#YolandaPH : Yet Another Reason to Go Back to the Breast

Being able to breastfeed is equal to empowering all moms to feed a hungry baby at any time, no matter how worse the situation may be! I can only imagine how bad the situation in Yolanda-hit areas - still no electricity after more than a week since the brunt of the storm and almost all the establishments leveled - but I am sure that among the supplies quickly depleted is clean and potable water.  Such water plus clean feeding bottles are the among the things you need should you decide to formula feed.  Such may be difficult or in most cases, impossible to come by during emergency situations. This is the main reason why breastfeeding is the safest option, emergency or not.

The World Health Organization puts is in much simpler terms, " Infant formula usually needs to be mixed with water. When there isn’t sufficient safe water available, babies who drink it can get very sick".  

My bucketlist for the next pregnancy

Ehem... No, i'm not pregnant! I know it's still too early to contemplate on this because we plan have the baby at least two years from now. But since it's my birthday, i have a loooong wish list for my second pregnancy.

Exactly two years ago, the hubby and I were clueless schmucks waiting in line to have our very first visit with the OB.  Learning that i was pregnant was actually the best birthday gift i ever received! From that day forth, every pregnancy-related issue we encountered we dealt with utmost care and caution.

Since the first time is always trial and error time, i hope my next pregnancy can go on more smoothly and much more enjoyable!

Here are  my "points for improvement" for next time.

VBAC! 

•  I had C-section on my first pregnancy because of placenta previa. This is why i'm aiming to give birth the natural way the next time around.  I just hope VBAC will be possible in my case.  We need to discuss this with the OB.   Most of the moms i know who had CS on their first also had CS on their second!  Actually i don't know anyone who had vaginal birth after cesarean. 

More control over the delivery process

• I know, delivering a baby is a medical procedure but moms should also play active participation. In my first i was just very passive, it was really like i don't know what's going on. I guess second timers will know more about the birthing process and they can probably ask  "more intelligent" questions. For my second, i'll definite assert that baby be latched right away.

[caption id="attachment_2329" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I'd love to experience breast crawl, which i did not get to do the first time!
Source: Unang Yakap's Facebook page[/caption]

• I got to touch my baby only after 3 days, imagine that? By the way, did you know that a sign that your hospital is baby-friendly is if they facilitate breast crawl? I'm just not sure how it is for other hospitals or clinics, but when i was pregnant i totally did not know about breast crawl, that first close contact between mom and newborn right after birth. Our Department of Health says Unang Yakap is essential for the well being of both newborns and moms! I'll definitely discuss this with my OB and the pedia for the next time around.

To check out with newborn in tow

• When i was discharged, my baby was left in the nursery for 5 more days! His birth weight was very low and very very mild pneumonia. We patiently waited for the go signal from Doc until our newborn was well enough to come home with us. So it's my earnest wish for my next baby to be healthy so we'll be able to go home on the same day!

Photos galore! 

• I did not have decent pregnancy pictures! Actually i was camera shy back then. I was actually taking photos of my growing belly week-on-week through the What to Expect app during my first trimester. But i got impatient and stopped taking pictures later.  We did not have pics of the baby in the delivery room. On d-day we were in panic mode and we forgot about the camera! I can vividly recall the OB asking for the camera in the delivery room. If i was not given anesthesia, i'd probably get up and get my camera just to capture that special moment!

[caption id="attachment_2320" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I would love a fab shot of my belly!
Source of photo: virginia.gov[/caption]

• Now i'm relishing the thought of having a photo session - as in full on pregnancy  and breastfeeding pictorials!  I love to have some fab photos of my mommy journey.  And I'll definitely insist on bringing that darn camera in the delivery room! I would love to have photos so that we can have a cherished memento of his first day out.  

Fabulous maternity wardrobe

• I was penny pinching during  first pregnancy. I think i bought just 5 or 6 sets of wardrobes that time.

[caption id="attachment_2340" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Who would not want to have nice clothes during such a special occasion?
Source of photos:eden.com.ph[/caption]

• Now i realized it will be worth the investment, if i get dual purpose wardrobe - as in clothes for both maternity and nursing. Here and here are some of the nursing wear i'm currently drooling for.  

