Some Lifestyle Changes with New Baby and How to Deal with Them

Baby is 6 months already. Everyday i'm amazed by this boy's antics.

It’s been six months of pure joy and thankfulness for this wonderful gift!

[caption id="attachment_71" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Baby P's Sitting Up![/caption]

Parang kailan lang isang tuldok lang sya sa ultrasound, ngayon para na talaga syang maliit na bata!

Tons of changes have been happening in my life, and surely, with my husband’s too! We’ve been adjusting very very well.

Here are some aspects in our lives that changed along with a few notes on how to cope with these changes.

Your sleeping pattern

Since baby came along I’m used to sleeping late and waking up early in the morning. Baby usually wakes up for a few minutes at dawn, 2 to 4 am to breastfeed. I’ve noticed  he drinks less milk during the day and drinks more from me when i get back from work.  Reverse cycling yata ang tawag dito.  I’m secretly glad about this because night time feeding serves as bonding between baby and me.

How to deal:

• Learn the  side lying position. It’s a life saver, I won’t have to get up or sit to nurse P. Breastfeeding moms should master this position. Warning lang, siguraduhing aware ka pa rin kahit antok na antok na para maiwasan madagaanan or matabunan ng unan si baby.  I found it hard to do this position was very small, about 1 - 2 months old.


• Have all the necessary stuff like for diapers, sanitizer or bibs, at arms' reach so you won’t have to search the room when he needs to change.


• When is fussy at night, attend to him immediately so that this won’t be a full blown crying episode. Maybe if you check what he needs right away, baby will still fall back to sleep.

Your spending pattern

When I was single I usually shop or buy clothes, bags and shoes whenever I have extra money. Nowadays, if and when there is extra money, it goes to buying baby stuff.  Ubos din ang budget sa bakuna! Kaya nga pasalamat kami hindi na kailangang bumili ng formula eh. Still, savings dwindled since baby came along. Pero ayos lang, no amount of money can ever replace the smile and hugs you receive from your little one!

How to deal:

• Buy in bulk all the things he regularly needs, like diapers, cotton,  baby wash, lotion etc.


• Buy online. I’ve noticed that nipples, bottles, etc are in deed  cheaper online than in malls.  Sample, yung Avent 4 oz  bottles. Sa mall, nakuha ko ng P500 isa, pero online makakabili na ng 2 pcs P700. If you order online, you also avoid transactional costs in going to the mall like gas, parking tickets and food (ewan ko ba pero lagi kami nagugutom tuwing nasa mall.) Here, here and here are some of my favorite online stores


• Try buying "second hand" items. Baby’s stroller and high chair were “second-hand”. So far, ok naman.   We just made sure we washed and disinfected the items thoroughly.


• Anticipate upcoming expenses so you allot money for payment early on.  Itanong na agad sa pedia kung magkano ang sunod na bakuha para masimulan nang mapag-ipunan.

Your diet

Admittedly, I wasn’t really eating healthy before I got pregnant. However today I’m a bit more aware of what I’m eating. “Baby eats what mommy” is my mantra now. Whatever you ingest that passes through the blood could also reach the baby's system. So i watch what i eat.

I also try to eat more veggies so that he may be more accustomed to its taste and hopefully, when he’s older, it won’t be hard to feed him veggies.

I’ve even  given up coffee! I observed that baby has a hard time sleeping and more active during night time when I ingest caffeine. Kawawa nga kasi gising na gising isang madaling araw, eh pagod na kami, so hindi man lang sya malaro. I'd like to stress that caffeine is also found in food and drinks such as chocolate, green tea, some soft drinks and medicine.

How to Deal:

• There are almost no food restrictions when breastfeeding, just take everything in moderation.  Balanced diet is key in sustaining milk supply and keeping your baby safe. Ok lang din naman ang 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily.

Changes in our schedule, gimmicks, eating out…

I always come in late for work because it’s hard to leave him. Yes, this is true. Everyday before I leave for work, it’s hard. I just savor every last minute together before go to work! Ang hirap iwan ang baby na gusto mong laruin at yakaping lang maghapon diba? Bad habit talaga ang ma-late sa trabaho so kailangang baguhin!

