My life without breastfeeding

My son is nearing his 20^th month and we’re 4 months shy of my 2-year nursing goal.  Now I’m reading up on weaning stories from other moms. I realized, weaning is not easy! You need to be firm in not offering the breast despite the child’s pleading.  Gosh how can i do that when breastfeeding is in our routine? This makes me wonder how to initiate the weaning process. Anyway, I have about four more months to reflect on my weaning strategy. Or maybe I’ll see if he weans naturally? Read more on weaning from Kellymom and La Leche League International.

My life without breastfeeding

My son P is nearing his 20^th month and we’re 4 months shy of my 2-year nursing goal.  Now I’m reading up on weaning stories from other moms. I realized, weaning is not easy! You need to be firm in not offering the breast despite the child's pleading.  Gosh how can i do that when breastfeeding is in our routine? This makes me wonder how to initiate the weaning process. Anyway, I have about four more months to reflect on my weaning strategy. Or maybe I’ll see if he weans naturally? Read more on weaning from Kellymom and La Leche League International.

Talking about weaning makes me think of my mommy life without breastfeeding! Hmmm.. A life without breast pump and breast milk storage?  I’d certainly like that! For me, it’s only  the system of pumping and storing breast milk that complicates my nursing life.

Here are what i look forward to when my son finally weans:

No more office pumping

This i look forward to! I'll definitely do more office stuff. Hehehe.. No more checking the time and rushing when it's time to express milk.

I'd appreciate life without a bulky breast pump and all its parts. My commuting life will be easier once i stop carrying the pump and the cooler bag daily from home to work and work to home. Plus, this means no more cleaning pump parts and bottles! Cleanup is among the stuff i definitely won't miss.

No more breast milk storage

I won't be stressing myself about keeping breast milk safe in storage. I won't be bothered every time brownout strikes. This is a relief!

Hooray for more space in the refrigerator, too. I'll free up the ref space once i pull out those BM containers. I won't be freezing the ice packs, too. That means more space in the freezer and lower electricity consumption. Yehey for that!

No more biting

Now this is a relief, right? My child sometimes bites my nipple when he's sleepy or when he's teething.  It really hurts when he does this.  I definitely won't miss all the pain from biting.

More wardrobe choices

I made it a point to wear breastfeeding friendly clothes. This is a must for easy nursing.  I also look for clothes that allow easy access. I usually wear button-down shirts and  v necks. Wearing such is a must when pumping at work,  definitely gives you privacy and ease as you about your pumping business

Nursing is a  major consideration when i buy clothes, Now i can wear round neck shirts and high-neck blouses. Hooray for more clothing options!

[caption id="attachment_2908" align="aligncenter" width="239"] From the start, my son has been an avid nurser.[/caption]

Missing nursing

Nursing has been a great bonding experience between me and my son.  Till now, we still rely on nursing as a main form of bonding, My favorite part is when we nurse during the night, when everyone else is asleep. It's our own "mom and me" time.

Nursing is my own convenient way to soothe a distressed baby. My toddler is fast approaching the "terrible twos", but sometimes,  nursing still works to calm him. Nursing is my secret weapon! My kid learned to sleep on his own, especially during daytime when i'm out. But often, during the night, he comes to me to nurse to sleep. For me, nothing beats the convenience of side-lying position while nursing. I can lie down while my son drinks his milk.

His first word in the morning is "Dede", even if he's not that hungry and will suck on for only a few minutes. At night his last word is "Dede", too as he cozies himself to sleep.

Breastfeeding became a big part of my life! I truly think it’s among my proudest moments. I  exclusively breastfed for 6 months and we're still nursing till now. I think that's a big achievement. This makes me wonder how i'll get started weaning him.

Uh oh...  Sounds like i'm going to truly miss nursing. I think i need more time to prepare for weaning! It's a two-way street. It's not only my son who needs to be prepared for weaning.  I'll need some conditioning as well.  Weaning is among those stages a child must get through. My kid can't breastfeed forever right?

For more tips about breastfeeding, please read my All About Breastfeeding page.

***

Breast Talk

Hmmmm.

I'm going to talk about my boobies now, a bit TMI for most.

But still, i'm still talking about them.

Breasts and my body image

I have always been self conscious about my breasts. When i hit puberty, my peers often teased me about how my breasts were getting bigger.  Let's just say that i was among those kids who needed to grow up earlier than most, because of my developing body. I've avoided playing skip ropes, chinese garters and those games that require jumping and running when i was 10 years old.  I guess much of it involves how uncomfortable i was about carrying a heavy front load.

I was teased all the more during my high school days! I even resented wearing body-hugging shirts and blouses because i did not feel comfortable about my body image.

When i was in college, that's when i started appreciating my built. It was then i've accepted my God-given big boobies!  It was not like i flaunted them, but i've accepted them as part of being me. My barkada would often call me "Busty" but i didn't care much about that. I just laughed off my nickname. I guess every girl have a body issue - some being flat chested. And then there are girls like me, who's issue was their full bust.

Of  course, let's not underestimate the power of the breast. Admittedly, "the girls"  helped me snag a husband....  to a limited degree... somehow... wahahaha... 

When i got pregnant the big boobies got even bigger. This was to prepare my body for its ultimate function. I was a milk machine in the works!  And boy, am i ever so proud raising an exclusively breastfed baby! He was slightly underweight as a newborn  and with my milk,  he grew up healthy and strong!