They say every pregnancy is different but we can try new things to get better the next time around. We always learn from the mishaps from our previous pregnancy!

How did you first pregnancy fare to your second? Were you able "to do better" the next time around?

Also worth reading:

• Learnings from an emergency cesarean section

***

Rights of the Filipina Working Mom

I have just about 16 months of motherhood and i could not ask for anything more! Being a mother has totally met, and oftentimes,  exceeded,  my expectations. I also have the rest of my life being the doting mommy to this wonderful little human being! It's been just over a year and i think i've changed a lot, for the better i hope! Mother's Day is just around the corner and what better way to remember this day than to list down some of the rights of Pinay working mommies!

Maternity leave

• Every regularly employed mom should be given about one month paid maternity leave by her company after a normal delivery. Maternity leave after CS is about 78 days (approximately three months). She can also take two weeks off before her expected date of delivery.  The bad news ,  i think this, this applies to REGULAR employees only. The leave arrangement varies for contractual or project-based workers.


• In hindsight, i'm actually thankful that i had c-section, i had 3 months time off with my newborn!  But did you know the Filipino moms have a short period of maternity leave compared to other countries? In Norway, which is among the best place for moms according to the 2013 State of the World's Moms, maternity leave lasts for 36 to 46 weeks! In Denmark, maternity leave is 0ne year! I'd love to have given birth there! haha


• Imagine if Filipino moms have longer time off after giving birth. They'll have longer time to bond with baby.  Surely, they'll breastfeed longer! Some moms stop breastfeeding after the first month because they have to return to work already!

Maternity allowance

• Aside from paid time off, working moms who are pregnant are entitled to   SSS maternity benefit. This is cash allowance for female workers who are not able to work because of  child birth or miscarriage.  Naturally, the SSS maternity benefit is larger for CS cases. Click here for the computation.


• This benefit can only be released to you if your SSS records and contributions are in order.  So better review the records and notify your HR as soon as you confirmed your pregnancy. You'll have to file an SSS maternity notification form. If you undergo cesarean delivery, you should submit a medical certificate from your OB. By the way, even a self- employed or contractual worker moms can avail of this maternity benefit.


• Ideally, you should receive the SSS check one month before your expected date of delivery. The SSS maternity benefit i got was spent to buy a swanky double electric breast pump! So better have this in order, sayang din ang benefit na ito!

Health coverage 

• Working moms are entitled to health benefit coverage when they give birth.  This mean that upon billing, hospitals are required to deduct this  coverage from your bill.  This automatic deduction will only happen if your records are updated and you have processed the required documents. You need to submit Philhealth Claim Form 1 to your hospital (make sure that the hospital is Philhealth-accredited). You also need your latest available Member Data Record, which you can get from your Human Resource Department or from the Philhealth office where you pay your premiums.  Click this for more information on Philhealth  medical availments.


• If these papers are not in order upon your checkout, you'll have to personally file for reimbursement. That's totally a hassle and the reimbursement check will be released after two loooonnggg  months.


• For normal delivery the amount deducted is P6,500 to P8,000 (depending on type of hospital). For cesarean delivery, the Philhealth coverage is P19,000. Read this for more information about Philhealth coverage.


• Lucky are those with HMO that cover at least a portion of the maternity bill!

Lactation breaks

• I know I sound like a broken record when i say, "Breastfeeding is possible even after you return to work"! BUT IT'S TRUE! By law, employers should give lactation breaks - at least 40 minutes within an 8-hour period to pump milk at work.  But the problem is not all offices or companies provide accessible lactation stations, which make expressing breast milk much more comfortable. This is among the reasons why breastfeeding while working is such a challenge!

Skin-to-skin contact right after giving birth

• This is not just for working moms! All moms should be given ample time right after giving birth to bond and experience "breast crawl".  This is among my frustrations, since it was an emergency cs delivery for me and my baby was not well enough. He had a hard time breathing during the first hour!


• According to the Department of Health, "Unang Yakap" helps decrease new born mortality and it increases bonding between mom and her infant. I do hope i get to do this on my next pregnancy! For preggy mommies, ask your OB about the hospital's protocol about this.

Happy Mother's Day to all especially to Pinay working moms!  I wish that every mommy be empowered to KNOW and ASSERT her right!

