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