[caption id="attachment_3259" align="aligncenter" width="253"] Body changes takes a backseat, my boy's health comes first.[/caption]

Breast changes after giving birth nursing

Now after 18 months of breastfeeding, i really feel and see changes with my breasts! First - the size, they got smaller.  I'm now a cup size smaller than before i got pregnant!  Second - the shape. They're not as round and perky anymore.  I also feel "empty" breasts especially now since i'm not oozing with BM anymore. Last, they sagged.  I noticed that they drooped a bit - like down to my tummy. But I can't blame gravity for this right?  Sagging or drooping is more noticeable for women with big boobs, to begin with.

But I'm not really sure if i should attribute these boob changes to breastfeeding.  Kellymom , citing a study published by the  National Center for Biotechnology Information, says breastfeeding is not the cause of breast sagging or breast ptosis, which is its technical term.  The study  listed these risk factors to be possible and more apparent causes of breast sagging -

• age (as we age, our skin becomes less tight, hence possible wrinkles) 


• 
  

  history of significant (>50 lbs) weight loss - preggy women  have rapid weight loss on d-day... yehey!!!!

  
  


• higher body mass index - being overweight puts women at risk to breast ptosis?


• 
  

  larger bra cup size - hmmm i fall under this category

  
  


• number of pregnancies - what???   but i'm still on baby number 1! 


• 
  

  smoking history - hmmmm... attention smokers... this is another good reason to quit... right now!

  
  

Ayun naman pala!  So the sagging  is not directly caused by breastfeeding. According to this WebMD article,  the stretched out look may be due to the shrinking of milk-making structures in the breasts. These milk-making structures go on overdrive as your near delivery to trigger breast milk production. They then shrink after pregnancy.  The good news is, saggy breasts, is more often not a medical concern.

When i became a mom, I understood the higher purpose of my breasts! No, they're not not just for aesthetics, or for the pleasure of my husband!  These are for nourishing my offspring.  As mammals,  we are equipped with the machinery to care for our babies. Breastfeeding  is the most natural  way to nourish our young.

Possible sagging or drooping should take the back seat when moms are weighing in on breastfeeding! Undeniably, breastfeeding and being a mom, has taken a toll in my looks.  The saggy breasts, along with the stretch marks, i shall wear them proudly as battle scars of motherhood. Why should i waste time over this when the reward is much much more precious - it's the special bond my boy and i  had developed through nursing!  I'll just get me some more push up bras!

I'm not really THAT bothered by the sagging issue, thankfully, so is my husband.  Sabi nya, superficial lang kung ang dahilan nang hindi pagpapasuso ay dahil sa pag-sag ng boobs. Para naman  sa akin, kahit umabot pa lampas ng tuhod ang dede ko, magpapasuso pa rin ako!

Also worth reading: 

• Top 10 reasons why Breast is best 


• Alarming facts about breastfeeding in the Philippines 

 

A Year of Office Pumping

I just realized, it's been more than a year since I got back from work! That means i'm a working mama for one year already and I've been a pumping mama for a year now! At first i thought pumping at work was an ordeal but as i progressed, it got easier and pumping became like second nature for me!

I really feel lucky that my job allows me to pump regularly. I know some moms who find it hard to pump while at work so they just forego breastfeeding when they get back to work.  A working mama's line of work can really greatly influence her choice on whether to breastfeed or not. I'm just very thankful that i'm among those who can breastfeed while e lucky ones who can

I think the main difference now that my son's 15-month old is that  i only pump in the office. When my child was less than one, i made it a point to pump or nurse every 3 - 4 hours. For me, that meant bringing the electric pump everywhere so that when baby can't nurse, i'll have to pump.  But now that he's a toddler, i make it a point to directly breastfeed whenever possible.

Here are pumping tips so you can last this long!!!!

Pump as often as you can! 

• If pumping three times is just not possible, then aim for two sessions!  I try to squeeze in a pump every 4 hours when i'm really busy.  When i go beyond 4 hours without nursing or pumping, my breasts feel heavy and full. 


• Frequent but short pumping is better than few but longer sessions. I used to pump for around 15 minutes but now one pumping session lasts 1o minutes. By Philippine law nursing employees should be given a total of a least 40 minutes in an 8-hour work period as lactation break.
  
  
  
  • To save time, i reuse pump parts for the next session, provided it it within the 4-hour window. If it's beyond that, i'll need to wash them. Store in container with ice packs to delay contamination.
  
  
  
  

[caption id="attachment_2106" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I invested in a good double electric breast pump. Using one makes expressing milk shorter and much more comfortable.[/caption]

• Pump where it's more convenient and accessible. By Philippine law still, they should be given lactation stations where they can pump in private and store milk.


• In our office, that lactation station is in the clinic, which is one storey away.    So instead of going there to pump, i just pump in the comfort of my own work station. I just cover up the best i can. I no longer mind than  my breast pump is a bit noisy.   I'm lucky my office mates don't seem to mind, (or at least, they don't show that they mind). While pumping,  i get to answer the phone and work on my computer. Over the few months, i mastered some multitasking skills - expressing and working is one of them!

Except drop in your pumping output

• Don't despair if you get much less than the amount you used to get months before. I used to get around15 to 20 oz of EBM when baby was below 6 months but now i'm getting just around 5 to 10 oz daily.  At one point, i yielded 1 oz after 15 minutes of double pumping.