Also worth reading:

• Downloadables for pregnant moms and mos to be


• Alarming facts about breastfeeding in the Philippines


• For breast milk givers and takers

***

The Dilemma of a Working Mama

Yes, I’m among the millions of moms who, sadly, have to her child behind every day to “earn a living”! Being a working mom is the norm nowadays but I can’t help but be sad as I leave my son at home.  I always think that every day that passes while I’m at work is time with my son lost!

I'm also among the millions of moms who agonize daily about entrusting the welfare of her son to caregivers. I'm one of those who multitask at work.  On one hand, i juggle the daily requirement of the job and on the other hand, i also cater to the daily needs of my child.

I'm among the moms who shed a tear upon hearing the voice of  "disgruntled" child over the phone, probably asking, "Mommy, what time ka uwi?" 

Working from home or being a housewife is out of the question! My job is important for us! Needless to say, the household can’t run on a single income so this mama just gotta shut up and deal with being a working mama!

I've been a working mama for just a year now, this is still work in progress, but here are some ways that can help make this setup work!

Make the most out or your weekends!

Since you can’t be with the baby 24/7, make it a point to spend weekends with the family! You don’t have to spend much, just being together and enjoying a simple meal can make the time spent worthwhile!

[caption id="attachment_3079" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We have the kid in tow even on weekend errands![/caption]

Be a hands-on mom at home.

• I make it a point to cook for my child and feed him as often as I can!  Since I’m out of the house 1 pm to 9pm, I make sure that the remainder of my waking hours are spent taking care of the family.  This way, my child won't see me as an absentee mom! Before leaving for work, i also prepare his bottles of milk and food so that the caregivers will just reheat it.  At least i have an idea what's he's eating while i'm away.

Deal with separation anxiety positively.        

• I’m not really sure if this is the right way to deal with separation anxiety, but I don’t say goodbye to my kid when I leave for the office. Sometimes he throws a fit seeing me leave. Sometimes he does not seem to bother when i leave.  I guess when he gets older, he should be told  why mommy leaves him every day.  I need to communicate with my son better so he'll understand the importance of my work.

Leave work in the office!

• Avoid bringing work at home, unless absolutely necessary.  When i was single i used to bring files and files of office work at home. That's the procrastinator in me.  But now that i'm a mama, i make sure that 100% of my family time is spent with the family.  Although my line of work calls for being "on call" all the time, i make sure there's a clear line separating work and home affairs.  Mommies must manage time efficiently in the office so you won't have to bring your work home.

Have trustworthy caregivers!

• This is my secret weapon how I’m still able to work and leave my kid  at home. I have reliable and trustworthy partners at home - my mother-in-law and father-in-law plus the help. I'm at peace knowing that my son doesn't go astray while i'm away. I have my mother-in-law who oversees taking care of baby.  Our help is very efficient and very masipag.  That's why my son  doesn’t go hungry, dirty or unattended! At least that's the silver lining in all this.  I really am thankful that i'm leaving my son in good hands.

These are  just some ways to keep this system going.  How about you, how do you deal with being a working mama?

***

SAVE or SPLURGE? A New Mom’s Guide to Saving

Among my top goals for 2013 is to SAVE! Looking back at 2012,  I'm really shocked at how much we earned as a couple and where all that earnings went. Most of it went to our mad rush to the malls to buy clothes, toys and other baby stuff!

Over a period of one year, we’ve had some big purchases. Much later,  I’ve realized some items are worth splurging on, while some we could have definitely save on.

I think most new moms feel the need to BUY IT ALL for the baby.  But for families with a tight budget, being informed will help save a lot of bucks! This post is for those who want some info before buying such products.

Baby Food

[caption id="attachment_1574" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Instead of serving infant cereals, try preparing baby food made from local fruits and crops.[/caption]

• You may want to SAVE on baby food by making your own.


• Make home made foods for baby!  Each small jar of baby food can cost about P50.00. This amount can be costly, especially if you have an avid eater. Plus, serving homemade foods may help prevent a baby from becoming a picky eater.


• You can take some root crops, veggies and fruits from the family grocery. Just simmer and puree. Click here for some baby food recipes.

