and staying in the corridor hospital was not an option for me. Oh! Kite started improving after the 5th or 6th day (it was a rollercoaster 6 days) and we were able to bring her home after 10 days I think. Diagnosis was clinical sepsis, all test were negative but symptoms were all there so clinical sepsis lang siya di siya sepsis. We spent as much on this hospitalization as on my birthing. She was hospitalized from August 17-29,1999.
Now did I regret not pursuing breastfeeding when she was back from the hospital? No because I felt so free na. (But if this happened now with me having access to so much support I would pursue relactating. Or most likely I would be pumping while she was in the hospital anyway.) Had there been enough support group then I would have made it I think.
Also breastfeeding Kite was an added reason why I never went back to smoking. I smoke before getting pregnant and stopped during pregnancy, though I wasn’t itching to smoke after giving birth still it dawned on me while breastfeeding that I can’t smoke even if I wanted to when childcare was becoming stressful.
Do I think mas stronger ang bond namin ni Kite if I breastfed? I dont know but we are quite very very well bonded so no regret too. Do I feel she’d be healthier? That I cannot answer.
Did I breastfeed my next child? Hell Yes! 16 months and counting…
Milk Mama Diaries 3
July 20, 2011 § 24 Comments
Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (July). For this month, we join the National Nutrition Council – Department of Health in celebrating Nutrition Month with the theme ”Isulong ang Breastfeeding – Tama, Sapat at EKsklusibo!” Participants will share their experiences in promoting breastfeeding or their tips on how breastfeeding should be promoted. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.
I love breastfeeding! Ha you should have heard me during the early weeks! I swore and kept waiting for a valid reason to stop. But luckily none came. I always remember what I once saw on TV, about how a man can breastfeed by letting baby suck often enough. And I know some nannies was able to breastfeed even when they didnt give birth recently simply by allowing baby to keep sucking. Velvet helped a doctor who adopted a newborn breastfeed and was successful! With that in mind how can I not when they can? If a mom wants to go through the hardship or not is a different question. I once told a friend, dont breastfeed na if it is giving you so much emotional distress, mag formula ka na lang at least mas happy ka and mas ok ang magiging mommyhood journey mo. I am not sure how other breastfeeding advocate sees that, is it normal advice or am I the black sheep but I stand on my advice and will still say the same to one who is on that boat. But if you are one who is very much wanting to breastfeed oh I have your back. I even pay for people to visit some friends just to make sure they are on track and are given the right guidance. What I am trying to say is I am not a formula hater,I dont want people to perceive me as all breastfeeding and makes one feel bad if they are formula feeding. Ay ang dami kong busina!
photo by Rey Tuazon
During my pregnancy I made a mental note on who among my friends are successfully breastfeeding or breastfed, I kept them in mind so I can text them if and when my morale is low or when I stumble upon roadblocks. I had to choose well because I didnt want to get advices and message from annoying and know-it-all people, remember I might be in my post partum and could be ultra sensitive. I didnt want others to be able to make me feel small or like a failure or get frustrated.
Now that I was able to do it, that is also what I do to help others out. I make myself available to others who might want to go into breastfeeding. I simply talk about my experience and how much fun I have and how glad I am about breastfeeding. That would hopefully attract those who are interested to breastfeed to ask me anything and at the same time not seem pushy to those who aren’t since am not talking about it anyway, am showing it lang. Is it effective? I think so as I got friends who would email or text me their breastfeeding concerns and even friends who would ask in behalf of their friends.
Also attending Breastfeeding meets were very very helpful to me, meeting different people with different experiences you will bound to meet one who shares what you went through too. Of course nothing beats online support group since it is available 24/7 and is a group of wider kinds of mom. Being with people who breastfed makes you realize it is not as hard nor as impossible so your confidence grows too.
Pressure point of breastfeeding: I feel that the first few days of breastfeeding is the most crucial part, once they start giving up or doubting all the problem start entering so I am always telling people to text, email or message me at the moment they feel they need help. This is where I think people should focus to help promote breastfeeding.
I think seeing my friends feed til their child is 3 or 4 years old makes me not stop too. I first wanted to feed till Laya is 1 but didnt want to overwhelm myself when I was having a hard time so I made it 3 months then 6 months then on my 9th month I knew I can go on not even need to give myself a goal, it is not inconvenient to continue instead it is so convenient na nga, mas inconvenient pa to stop, I had so many concerns and preparation to make if I stop. Now at 16 months am not seeing myself stop unless Laya decide she doesnt want to anymore.
As for the government to promote breastfeeding? I honestly dont know, I am quite scared about promoting breastfeeding because it is so easy for those who doesn’t breastfeed to feel that the breastfeeding moms are so gung ho and so full of themselves when they talk breastfeeding (Read this blog this is EXACTLY how I felt). It is so easy to step on their toes so I try to be quiet and only answer when asked (yes sa lagay na ito pigil na ako). I guess people just tend to always talk with too much emotion on things they are passionate about and those who arent on the same boat feels those who are are OA na. Kinda like having born again friends diba? They are so happy to discover God that they would do anything to convert those who havent. Yung nga lang mas easy to understand mga born again kasi God yan eh. Sa breastfeeding, it comes off differently because there’s this feeling na if you didnt breastfeed you didnt give the best and thus guilt and so many other emotions get in too so some people gets riled up easily too. But I do think getting popular celebrity that connects well to the people to endorse breastfeeding will help leaps and bounds 🙂
Please read the blogs from the other carnival-ers
Enjoy!