How to deal:

• Para hindi palagian mahuli sa trabaho dapat organized! Try to do things like cleaning bottles, arranging baby’s cabinet  when baby’s asleep. I always try to finish these things when he’s sleeping. Pinipilit ko talaga na nasa tabi na nya ako pagkamulat ng mata nya! This maximizes bonding with baby.


• Prepare everything beforehand so you spend more time saying goodbye than worrying whether or not you brought all your stuff


• Strategize your trip so that you won’t come in late for work. Hanapin ang pinakamaikling ruta papuntang opisina, umiwas sa trapik!!!

Our gimmick? Meron pa ba? 

Husband and I  stopped watching movies in the mall. Tinanggap na rin namin puro cartoon or pambatang pelikula na lang ang papanooring namin sa sine hanggang 5 years old na si P. Ito na siguro ang isa sa magiging bonding activity namin.

How to deal:

• Ayos lang, at least alam mong kids-appropriate ang papanooring ni baby. Bumawi na lang sa  DVDs! Watching movies and series at home is much cheaper. Besides,  you can watch all the types of movies and series you want. Good old fashioned movie marathon is definitely a good way to bond.


• Think of alternative ways as your "gimmick", wag puro na lang mall.  I try to regularly visit my parents in Tagaytay so that baby will get to know them.  These weekly trips  are also good ways to bond.


• Since we live near a park with jogging or running lanes, i plan to let baby practice walking here.  Magandang paraan din ito para ma-exercise sya at makalanghap ng sariwang hangin!

Eating out? 

Husband and I hardly eat out. We usually have our lunch at the house and just prepare our baon.  After work, we head straight home, hoping to find baby still awake so we can play and cuddle some more. Baby also usually waits for me (my breasts, actually) so I can nurse him to sleep.

How to deal

• Eat at home. This not only saves money but is also a chance to hone your cooking skills.


• If you’re too tired to cook, that’s what food delivery services are for.

Your "pride"

As a single gal, I’m used to do things my way. It's either my way or wag na lang! Now I’m learned that I can’t do everything. Kailangang lunukin na ang "pride" at magpatulong na.

How to deal

• Politely and humbly I ask for help from my husband, siblings, mother, mother-in-law, even the househelp!  Aminin, mas magiging madali rin kasi ang buhay ko kung magpapatulong ako eh. Basta kailangan lang magbigay ng malinaw at specific instructions.  This makes it easier to leave baby at home, knowing that he is in trusted hands.

Your tolerance for unsolicited advice or opinions

I really didn't care much about advise or opinion from other people when i was single. I just follow my own gut and belief, then i just deal with the results of my decision. As a new mom, i'm confronted by unsolicited advice from (hopefully) well meaning family members and friends. Some are just traditional, like keeping the cord stump of baby ... (for what?) or just absurd, like putting a Php1 peso coin on baby's navel to make sure it settles down ok... (what?) Honestly, i really get irked sometimes about these foolish advice.

Once, i also got annoyed when a woman commented that baby was too small, while comparing to his over sized baby. hayyy... minsan talaga walang preno ang bibig ng ibang tao. Hindi alam ang limits kung ano ang dapat at hindi dapat i-comment.

How to deal

When in doubt about parents' or parents'-in-law or anyone else's advice about baby care, consult and ask guidance from you pedia. She can enlighten both you and the advice giver whether or not there's some sense to that advice. Just make sure to reply to such advice gracefully and politely so as not to offend anyone.

As for comments about baby's weight, i have a ready reply to that. "Most breastfed babies kasi are not overweight. Talagang hindi sila kasing taba ng mga formula fed."  I think that's quite clear.

Understand that newbie moms are always second-guessing their decisions, always in doubt whether she's taking good care for baby.  Extended patience and  grace is required in dealing with these "nosy neighbors".

Changes in social life and / or lack thereof

It’s been months since I last met up with my friends. Yes, I have given up attending our "get together", because no one will be left to watch over  baby.  Or talagang ayaw ko lang mahiwalay si Baby sa akin... hehehe

Sinasabi ko na lang sa mga kaibigan kong babawi ako  kapag malaki na si P. Weekends are for baby and husband. Husband and i makes it a point to bring along P on weekends when we have to work at the office or when we have weekend errands.

How to deal

• Invite friends over. Your friends will surely understand your "travel restrictions" so they should adjust to your "limitations".