Breast Pump

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Expressing milk at work will be easier with a reliable breast pump.[/caption]

• SPLURGE on a good breast pump if you’re working and you intend to pump at work. A reliable breast pump will be your breastfeeding best friend!  A double electric pump will cut your pumping time in half.  Sure, you have to spend much more than a manual pump, but in the long run, your investment will pay off.


• Read this post on how to save on other breastfeeding supplies.

Nursing  Clothes

• Save on nursing clothes by using a plain shawl as cover up. I seldom bought breastfeeding blouses. I just used blouses with v necklines and those with front openings.


• One or two nursing bras will help you nurse in comfort. Before buying a nursing bra, keep in mind that your breasts will go back to their original size 3 to 6 months after giving birth.

Baby Walker

[caption id="attachment_1578" align="aligncenter" width="233"] Invest in a sturdy baby walker, your baby's safety depends on it.
(Source of Photo:cpsc.gov)[/caption]

• SPLURGE!  Using a baby walker seems to be a norm in most Filipino household when training baby to walk.  Splurge on this one because cheap baby walkers lack safety features. Read this post on what to look for when buying a walker.

Baby Clothes

[caption id="attachment_1576" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Unless you have enough bucks for a fashionista baby, you may want to save on baby clothes! (Source of Photo: nyc.gov)[/caption]

• You can definitely SAVE on baby clothes!  Avoid buying too many tie side shirts and pajamas – the kind that weeks-old babies use.  I got by with just 5 to 7 sets of these. Babies grow, at a much faster pace than  we think.


• It might be a good idea to choose the next bigger size when buying clothes for your little one. This way, baby can wear them longer!

So there, I do hope you get some insights before spending!

ALSO WORTH READING:

• SAVE or SPLURGE? A New Mom’s Guide to Saving (PART 2) 

***

Lessons Learned After my Baby Got Sick

Baby recently got hospitalized and confined in the hospital for a few days! I really pitied him as he cringed in pain as the needle is pierced in his small baby hands as the IV was being placed. I shed some tears knowing that he is still too young to feel such pain! And as the heartbreak song asks, "Where did i go wrong?". Surely any working mom would have some guilt not being able to be with baby 24/7 and hopefully guard his every move to reduce chances of him catching any virus or germs.

Aside from the IV, he was pierced once again to collect a small amount of blood for CBC. Hayy... awang awa talaga ako. But what can i do? His fever has been on the 38 level for more that 3 days.  The pedia also suggested that he stay in the hospital for observation.  I obliged since i know he'll be  better taken care of there.

At first baby had cough, then the next day he was sneezing more frequently. This was followed by colds and a bad case of stuffy nose. We gave him Disudrin for this.  On the 5th day, i think, he had high fever. The fever did not come down even if we gave him paracetamol (Tempra). We then gave him a paracetamol in suppository form. Husband and i agreed that if the fever, which was at 39 centrigrade at this point, does not come down, we'll take him to the ER. The fever came down a bit so the next day we opted to have him checked up the next day.

[caption id="attachment_3271" align="aligncenter" width="300"] No one ever wants for a baby to get sick. I was really crushed as my baby was pinched for the IV. On times like this all moms and dads is just to stay strong and hope everything clears up.[/caption]

The doctor immediately said he should be admitted since he seemed to be catching his breath. She said the warning sign, if you would check his breathing was when his breathing is so deep you can see the outline ribs and if he seems to be inhaling and exhaling faster than usual.

After the xray and the blood test, the diagnosis was pneumonia, viral lang so he would not be given antibiotics.  Thank god it's not dengue or any other worse disease. He had to stay in the hospital where his meds (Salbutamol) was given through the nebulizer + Disudrin drops.  His fluids was also constantly replenished through the IV. The doctor says he might have caught the virus from his caregivers. That was my suspicion, too since the house is seemed to be plagued with coughs and colds.  It's flu season and family members caught the virus.

So after 3 days he was up and about so i'm happy. He shed some pounds but at least we know he's clear of any disease. Now he's slowly gaining weight.

Here's what hubby and i learned and relearned after baby got sick:

Baby's immune system is still developing. 

Remember that even if he's still getting the vaccine almost every month, he'll still catch some type of disease. Shots can only prevent a number of diseases.