•  Your production  adjusts to your child's demand, he needs less milk now your production also follows. 

Pump, pump, pump to extend nursing.

•  If you want to sustain your breast milk supply for extended breastfeeding then pumping might be a good idea. Unlike when he was less than one year old, your growing toddler's main source of nutrition is solids. He's also much more mobile and curious and chances are, the only decent nursing you have is during the night! Decreased nursing sessions might signal lower demand for milk. Pumping can help sustain your production for nursing longer.  

In my one-year pumping career, here are the mistakes I STILL MAKE:

Forgetting to refrigerate EBM after getting back from work

• Solution: If you can't put EBM in the fridge right away, assign someone to do so.

Forgetting to freeze ice packs for next day's pumping

• Solution: Have backup ice packs so you always have ice packs ready

Leaving behind small pump parts like valves or screw caps

• Solutions: Count all the parts before leaving the house. Learn hand expression. This can be handy in situations when can't use the electric breast pump.

So there - just some tips to sustain your pumping career! Happy pumping!

Also worth reading:

• Who has time to wash the pump parts?


• More tips for nursing and working mommies


• A working mom's guide on thawing and serving breast milk


• Breast milk storage tips from a working mama 

***

My Teething Toddler

At 14 months, my son only has three prominent teeth and the rest are just about to pop out!  Teething usually starts from  4 to 7 months but my baby's first teeth appeared at 11 months. The order by which his teeth are coming out is weird too! Usually, the molars appear next after the front teeth. But lo and behold, his canines came out next to his front teeth!

[caption id="attachment_3283" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is my adorable son sporting his first tooth at 11 months![/caption]

We are actually quite delighted that at long last, his teeth are coming out. These are signs that my baby is slowly becoming a big boy. If you are dealing with a teething toddler, consider these tips!

Expect low grade fever or diarrhea.

•  We’re lucky our son does not have these symptoms. A toddler's immune system is down at this point so be extra careful. This may be due to the stress on his developing body. Our pediatrician suggests avoiding  close contact with sick kids when teething so he won't catch any infection.

His behavior might change, too.

• Your toddler can be quite cranky at this time. I noticed this because he’s not his usually jolly and always smiling self.  I guess he’s irritated and bothered by the new thingies appearing in his mouth. He would often shake his head, pull his ear and touch his cheek, all these signs of teething.

He might refuse to eat!

• A toddler with a few teeth may be a bit harder to feed! His three teeth is his handicap! While some kids his age are learning how to chew and grind their food into small pieces, my son still has a hard time swallowing.  Make sure to give small, manageable pieces. Slice his food into cheweable pieces but always be on guard against choking.  I would still boil and mash hard foods like apples, peas or carrot because he can’t chew that much yet.  Give additional water to aid him is gulping down his food. We're trying to balance giving him infant cereals or giving him "real" foods.

Introduce oral hygiene at this time.

• This is easier said than done! I'm actually having a hard time cleaning his mouth and teeth.  He would clamp his mouth closed when i try to wipe his teeth with cotton or cloth.  When cleaning becomes a struggle, stop and try again next time. His gums are quite sensitive at this stage or may be painful too.  Don't force cleaning because he might develop fear about this and refuse tooth brushing altogether.  Take your time and just offer more water to rinse his mouth.

Biting during nursing sessions 

• A teething toddler is harder to breastfeed because he may bite. We discourage biting by asking him firmly to stop.  My baby seems to understand that biting hurts mommy so he must not continue. At times i would cringe in pain because of his bite, but i avoid letting him see my reaction. I think he sometimes finds it funny when i cringe in pain so he repeatedly bites!  So better to avoid making outbursts or react outright, even if it hurts so much.  Some kids do have a nursing strike at this stage, but not my son.  He would nurse to sleep for hours and he would wake out once my nipples get detouch from his mouth. So this mommy is also losing sleep as the baby is gaining more teeth.

Have fun dealing with your teething toddler!

Also worth reading: 

• Toddler feeding issues

***

Nursing my Toddler

Nursing remains our very own bonding session. It gives me much comfort knowing that my "dede" nourishes and soothes my growing toddler. La Leche League discusses the benefits of nursing beyond one year.

But apart from the health benefits extended breastfeeding bring, my very own selfish reason to nurse at this stage is because it's the topnotch way for us to cuddle and connect!  A growing boy like P is always distracted  about learning to talk and walk and in dealing with his emerging social life.  It gives me much satisfaction knowing that he's all eyes on me when he wants to nurse.

However, extended breastfeeding  is not at all a picture of  "mother and child" worthy of a painting.  There's an ugly and frustrating side to breastfeeding a toddler. You'll have to deal with an overactive and distracted child. But just so we're clear, any breastfeeding issue you might have can still be dealt with utmost patience and with the right information.

Here's what i deal with as a milk machine to a one-year old. I also wrote some ways how i deal with such issues.

 

Acrobatic breastfeeding positions

Remember how hard it was to find that perfect latch during baby's first weeks? Well, this won't be as hard when nursing a toddler. He'll know how to place his mouth already. In fact, he has mastered this so much that he'll try sucking in different positions! At one year old, some babies are very mobile they'll try nursing while sitting up, standing or upside down. Name it, P and i might have tried it!  Most of these new positions are just too awkward that it's just not possible to do outside the comfort of our private space.