• Bawi na lang thru texts and calls, im sure maiintindihan naman nila kung bakit hindi ka basta makalabas-labas ngayon.

We really can’t say that we did not make any mistakes in our parenthood. Of course, we’ve had blunders and bloopers. Kapag may desisyong medyo sablay, "charged to experience" na lang!!!!

At least, sa sunod na baby, alam na natin kung anong dapat gawin!

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Tips for Breastfeeding Working Mommies

I have exclusively breastfed baby for six months!! Yooohoo…

Husband and I are  so happy that WE’re  able to sustain milk even after I went back to work.

So far so good!

Hopefully I can make milk for baby until two years… and beyond!

For moms contemplating to stop breastfeeding as they near the end of their maternity leave, please know that breast while working is doable!

It just takes a little more effort.

Here are  some "pumping at work"  tips:

Never miss a time to breastfeed when with baby.

When you’re with baby, always breastfeed. No other pump can empty your breast as efficiently as your baby's sucking.  The more you empty your breasts, the more milk will be produced.

Don’t fear that  he won’t feed from the bottle when you’re away. Baby will feed from the bottle once he gets hungry. This was my main concern before I went back to work, but he turned out OK. My mother-in-law, also my trusted baby sitter, found a technique so baby won't go hungry. She lets baby take the bottle when he's sleepy.  Call it comfort sucking of  sorts but at least my baby drinks his milk!

You may also ask your caregiver to let him drink from a cup or through a medicine dropper or a spoon.

I used to bring along a bottle of breast milk (just to make sure he won't refuse the bottle) when we go out but baby won’t take it from me anymore. Amazing talaga, alam nya pag mommy nya ang nagpapadede sa bote, umaayaw! Gusto nya talaga sa akin dumede... awwww... So I never bothered bringing bottles after that.

Besides, it’s so much easier and satisfying to directly breastfeed anytime and anywhere!

Pump, pump, pump!

Aim to pump for 2-3 times in the office, these sessions correspond to baby's feedings while you're away.

Remember that it is well within your right to pump in the office. In fact there's a law (Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009) requiring companies to allow nursing moms time to pump breast milk. The "lactation period"  for employed moms  should be at least 40 minutes per 8-hour shift.  Just make sure not to lag behind your deadlines and schedules at work.

I’m also one of the lucky ones whose bosses and officemates understand the importance of breastfeeding.

Try to insert one or two pumping session on weekends. Any amount you get shall be a welcome addition to your milk stash.

Prepare the feeding bottles with breast milk.

It will help your caregiver a lot if all the bottles you expect your baby to use throughout the day will be  easily accessible and arranged in the ref. I use sealing discs with the feeding bottle, then my caregiver will just snap it off to replace it will the nipple during feeding time. She won't need to thaw breast milk from the freezer anymore.

This way, you can easy count how many ounces were consumed by your baby per day. Kellymom has a breast milk calculator so you can estimate how much expressed  milk you need to prepare for baby.

I feel more “hands on” knowing that I personally cleaned and prepared all this bottles, nipples and spoon.

Bring the essentials

Your breast pump

• Any type – manual or double electric - will do. It actually depends on your need and situation.


• You just have to assess your needs to know what type suits you. I’m using Medela Pump in Style, a double electric pump. It suits me well because I get more milk in less time.  I also have a First Years Manual pump which I used right after my delivery (baby had to be in the NICU for a week.. but that’s for a different post already)


• You may also learn how to express milk by hand. Knowing how to do this saves the day, like when you accidentally forgot to bring small pieces of your pump and your getting desperate to express milk… wink wink!!!

Alcohol or sanitizer

• These are very handy, you can clean your hands even without soap and water.

Nursing cover

• This is a must bring unless you’re willing to have a peep show in front of your office mates.

Hands free pump support

• Hands free pump support is a big help so you can multitask while pumping. With the support, you can free both your hands and do other things like reading the newspaper, note taking or cellular phone browsing. Some pump support I found online and on the mall  are too expensive for me, ranging from P 1,200 to P 2500! What i did is just put holes corresponding to where the pump horns should be on a chipipay bra and viola, an improvised hands free pump support! Yes, I’m that kuripot. 