Avoid going to crowded places where he's most likely be in contact with sick people. So, noted. We'll limit his trips to the malls! Since convergence ang mall ng napakaraming tao, pati na rin mga virus.

We've been having colder nights since the end of October. For chilly nights, since Amihan kicked in, keep baby in thicker clothes so he won't get too cold.

Health starts at home. 

Sa bahay, since hindi naman maiiwasan magkasakit, i''ll have take take vitamins. Next flu season, i'll insist na talaga that they do get the shots. As my pedia said, having baby vaccinated against flu will be useless if the rest of the household won't get the shot too.

To prevent or at least limit the spread of diseases within the house, always wash hands when handling baby. Use baby's own utensils when feeding him. Avoid face to face contact if you feel you're developing a cold. Never sneeze around the baby.

Keep breastfeeding!!! 

It's the best way to comfort the baby. His appetite was down and limited. It was quite hard to breastfeed him while lying down since he had colds. Moms will need to nurse with baby in upright position to keep milk from backing up. Limit nursing in the side lying position. Baby might lose his appetite for nursing, but be sure to keep that skin to skin contact to reassure him that you're always there for him. After nursing, place a pillow under his back to elevate his lungs.

[caption id="attachment_3273" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This was our position for almost the entire time my baby was in the hospital. A mental note for moms with sick babies: Give more hugs![/caption]

Aside from nourishment, babies  get solace knowing that he'll be hugged by his mommy for the rest of the time he's sick.  The only silver lining was that during the period when he was sick, we got to cuddle and hug most of the time. He just laid on top of me... and i secretly enjoyed.

So there, take good care of the precious little prune!!!

Also worth reading:

• Nice-to-have items for the medicine kit

***

The Nursing Mom’s Diet

One of the best things I learned being a mom is to take good care of myself. A large part of that was to watch what I eat. I think the best perk of breastfeeding for moms is the fact that breastfeeding burns 500 calories daily! That means we really need that extra grub to keep up.  But this does not give us the license to munch on just about anything we can lay our hands on.

Minute amounts of what we eat can be ingested by the baby thru the breast milk. So we need to be extra careful about what we eat and drink.

I've been lactating for 10 months now (yahoooo....). Here are some guidelines that i follow to keep in nursing.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet.

Nursing moms should not try to lose weight right after giving birth. Doing so could jeopardize your breastfeeding plans. Don’t worry too much because breastfeeding burns calories so soon, you’ll be shedding off those pounds.  Yup, if you breastfeed, you’ll get back your pre pregnancy figure faster. So, did I convince you to breastfeed already?

Below is USDA's suggested menu for breastfeeding moms.

[caption id="attachment_1321" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Source: http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Topics/BreastfeedingFactSheet.pdf[/caption]

The Philippines' Food and Nutrition Research Institute has a similar nutritional guide.  Click here for equivalents of one serving of common foods.

[caption id="attachment_1966" align="aligncenter" width="263"] This is a bit outdated, though, because in the US they already use the food plate as basis for healthy nutrition![/caption]

All you really need is a healthy balanced diet to produce breast milk enough for your baby. But there are foods known to aid lactation. According to FNRI calcium rich foods will increase milk flow. Such foods include whole milk, clams and malunggay. Oatmeal is also known to increase milk supply.

Nursing is another reason for moms to eat more.  I really noticed that when i pump more milk when i'm full.  And i really get hungry after pumping.   Have those healthy snacks on hand and munch on when you feel the urge to eat. Trying to lose weight right away may effect your breast milk production so try to do so gradually!

Water and other fluids

Nursing moms need to stay hydrated. Otherwise, manunuyot tayo! We need to take adequate amounts of fluids like water, juices milk and soups.

Coffee

I cut down on coffee after being a mom. Before  I would gulp down about 5 to 6 cups of coffee. As in, pakiramdam ko noon kape na ang nananalaytay sa katawan ko. But when I got pregnant, I cut down on coffee. Hindi naman daw bawal, sabi ng  OB ko. But just to be safe, umiwas na din ako. But I had 1 to 2 sips from my hubby’s cup while I was pregnant. Now that I’m nursing I do take just one cup daily, when I feel that I need a jumpstart. Take note caffeine is also present in colas, chocolate and green tea.