[caption id="attachment_1775" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Here's our more "decent" nursing picture.[/caption]

As an eager explorer, P has learned to play with my other nipple while nursing. This irks me because he keeps fiddling and pinching my nipple. I guess this relaxes him and helps him go drowsy and sleepy. Again, this twiddling and pinching falls under the awkward category. I've learned to tolerate him.

Pain from biting

At thirteen months, my baby only has three teeth and he's teething right now. He enjoys biting because his gums are itchy. Our nursing session goes like this; he nurse for 5 to 10 minutes then stop. Then he'll bite my nipple. I cringe in pain, sometimes i laugh. I noticed that he would keep on biting if i react, whether i cringe in pain or if i  laugh. I guess he thinks that i like him biting me. He thinks i'm teasing him so he teases me back and biting my nipple!  When he starts biting i take this as a sign that he's done nursing. I stop nursing so he won't be encouraged to bite. He can ask to nurse later.

Asking for "dede"

My baby would touch my breast to indicate that he wants to dede. He does this every time he wants to nurse. When i come home from work, instead of a welcome home kiss, a get some breast frisking from him. Sometimes we would hear an occasional "dede" from him! Yes, my 13-month old can say a few words and "dede" is one of them.

He would also do this breast frisking while we're outside. Sometimes he'll go further by lifting my shirt!  It will help if you will give in right away to avoid a major tantrum. He could be really thirsty for milk, that's why he's asking! I made it a point to cover up to avoid shocked glances from onlookers.

Less breast milk intake and pumping output

A toddler needs more solids for steady weight gain and growth. At this point, he'll need more than milk. That means, we can expect a decrease in the intake of breast milk. I just make sure that i nurse on demand.

Since baby's demand for milk has decreased, expect a decrease in your pumping output as well.  Mine has halved since my pumping heydays during around baby's sixth month.

Shorter (or longer) breastfeeding session

How long a nursing session varies greatly. Sometimes it lasts just 3 to 5 minutes and that leaves me wondering whether he is satisfied at all.  Since he has turned his back on the bottle completely, he makes up for lost nursing time by nursing more at night.

For more information on extended nurse, here's Kellymom's notes.

***

How you could be wasting breast milk

During the height of my breast pumping and milk storing days, i had too much milk in the ref. This left my housemates complaining  that they don't have enough space to  store food! Now that my pumping output has dwindled to a meager half of what i used to bring home from work, i needed to adapt system that lessens milk wastage. To a pumping mama, every ounce of breast milk counts, so it calls for a wiser way to manage milk supply. Here are ways you could be wasting this liquid gold:

Storing too much in one container

• Keep breast milk in small amounts, just enough per baby feeding session.  This way, you'll thaw or heat just enough breast milk, since it's divided in "single serves".  The rest of your milk stash will be kept safe frozen or refrigerated. 

Transferring in too many containers 

• Minimize transferring milk from one container to the next. Use storage bottles that can double as feeding bottles, so you can just snap off the sealing disc and replace with synthetic nipple before serving. I've seen brands like Avent and Evenflo have such caps that can hold sealing discs and nipples. This way, you won't need to transfer in different containers.

[caption id="attachment_1649" align="aligncenter" width="300"] When you transfer to and from containers, you'll leave behind specks and drops of breast milk.[/caption]

Freezing right after pumping

• Suggestions on how long you can keep milk in the fridge varies. The US Center for Disease Prevention and Control says three days.  Mayoclinic says five to eight days. In the the Breastfeeding Answer Book of La Leche League International, eight days in the ref is still acceptable. Keep breast milk at the back, away from the door. I maximize milk shelf life by keeping mine for five days in the fridge, then freezing if it's not used up. Remember that thawed breast milk will be safe to consume up to 24 hours when stored in the fridge.  

Thawing too much too soon

•  If you won't be able to use milk in 24 hours, then avoid thawing breast milk. Thawed breast milk have shorter shelf life than cold refrigerated milk.  Put numbers your milk bottles so your baby sitter will know which one of the milk should be consumed first.

Not putting expressed breast milk in the ref right away

• I don't know about you, but as a working mom, i forget everything else when i get home from the office. This includes tucking that precious milk you pumped in the  fridge, so sometimes i wake up the next day to discover that the ebm is still in the cooler and the ice packs have melted already!!! Darn... such a waste of milk! But don't throw it out just yet!  If it's still cold to touch, then it's still good. Consider how long you left it like that, most ice packs keep milk cold up to 12 hours. If you're still in doubt, room temperature breast milk lasts until four hours.  So if it's within that period, then the milk is still good.  To avoid this predicament, make refrigerating your ebm and freezing the ice packs the second thing you do when you come home. The first thing, of course, is to hug that child who has been waiting for you all day long!   

Throwing away leftover breast milk

• Some moms just throw out milk that baby failed to consume in one feeding. I, however, reuse breast milk, but only until baby's next feeding. After that and there's still leftover, that's when i discard. It's better to refrigerate leftover milk than leaving it at room temperature to slow down the growth of bacteria.


• If you're concerned about reusing breast milk, read this post from Kellymom on reusing breast milk.   Whether you decide to reuse breast milk may or not may depend on your baby's sensitivity to bacteria.  I guess reusing breast milk may not be advisable for a newborn, since her immune system is still developing.  You may also hold off on reusing when baby is sick, since his immune system may be down at this point.