Lampin or any clean cloth

• This ensures that all your stuff will stay clean. The cloth is for wiping all the bottles and pump parts.

Cooler with frozen ice packs

• Any ordinary insulated bags or coolers and ice packs purchased from malls will do. My husband bought a big Lock & Lock cooler bag. It's big enough so i can put all the storage bottles (6 in all) and pump parts. We're using Techni Ice, Blue Ice (both from online purchases) and ice packs from Saizen. Take note that milk lasts  approximately 3 -8  hours at room temperature (that's based on how cool the office air conditioning is), so don’t stress whether or not the milk is getting cold enough.  Resist the urge to open and check every time to see if milk’s cold. If you do this you’ll just let out the cold air from the bag. Just make sure to transfer all the milk to the ref and the ice packs in the freezer as soon as you’re home.


• If you don’t like to wash the parts after every session, then bring a zip lock  or plastic food case to store the parts and put this in the office ref. This way you can keep if fresh and ready for the next session.  Bring a bigger cooler and more ice to store the parts, if you don’t feel comfortable leaving your stuff in the office ref.

Tape and pen

• Use the tape and pen to indicate pumping date and time


• Always make it a point to date your milk right after pumping. I never did this so i always got confused which milk was pumped when. This will be a good way so you can follow the first in first out rule on choosing which milk to thaw for baby's next feeding.

Cellular phone

• I use it as timer when pumping. I usually pump for 15 minutes. The cellular phone is also handy when I want to look at pictures of my boy.  According toWhat to Expect i read , thinking about your baby while pumping induces milk production.

[caption id="attachment_28" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Here's how my office pumping setup looks like. Always secure EBM before standing to avoid spilling.[/caption]

Take time to double check all your pumping stuff before leaving the house. It will be a total bummer to find out that after lugging that bulky bag around, you'll discover that you left your valve or membranes! These parts are easily misplaced because they are the smallest pieces of your pump.

Eat more to make more.

I don't follow a strict breastfeeding diet. Balanced diet is key in keeping up with the demands for milk for baby. There’s really no special diet for nursing mothers but there are certain foods known to promote lactation. In the Philippines, malunggay is the most affordable and accessible milk supply booster. My OB recommended taking malunggay capsules twice a day to support and sustain milk production.

I’m also taking daily prenatal vitamins and extra doses of calcium.

Accept all help offered.

Remember less time doing housework equals more time spent caring or nursing your little one.  In my first 6 weeks post partum I wasn’t doing much house work because of my CS wound. I guess being relaxed and doing less strenuous activity helped my body adjust to lactation.

Take one pump at a time.

Don't worry if your pumping output is less than your previous session, amount of milk  pumped greatly varies with time and situation.

It pays to start storing breast milk weeks before your scheduled return to office.  This way, you won't be pressured to produce x amounts of milk per day.

Research and invest. 

Breastfeeding is a choice my hubby and i made since day 1 of my pregnancy. I guess being focused on this goal kept us from quitting and giving up when challenges and obstacles come our way.  We invested in books and magazines with breastfeeding articles.  I also download phone applications like What to Expect when You're Expecting and Baby Center. I also find Kellymom's site very helpful.  Most of my breastfeeding questions are answered here. In the Philippines, the best breastfeeding blog is Chronicles of a Nursing Mom.

Husband and i also saved up to purchase a good double electric breast pump. My Medela PISA is so worth it! So far i've produced more than enough breast milk for my baby.

Just don't let the stress of producing enough milk get to you. Think positive!

Mommies, remember that breastfeeding is not the only definition of motherhood. You’re not a bad mother if you don’t opt and can’t breastfeed. It is your choice!

But please please please try to breastfeed. Who knows, you might get the hang of it… and love it as much as I do!

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Hello Moms!

I'm one year into my journey as a mother!

Husband and i had a lot of  experiences in the course of my pregnancy, delivery and now, in  taking care of our baby boy!

Most are enlightening and challenging!

Some are just daunting and disappointing.

Some days we just charge to experience.

But all these experiences as a new mom and wife are just so rewarding!

Through this blog i document these precious memories. I  hope to shed to some light (of some sort)  in this journey called motherhood for my fellow newbie moms! Check this blog out for tips and tricks we've learned in the early part of our lives as parents.

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