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 1 to 2 coffee cups per day is ok
Source of Photo:cancer.gov[/caption]

Observe if baby is sensitive to your caffeine intake. Too much caffeine can lead to hyperactivity and difficulty in sleeping. I observed my baby was agitated when i had 2 to 3 coke cans.  Imagine, alas dos na ng umaga, gusto pang makipaglaro! Since that time, i limit my caffeine intake na.

Also remember that coffee is a diuretic, which means it will make you urinate more.

Alcohol

Limit alcohol intake because it passes through our bloodstream, then to breast milk. If you consumed alcohol, wait for at least four hours before breastfeeding to get the alcohol out of your system.

[caption id="attachment_1106" align="aligncenter" width="292"] Alcohol and breastfeeding don't mix.
Source of Photo:openi.nlm.nih.gov[/caption]

Vitamins and supplements

My baby's pedia suggested that i take in prenatal vitamins and Natalac malunggay capsules to keep my production up. But really, the general guideline is to consume a balanced diet. We must not take vitamins and supplements as a short cut to healthy eating. If you’re not eating enough, chances are your milk production will slow down. Wag lang iasa sa malunggay!

My daily supplements include ascorbic acid, calcium lactate and malunggay capsules.

About street foods

Unless you're pretty sure about the cleanliness of your street food favorites like isaw, fishballs or barbeque, avoid them.  Unsanitary food handling can spread food-borne diseases.

So moms, munch on with care!

***

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.

***

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!!

***

Tips for Breastfeeding Working Mommies

I am now exclusively breastfeeding 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 that worked for me!

1. 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 already 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.

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!

2. 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.

3. Prepare the feeding bottles with breastmilk.

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.

4. Here's a list of essentials for pumping in the office

Your breast pump (any type – manual or double electric will do)

• 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 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 to stuff i read , thinking about your baby while pumping induces milk production.

5. 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.

6. Eat right to produce more milk.  

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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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!

***

How to bottle feed your breast(milk)fed baby

Yes, it is possible! My baby learned to feed from breast AND the bottle. He has always preferred direct breastfeeding over feeding from a bottle. If I had a choice I’d rather not serve breast milk using the bottle. But for working moms like me, letting baby to take the bottle is inevitable.

It’s the next most natural and convenient means of feeding breast milk. Before I went back to work I agonized because I thought he’ll go hungry. But after six months since my leave, baby has learned to adapt and learned to feed from me AND from the bottle.

Baby’s transition from breast to bottle and vice versa isn’t always seamless. My pedia says no synthetic nipples are soft enough to imitate a mama’s nipples. For this reason feeding problems like bottle refusal and nipple confusion are expected.

Here are some important points when giving the bottle to you breastfed baby:

Direct breastfeeding is still the best feeding choice.

Most of our hospitals are still not breastfeeding-friendly. Although WHO discourages the use of bottles on the first few weeks of baby’s life, doctors from private hospitals still instruct moms who can’t direct breastfeed to use a bottle instead of a cup. I’ve noticed the breastfeeding policies are more strict in government hospitals. Feeding bottles and pacifiers are banned in East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City. 

I gave birth in a private hospital. Our pediatrician instructed me do use bottles.  She says she’ll have to check if baby can efficiently suck since he was a preemie. I guess this all depends on the pedia’s assessment of the baby. I did not know any better so I summoned hubby to buy a preemie bottle. I was allowed directly breastfeed him on the fourth day already.

I did attempt to directly breastfeed baby in the NICU, but just shortly because he was always dozing off while i held him in my arms. I did not then yet that i can wake him so he can get a decent feeding. Read my post on getting ready to breastfeed. 

My sister's baby, who was delivered in another private hospital, was also bottle fed in the NICU.

Could the pedia be instructing bottle feeding because it's much more convenient for the NICU nurses? Cup feeding can be cumbersome for NICU nurses who look after more than one babies at a time! This system is far from the ideal for breastfeeding hospitals!

Introduce the bottle only when breastfeeding has been established.

Well in my case, i had to reintroduce the bottle. We struggled a bit to make him suck my nipple, but all ended well. Babies are smart, they learn to adapt.