A nursing working mommy will always doubt if she'll be able to make enough milk for her little  one.  One way to cast the doubt is by making sure every drop of milk is well spent! Also worth reading:

• A working mom's guide on thawing and serving breast milk


• Breastmilk storage tips from a working mommy


• Coming to terms with low milk supply

***

This Mommy's New Year's Resolution

It’s 2013 and I’m a proud mommy of a toddler! I'm glad that the pressures from P's birthday party are done and gone, sa wakas! I could not be happier, having such an active and healthy son.  I do hope it stays that way.

I have a few targets for the coming year, all for being a better mommy. So  I’m  sharing my resolutions this 2013!

Start saving for P’s education

• In a few years, tuition dues will come knocking on my door so best to start saving right now! A painless way to do this is to automate savings. I plan to have a no-touch account for him and ask my bank to automatically deduct a portion of my salary and transfer that to the no-touch account. This way, I won’t be “aware” of the deposits I’m making to that account since all that’s left in my ATM is salary minus my son’s “education fund”.


• I’ll be scouting for more investments since I’ve noticed a huge, huge hike in tuition! Imagine, when I was in high school an entire school year costs just P8,000. When I went to our high school recently i saw that tuition is P48,000! Just how much would that be my son enters high school?

Start saving for my retirement

• Yes, aside from my son’s schooling, I’m really concerned about my retirement.  I would not want to be old, toothless and penniless!  I have hard working parents who emphasized the value of every centavo they earn and how it’s important to prepare for old age.  In short, huwag daw gawing retirement plan ang pag-asang aalagaan ka ng anak mo pagtanda mo. Let’s face it, by the time i’m about 60 and retired (hopefully), my son will be busy earning for his own child’s future. So best to set aside a portion of your current income for that.


• I'm keeping a coin box on my work station for all my loose change. I'll open a savings account just for this. When it grows big enough i shall transfer the fund to higher earning investments like mutual funds or stocks. This may be loose change, but i gotta start somewhere, right?

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The iconic piggy bank should be always in sight so you'll be reminded of your financial goals.[/caption]

Cook more

• In 2012 i was swamped with lots of food deliveries and eat-outs. May be because the doting mother in me would not want to be away from the baby to cook. We were even introduced to eat-all-you-can restaurants lately! Well, this can be a culprit why i'm having such a hard time saving. So for this coming year,  i vow to cook more!. This way i get to cut back on those expensive meals. Besides, my toddler is starting to taste real foods and i would love to have my son taste my cooking, too!

Be more organized

• Clutter has been permanent in my life. Even when i was still single and living with my dorm mates, i really had that stash of junk that i can't seem to put away.  Now, baby's accumulating a lot of clothes and toys, which occupy a lot of space in our already cramped up room. So for next year, i vow to rid my space of all my junk to give way for his stuff.  It's time to make our space more baby-friendly.


• The diaper bag has also been a cause for concern. It's becoming heavier and harder to lug that around so i'm planning to simplify my life by bringing only the basic necessities. Here's  What to Expect's shortlist of the stuff to put in that bag.

Breastfeed longer

• That little toddler has been more up and about, eager to explore his surroundings but at the end of the day, he still looks for his mommy for that last minute meals... and i'm more than glad to indulge him. After a year of nursing, i'm still excited about it!  Although some can say that it's time to wean baby, i would rather not, not at this time. I guess it's me who’s not yet ready to say good bye to breastfeeding. So for next year I plan to sustain my dwindling milk supply.  No matter how disheartening it is to see how little my pumping output has been lately, I still continue to pump.  There’s really no better way to get more milk than to pump more frequently and to nurse directly whenever possible. I was inspired by this post on how beneficial extended breastfeeding is.

A new year marks the beginning of  another chapter in our lives... so it's never too late to start over and be better. Happy New Year, folks!

***

For Breastmilk Givers and Takers

"Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (September). For this month, we will tackle milk sharing and how it can nurture the community, and how this spirit of giving can be sustained. Participants will share their thoughts, experiences, hopes and suggestions on the topic. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries."



Being able to donate milk is a great    sense of pride. What better way to spread the culture of breastfeeding than sharing the precious liquid to babies in need? I'm overjoyed to be successfully breastfeeding my son and helping other babies in the process.

Yup, beyond the need to free our freezer of ounce and ounces of EBM is the genuine desire to help other babies in need of breast milk. Nagpaparinig na din kasi si MIL na wala nang space sa freezer. haha....

I’ve kept tabs of the amount of breast milk I’ve shared – about 800 ounces so far!  An online ad selling breast milk at Php 150 per 5 oz! Imagine, add that rate, I would have earned Php 24,000! Kaaashhiing... Kashinggg. When i'm preparing milk for donation, my husband would jokingly ask, "Kikita ba tayo dyan?”

But seriously, I don’t believe breast milk should be sold or bought. I’d be uncomfortable about earning over something that some one else is in dire need of. I’d rather give than sell. I’d rather receive than pay for it.

[caption id="attachment_1079" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Building an EBM stash is a pumping mama's goal. Blessed are those who have enough ... and more to share to other babies.[/caption]

Having shared BM for some time, let me share my notes for breast milk givers and takers.

Choose your method of sharing. 

You can contact hospitals with milk banks to donate. Puede rin namang peer to peer lang, kagaya ng sharing among office mates. Kahit sa web, through sites like  Human Milk for Human Babies, puede naman makahanap ng willing magdonate.