Breastfeed Button Pins
June 23, 2011 § 15 Comments
I was able to sustain breastfeeding all these time because I am part of N@W and because I join breastfeeding support groups. One group I feel so at home with is La Leche League’s monthly meet by Abbie Yabot. I joined when I was having a lot of concerns and fears and issues with feeding Laya probably at 6 weeks and they witness me grow from a scared mom to an enthusiast, they saw me through my first pump and till I was able to store hundreds of ounces. I also met great friends in this meet. One time I realized that several of the N@Wies are also part of the meet by their postings in N@W (hehe am always late so I usually miss the intro part) it is so dyahe so I told Abbie let’s have name tags, but since it is a regular meet I figured button pin is a nicer option. So I asked Didda to design a button pin for the group. Here is what he came up with. Remember ‘got milk?’ ads way back?
Because I dont get to meet them some of the pins are still with me. So if you are breastfeeding or breastfed and your name is: Agnes, Christine, Cindy, Denise, Germaine, Gina, Jams, Jowan, Judy, Kara, Leslie, Lisa, Mari, Maria, Michelle, Nikki, Pat, Pia, Rachel, Sheryl, Tanya, Ting or Velvet. Send me a comment and I will email you to get your address, dont post your address in the comment unless you are comfortable (haha feeling ko sikat itong blog at madaming nakakabasa, well eventually it will or it might!) If you are attending the La Leche Leage meet this Sunday June 26 at 10:30am at Greenbelt 5 or to the Babywear Meet 2 on July 2 at 10am at Starbucks Fort Bonifacio I can bring it there too.
Find your name 🙂
If your name is not on the list and you want one please message me by June 29 so I can have one made in time for the Babywear Meet.
Ahh Didda might want to designed a Babywear Button Pin too, you want also? Very efficient talaga… naknangtokwa!
Aba may pang daddies pa!
Pumping & Freezing Breast Milk
June 15, 2011 § 4 Comments
Last August, Jenny of Chronicles of a Nursing Mom asked me to submit an article on how I freeze my breastmilk and also on how to thaw frozen breastmilk. I guess it’s helpful since I’d get email re the post. I went to re read the article recently and I felt it was so gulo (sorry Jenny, I was rushing when I did it that time). Here’s my attempt in make it better.
My pumping history/routine/background:
I first pumped at 5 weeks but got around half an ounce and this scared me. Afraid it might affect my milk supply as I started doubting my output I stopped pumping first.
I tried it again after two weeks when I was more confident, still I got only around half an ounce to 1 ounce the first few times but it steadily increased, I was determined as I know I can’t go out if I don’t have stored milk at home. I figured an ounce a day will still be 7 ounce in a week which is still 4 hours worth of time out of the house. I would pump as soon as I wake up (I pass baby Laya to yaya when Laya is awake anytime between 6am-10am and then sleep til around 11am-1pm) this session is when I get the most milk (averaging 3-4oz); again I pump in the afternoon before dinner or when Laya is asleep around 2-4am. If I go out then I pump every 3-5 hours. As out put increased my aim was to get at least 5 oz saved each day. This went on from the time Laya was 2 months to maybe 5 months old, I stopped and just pumped once a day when my frozen milk reached more than 300 oz already and I didn’t have freezer space anymore and even my friend’s freezer were full na. Am sharing this because seeing them packed so nicely encourages me to pump and save. It is also easier for everybody when it is time for baby to use the milk. I love counting how much milk I have, that was one of my motivation for pumping. I was thinking I could go out for a few days vacation and leave baby behind if I want to.
How do I pack and freeze my milk.
I repack milk for freezing whenever I have the chance which is usually at 6 oz to 14 oz roughly every 2-3 days. I try to leave expressed milk in the ref for Laya to use (milk heirarchy is direct is best, next is newly expressed milk, refrigerated one then last is frozen ones) but I also do not wait till there is a lot before I freeze as the more bags I freeze the longer it takes them to get frozen, besides I do not have a lot of flat space in our freezer.
First I would calculate how many bags I would need and write the date on the bags (I pack 2 oz of milk in each 8 oz bag – I tried using 4 oz bag but it wont go flat, I need them to be as flat as possible because I dont have storage space, also Laya consumes 2-4 oz at that time) *note: I learned about freezing it this way from Dee, a N@Wie mom who donated her milk to me when I was prohibited by my OB to breastfeed due to high blood pressure
Next I would measure 2 oz of milk in a feeding bottle and then pour it to the bag, I try to draw out as much air as I can so there wont be air bubble. Then I seal it with a sealer. I leave them upright by leaning it on something so the milk wont come to contact with the sealed area which is hot/warm for a few seconds.
After sealing I now place them in a flat surface and leave to freeze. It freezes normally after a day, sometimes over a couple of days if our freezer is full or if I am packing a lot of bags.
Once frozen I place them is a ziplock bag, I put 25 bags (or 50 oz.) per ziplock bag. And line them according to date. I also date the ziplock bag so we’d know which bag to use first. I make sure the milk are consumed within three months.
Here are the things I used:
I use Playtex Liner 8 oz, this around P450 per box of 125 pcs. available in all leading department store
I bought my sealer from Office Warehouse at P690, the same model at National Bookstore is P1190
I use Glad Freezer Ziplock Bags – 26.8cm x 27.3 cm 15pcs per box, I forgot how much will check when I go to the supermarket not more than P500 (available at all leading supermarket I got mine at SM Hypermart)
Hope this helped!
Am now back to pumping once a day (after stopping for 2 months where Laya was with me almost 24 hours because we were out of the country and because her yaya was away when we came back). Laya also tasted fresh cow’s milk, I just want her accustomed to the taste.
🙂
MimmaBenz.com 