Train your baby to take the bottle weeks before your scheduled return to work. I reintroduced him to the bottle, this time Avent small bottles with newborn nipples about 6 weeks after. Initially, I just let him take one bottle per day. I increased  bottle feeding as i neared the end of my maternity leave. Remember to pump for those missed direct feeding!

Use slow flow (newborn) nipples.

With Avent, those are number 1 nipples. It’s slow flow and has only one hole. This will encourage babies to suck, like how we would extract milk from your breasts. Up to now that he’s 8 months he’s still using Avent# 1 nipples.

Babies on fast flow nipples can get used to the faster release of milk from bottles. This may cause baby to refuse your nipples, which releases breast milk only at baby's suckling.

Using slow flow nipples will lessen risks of  choking on breast milk. A pedia explains that the difference between a mothers ’s nipples and synthetic nipples is the flow of milk.  Milk keeps flowing from synthetic nipple, even if baby does not suck on it. No milk is released from the breasts if baby stops sucking. That's why it's a big no-no to let baby sleep with feeding bottles.

Test a variety a feeding bottles for baby. See which works best. We were lucky baby did not reject Avent bottles. My sister uses First Years Breastflow feeding bottles.

Use smaller feeding bottlers for breastfed babies.

Breastfed babies need more frequent feedings than formula fed so give smaller bottles. I’m still using Avent 4 oz bottles, even if baby’s 8 months already. This system  works for me so I did not bother giving him bigger bottles.

After 6 months, baby has to be given solids so can expect a decrease in the volume of his breast milk intake.

I figure it's best to serve breast milk in smaller quantities, since breast milk has a short "expiry period".  It's safe to leave breast milk at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours.

Prepare his feeding bottles for the day. 

This helps your caregiver a lot. She won’t have to thaw then transfer breast milk. This will also make it easier for you to measure his breast milk intake daily. You’ll feel closer to baby, even while you’re out because you personally prepared his meals for the day.

Number your breast milk bottles so they’ll know which ones should be served first. This will be of great help if you serve thawed milk and fresh expressed breast milk. Thawed milk must be consumed first since it can only be used within 24 hours.

Find out how many feedings and amount breast milk your little one takes on a daily basis. I’m at work from 1 pm to 9pm. I estimate that baby feeds three times a day. So I leave him 4 bottles (just in case)  with 4 ounces of breast milk each.  If you’re exclusive breastfeeding, use KellyMom’s milk calculator.

Clean your baby feeding paraphernalia

Bottle feeding poses great risk for contamination so be on guard. I’m really OC when it comes to feeding baby so I personally clean his bottles and nipples.

I wash them in warm soapy water. I use mild cleaners from Messy Bessy. I  sterilize using Chicco Electric sterilizer. Until baby receives all his immunization shots, I’ll be sterilizing his feeding equipment. This will reduce any risk of diarrhea, stomach flu or any other gastric diseases.

Regularly inspect the nipples. Look for holes, tears or cracks. Replace worn out nipples to prevent choking.

There are several alternative breast milk feeding  choice. 

Hospitals with good breastfeeding policy highly encourage feeding from a cup. That’s if and only if mommy can’t latch. Direct breastfeeding is the priority.

There are several feeding choices to serve breast milk. You can use medicine dropper or rubber or silicone baby spoons. This manner is more tedious for your care giver since she has to serve in one milliliter container. Imagine how many times she’ll do this for a decent feeding. Older babies can also start feeding from training cups.

Serve bottle when baby’s already sleepy. 

This is my MIL’s technique to feed using the bottle.  Babies comfort suck, so make use of this by giving him a bottle. This mimics me nursing him to sleep.

Nurse directly when with baby.

My baby seldom, more often does not,  take the bottle when with me. As i said, babies are smart. He might be thinking, Why would you give me this bottle when i can have the real ones here?  So I never bothered preparing bottles when i’m with him. I don’t bring bottles when we travel. It’s much more convenient!

Don’t worry to much. When baby gets hungry, he’ll learn to suck the bottle!

We used to bottleed with EBM while waiting at  the pedia's clinic.

Is this too harsh? Well kinda. But it’s true, babies adapt. My baby did. When he’s still full he doesn’t see the need to suck. When he gets hungry, he’ll munch on anything. Give him time and look out for hunger cues.

***

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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