My first milk sharing experience was at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in QC. Initially I wanted to share milk strictly to formal systems – like hospitals, since there are strict rules for donors. They can also pasteurize the milk. This way, makakahinga ako ng maluwag, knowing that what i'm sharing only goodness to the babies, hindi bacteria or virus.  Sayang nga kasi tatlo lang yata ang milk bank sa atin - UP Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and the Philippine Children's Medical Center.

Donating to PCMC is really fulfilling, knowing that it’s for needy baby patients.  PCMC admits only high-risk pregnancies, so there are limited breastfeeding moms in the hospital. Kaya sila umaasa sa mga outside donor. Since hindi naman kami mayaman to donate financially, I donate breast milk, which i had in abundance at that time.

My next donation was through informal platforms. Actually,  it was to my nephew. My sister had difficulty producing milk after giving birth due to flat nipples.  Nakatulong din naman ang milk ko kasi natuto sya magpadede.   Actually, pinilit ko talaga sya magpadede. Kaya ako nagbigay ng gatas sa kanya para di na sya bibili ng formula. I think supplementing with formula is the first step to sabotage breastfeeding.  Now, I’m happy  she’s exclusively breastfeeding her two-month old.

Nakapag-share na din ako sa katrabaho. It was for newborn who's hypoglycemic. The mom had APAS while preggy and she  gave birth thru c section. I commend her  for actually working hard to produce. I know she’ll manage to produce enough. Napapraning lang siguro kasi konti pa lang ang napapump nya.

Breast milk sharing has risks.

Importante din na aware ang mga tumatanggap ng milk na may health risks. Even the  US Food and Drug Agency discourages informal breast milk sharing, like through the internet.

According to the FDA, risks to baby include exposure to:
infectious diseases, including HIV
chemical contaminants and illegal drugs 
prescription drugs that might be in the human milk

Possible rin na hindi maayos ang handling and tranport ng milk. Hindi naman makakasiguro unless kilala mo mismo ung nagdo-donate diba?

Maihahambing din daw natin sa mga organ at blood donor ang mga breast milk donors. Diba ganun ka-delicate. Kaya dapat talaga mula sa mapagkakatiwalaan ang tatanggaping gatas! Bukod dito, malay mo ba kung tumira ng ilang galong kape ang milk donor. Eh di good luck sa baby mo,baka 24/7 syang mulat!!! hahaha....

In the Philippines, donated breast milk seems a much more limited resource than in the US.  We only have a few milk banks, which could make breast milk sharing much safer and easier. To donate to milk banks, moms need to undergo screening by filling out an application form and undergoing a blood test. Puede rin makabili ng breast milk dito, kaso may kamahalan. Saka dadaan talaga sa butas ng karayom ang mga bibili. Recipients will be screened under a strict criteria. Saka madalas daw na ubos ang breast milk sa milk bank.

At dahil nga kakarampot lang mga milk bank natin, malamang hindi rin pasteurized ang makukuha sa mga donors, like your friends or ung nakotantak mo sa FB. You may also be taking milk from a mom who's not screened as a donor.

Hindi naman ako tutol sa peer to peer breast milk sharing kaya lang dapat aware lang ang mga recipients. There are ways to mitigate the risks.

Naniniwala din naman akong walang masamang intensyong ang mga milk donor. Syempre, isang gatas lang naman ang ido-donate nila at yung ibinibigay nila sa mga anak nila diba.

Just to be safe, recipients should inquire about the donor’s health background before accepting milk. Alisin na ang kyeme ng mga donee moms sa pagtatanong, para ito sa kapakanan ng baby.

Another safety measure donee moms can take is to have the milk pasteurized in hospitals with milk banks. You can inquire if they offer such service. You can have the milk pasteurized there for a fee. Kung taga Quezon City, you can contact PCMC Milk Bank at 9246601 local 288.

You may also opt to do some pasteurizing at home.  Here's USAID's instructions on how to heat treat breast milk while keeping nutrients for babies. Kung para sa  premature babies, you might want to pasteurize milk since premies have weaker immune systems.

Breast milk expression is not free.

There are some expenses involved in this whole pumping at work system, like breast milk bags!  Sa totoo lang, medyo magastos din pala ang storage bags, lalo na kung madaming gatas ang nae-express. Donee moms can at least replace the bags.  I recently asked my breast milk recipient to replace the bags I used.

At first I was hesitant to ask for replacement bags. But I’m surprised because the recipient was happy to replace them. I guess it was her way of giving back and saying thanks.

Watch out for INVALID breast milk recipients.

Breast milk seems to be scarce resource when in virtually every mom can make enough milk for their babies, that's according to WHO.  So I really think donor moms should choose the recipients wisely. Expressing breast milk takes time and effort, you know. I’ve allotted time to pump while at work. I’ve let go of long merienda breaks just to express milk for my baby. Other moms should do the same for their babies.

I figured, I’m not actually helping such moms, because I tolerate their “katamaran”. Breastfeeding succes takes time, effort and the right information. Your breast milk is better off donated to babies and moms in GENUINE need of breast milk.

Nabasa ko dati "It takes a village to raise a child"?  Well, in so many ways,  breast milk sharing is a top way how moms can help in raising healthy children in the community. I am happy to share the best nutrition my baby enjoys to other babies.

Bukod sa pasalamat na natatanggap ko, sharing breast milk is a privilege. I hope to do this as long as possible.

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In commemoration of World Milk Sharing Week 2012, share your own experiences as a milk donor or a recipient. Don't forget to visit the other participants of our blog carnival:

Mafeth wrote about being a milk donee
Cris donated her liquid gold
Pat had a happy problem donating solved
Jenny wrote about wet nursing from a relative's experience
Rachel discussed how she felt about receiving donated milk and nursing an adoptee's baby
Mec insists it takes two to Milk Share Tango
Cai received milk from her sister
Nats has a Milk Sharing Story too

Also worth reading:

• Alarming facts about breastfeeding in the Philipines


• Rights of the Filipina working mom 

A Working Mom's Guide on Thawing and Serving Breast Milk

Most of the thawing and the bottle feeding is actually done by my MIL, my trusted caregiver. I'm away for about 8 hours daily for work, so i make it a point that i personally thaw and prepare his breast milk for the day.

How to thaw breastmilk

• Heat in warm (not boiling) water in pan. To speed up thawing put milk container in pan with warm water, gradually add hot water to speed up melting.


• To slowly defrost milk transfer it to the ref the night before you need it. Milk usually thaws in the refrigerator for 12 hours.


• When thawing don’t  submerge the container in water. This prevents water from seeping into the container


• Never leave frozen milk to thaw at room temperature because this will promote rapid growth of bacteria


• The US FDA warns against using the microwave to thaw milk. The agency says microwaves can cause dangerous hot spots that could burn you or baby.


• Don't boil breast milk. This will destroy the antibodies and other nutrients present in human milk.

Note: You can also serve breast milk cold. I have given baby cold breast milk on several occasions.

Time limits of thawed breast milk

• La Leche League says breast milk at room temperature stays good  for 4 to 6 hours.  During summer in a tropical country like the Philippines, this period is should be shortened. High temperature increases risk of spoilage.  I follow a three hour-rule for breast milk at room temp. The key here is to follow a lower limit, especially for preemies and newborn.


• Thawed breast milk  should be as consumed within 24 hours.


• Breast milk that has completely melted should not be refrozen.

Reusing breast milk

• There are times when baby doesn't  finish the entire contents of the bottle. So moms ask, can i reuse  breastmilk? Actually there are conflicting recommendations on reusing breast milk. Read Kellymom's discussion here.


• As for me, i reuse leftover breast milk. It will be a total waste if i don't! I refrigerate it as soon as baby refuses the milk. Then i just warm it for the next feeding. If he does not finish this, then that's when i throw out the milk.

Preparing baby bottles

• Number your child's breast milk bottles. This is useful if you serve both thawed and cold milk. If you're serving thawed and frozen breast milk during the day, you have to serve the thawed milk first.  Thawed fresh milk has shorter shelf life than refrigerated milk.

• Double wrap the milk in the refrigerator so it won't absorb odors from other stuff in your ref.

[caption id="attachment_3263" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Here's how i put labels on my ebm containers. This is a must so your helper knows which bottles to serve first.[/caption]

 

On BM containers

• Choose breast milk storage that can double as feeding bottles.

• To lessen milk wastage, store in containers that double as feeding bottles. Transferring milk from one container to another encourage milk wastage. I use Avent storage bottles, when serving i just snap off the sealing disc then replace with nipples.

Serving breast milk

• More often, your caretaker will be the one serving the BM so you should leave clear instructions. Let them know about the proper handling milk. Examine EBM before serving.Breast milk could sometimes smell slightly sweet or soapy, depending on mom's diet. Discard milk that smells foul or sour.

[caption id="attachment_3264" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My breast milk: the creamy stuff rises to the bottle's edge. Color and consistency of breast milk varies depending on your diet.[/caption]

 

• Breast milk is not processed like cow's milk. Some cream can separate from the rest of the milk after days of refrigeration. The cream rises near the rim of the container. Just swirl the container to mix the cream and the rest of the milk.


• Always check the milk's temperature. It should not be too hot for risk of burning.

So,  that's how i'm thawing and serving expressed milk to our baby! Hope you find the tips useful!!

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Breastfeeding Beyond 6 Months: Problems and Solutions

I'm glad i was able to pass, with flying colors,  the 6-month exclusive breastfeeding hurdle. And it's been more than 2 months since baby started taking in solid foods.

Honestly, i'm kinda sad about the fact that i'm no longer baby's lone source of nutrition. He's no longer exclusively breastfed and he seems to be delighted by all the new foods he's been tasting! Hayyy... I have mixed emotions about this.

On one hand, i'm glad that he's introduced to solids and he seems to have no adverse reactions so far. On the other hand, the selfish me is tearing up inside as i struggle to breastfeed him some more!

[caption id="attachment_354" align="aligncenter" width="300"] P enjoying frozen fruits in a mesh.[/caption]

According to Unicef, breast milk is best for babies even until 2 years. It's written in the agency's publication entitled  Facts for Life:

 "Breast milk remains an important source of energy, protein and other nutrients such as vitamin A and iron, even when babies begin to consume additional foods after 6 months of age. Breast milk helps protect a child against disease for as long as the child breastfeeds. It is recommended that a mother continue to breastfeed her child up to two years and beyond – as long as she and the child wish to continue. Breastfeeding can comfort a child who is upset and is an important source of nourishment during a child’s illness." 

My husband and I agreed that we'll breastfeed for at least two years. Now, 8 months on, it's getting harder to nurse my son. I keep on thinking, "He seems to be more interested in the outside world than my boobs!"

Here are some of the breastfeeding challenges that  i deal with everyday and some ways to handle them.

Baby’s teething!

My son now bites during our breastfeeding session.  Although he has no teeth yet, it still hurts. I can feel his gums as he bites my nipple and the skin near it.

• When baby does this I ask him to stop and then I unlatch. This way, he'll learn that we can't go on if he continues to bite.  I’m still teaching baby how to stop biting. I expect more hurt from cuts in my nipples as baby has yet to get his pearly whites. But i'm determined to breastfeed even until the time he gets his teeth. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and I hope I get to do this!  Here are more suggestions when baby bites.

Baby’s often distracted.

Since he passed the 6-month mark, I noticed that baby has been more distracted. He's more busy and alert now. He stops breastfeeding for anything.... like  dogs barking, sounds from TV, voices of his lolo or lola. His only decent feeding is during bed time!

I  try to rid him of distractions so he can continue breastfeeding. Here's what i do:

• I dim the lights in our room so he can focus on breastfeeding.


• I close the door to avoid outside noise so he continues feeding


• I turn down the tv or radio volume so he's less distracted

Here are more tips to deal with a distracted baby.

It’s now getting harder to find time for a decent feeding session.

When he was still a newborn, he fed almost every 2 hours. Now i struggle to breastfeed even at 4 hour intervals! Since baby learned to sit upright (with support) and to stand with support. He seemed to be enjoying his new perspectives, he can't stay put and breastfeed for at least 10 minutes!

• I  try to breastfeed at least 6 times per day to ensure that he gets enough milk.  I let him nurse all he want in the morning, before i go to work and at night, when we're about to sleep.


• Just like any prodding mom, i offer him my breast on any chance i get. Sure, i feel hurt when he snobs them. But i still insist and hope that he sucks some more.


• I'm also exploring new breastfeeding positions to keep up with my now semi-mobile son.  I expect that my acrobatic moves will be put to test.

It's getting harder to squeeze in a pumping session while at work.

It's almost 5 months since i got back after my maternity leave and work has been more and more demanding! I was given special treatment as a new working mom. But after 5 months, i'm a less new working mom already. People have been less lenient in the office. More and more deadlines are given to me, like any other ordinary employee. As i  get more busy at work, it's getting harder to squeeze in a pumping session. Read this more for tips for working moms who breastfeed.

Expressing breast milk is important at this stage because baby directly breastfeeds less. Pumping will help maintain your breast milk production so never miss a chance to pump when you can't directly breastfeed.

• When i'm really too busy, i just pump for 10 minutes instead of the usual 15 minutes per session. Frequent short pumping sessions are better than just one long pumping session.


• There are times when i do work outside the office and get back later in the day. I bring an extra manual pump and a cooler bag during these days just in case it's too late and my breasts feel engorged while out of the office. So far, i'm still not able to pump outside the office.


• I squeeze one more pumping session when i get back from work if baby's sleeping.  Eight months on and my mantra's still the same - pump, pump, pump!!!

Since I’m away for about 8 to 10 hours daily, I’m not sure anymore if baby is  dutifully offered breast milk.

My MIL is overly excited to introduce many types of food for baby. I really get paranoid and i hope she delays giving baby meats, eggs and citrus fruits. I  plan to give such foods later, may be in 10 months, so we can reduce risks of an upset stomach. Delaying such food will also allow time to ready baby's stomach for more complex foods.  I've also noticed that his expressed breast milk intake dwindled. From the usual 16 ounces, he just drank  about 10 - 12 ounces while i'm at work!

• What i do to lessen overfeeding of solid baby food is to "ration" his baby food. I just bring out 2 small jars of baby food for baby to consume while i'm away. I put these jars with the 4 baby bottles for his consumption while i'm at work.


• I also give clear instructions that only the food i prepared shall be given to baby. And i pray that these clear instructions are followed by the caregiver, hopefully.

Introduction of complementary food 

This is the main culprit why baby gets less milk.  From the wording itself, baby food is  complementary food! I just want to point out even more, baby food at 6 months is meant to complement breast milk. Kelly Mom says that breast milk should be the main source of nutrition until 1 year.

I'm not undermining the benefits of baby food. Baby food is vital so that he can get nutrients like protein. Introducing  baby food will also ensure that  he'll get used to different tastes and texture of foods.

My pediatrician already warned that baby's breast milk intake will decrease once solid foods are introduced. So here's what i do to ensure he's getting adequate amounts of breast milk:

• I nurse him before i give him solids. This ways he'll be less hungry and be satisfied with just 3 to 4 spoonfuls of solids.


• I limit the amount of  baby food, just 3 to 4 tablespoons per feeding. I serve  solids 3 times a day. I plan to increase to 4 times by 10 months.


• I let him drink 1 ounce of expressed breast milk from the cup after feeding solids. This also serves as his practice sipping from a cup.


• I use breast milk to dilute his baby food, which includes pureed fruits and veggies and infant cereals.


• I also serve frozen breast milk in a mesh feeder. Baby enjoys munching on a feeder because it relieves his itchy gums.

I'm committed to breastfeed until at least two years, so i'm intently researching on ways how i can deal with these struggles.  I really to hope to get through these breastfeeding blunders.

Click here to read about breastfeeding beyond one year!

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