Workshop For First Time Parents

If you are like me who was clueless about babies when I was pregnant with my firstborn, then you'd be happy to know that there's a workshop for first time parents. It's called Delivery And Newborn Care.

Join Manila Workshops on February 22 at Medela House and learn about:

• Baby Milestones
• Newborn baby care
• Breastfeeding and 
• Safe sleep

Sign up if you or your friends are interested!

Co-sleeping isn't for me!

Am I being naive if I thought that I could exclusively breastfeed without co-sleeping? Do both go hand-in-hand in the first place? I didn't think so when I decided to breastfeed my third baby. I imagined it would be like my first two mostly formula-fed babies. I guess I was wrong.

At first, it was unavoidable since I was staying at my hubby's brother's place and we didn't bring the crib there anymore. The reason for that was, when I gave birth to my third child, the two older ones were sick. I went there straight from the hospital.

When we went home at last, I would breastfeed her on the loveseat in our room, then set her down in the crib again. During daytime, when I could fight my sleepiness no longer, I would nurse her in the side-lying position on our bed.

The nighttimes after that were bliss. She slept through the night. But, that didn't last very long. The time came when she couldn't sleep at night without nursing. I couldn't let her cry a little to soothe herself because the two older kids might wake up. It seems the only choice we had was to let her sleep beside me on the bed.

This arrangement left me tired in the morning. While other moms may be gushing about co-sleeping, I felt a slight pang of guilt because I could not enjoy it immensely. Another thing is, I miss sleeping beside my DH.

This is just one of the many challenges I have faced in my decision to breastfeed my child. I hope this would not hinder me from breastfeeding until she turns one year old. Thanks to Jenny aka @mamababylove for sharing with me this article about tips for night feedings, which I am reading as of now.

How the Boncho saved my day!

Err... night!

When I was preggy with my third baby, I won these goodies from Indigo Baby via Dainty Mom. :-)

Last May 12, I had dinner with my family at Naci. I decided to try the place upon Anne's (Green Eggs and Moms) recommendation. I wore a halter nursing top by Blissful Babes with a bandeau undergarment so there'd be no straps visible. Silly me, I forgot to put breast pads! Breastfeeding moms know how leaky boobs are. So, when I was nursing my baby in the car, it happened. I knew it was going to be obvious and that would be very awkward that I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself. 

I was so relieved I brought the Boncho along with me!

Therefore, my outfit became accented with a vest, care of the Boncho. And it hid the milk stain! Neat, huh?

Here's a helpful article from Babycenter.com.ph about Leaking Breasts.

I was at Expo Mom 2012

Ever since my friend introduced me to the "movers and shakers" of breastfeeding, babywearing, mompreneurs and mommy shopping, I have been wanting to attend most events. I have passed the dmv drivers test of my country, and yet, I still don't know how to drive. And I am afraid to do so! I think that I might palpitate under the driving conditions of Metro Manila. So, hopefully, when I get over my fear, I'll be driving myself silly everywhere. I also have so many places in mind I want to bring my children to: parks, zoos, museums, libraries, and playgrounds.

Anyway, I went to the Expo Mom in Rockwell Tent last May 5. This was an event by Mommy Mundo. I went with my third baby Cayla. I posted this photo on Facebook so I got the chance to pick a prize, which was an Avent sippy cup. :-)

Ever since I won an Indigo Baby Divine Intervention Room & Linen Spray from DaintyMom.com, I have been using linen spray every time we change our bedding. I also like the Lavender linen spray from Spa Essentials that a friend gifted us. Now that it's almost gone, I purchased the Indigo Baby Sleepy Head Room & Linen Spray this time. I cannot wait to use it!

I also cannot wait for the time Cayla goes swimming in her new LuvGear SunAlert swimwear. I wish I had purchased it earlier in time for our beach getaway. For Elle and Caleb, I bought them educational books. Shopping for the kids was made more fun with Expo Mom. There's a chance to win prizes that were being raffled off, plus, I also got to see the #RealMoms and some bloggers in the flesh. :-)

ABC's Of Me!

Already thirty years on earth and I am still learning so much about myself. There are a few discoveries I found regarding my likes and dislikes in the context of wife-hood and mommy-hood. I know these will change in a few years, but for now, I'm living in these moments. I am sharing these in voiceBoks' ABC's Of Me! I am new in this parenting community but hopefully, I could gain friends and insights as a parent.

Apple is one of my least favorite fruits.
It's my first time to really get into Breastfeeding. It's been six months and it's still going on. Having the correct information, a breastfriend and support really helps.
I cannot eat Chocolate everyday, I need a break from it, too. Therefore, I am not a chocoholic after all.
I missed having Dogs, but ever since I became a mom, I am kind of scared of the allergy that their dander could cause.
I like soft-boiled and poached Eggs.
I don't fancy eating Fish.
I was addicted to Facebook Games once.
Heaven is very real for me.
It's good to always have Ice cream in the freezer.
Jesus values me so much. He preserves me with His love.
My Kids are fun and make me feel young at heart.
I don't want to sleep Late but I always end up doing so.
Being a Mommy is so darn hard. Glad my children are cute and worth it.
New stuff makes me giddy and excited. I'm sure that goes for most people, adults and kids alike.
I wish I could bake yummy dessert and snacks using the Oven.
I still like Princesses and fairy tales. Like my daughter.
Quality time spent works wonders for my children, they get upset less.
Rest and relaxation are luxuries for a mom.
I don't like Scary movies.
My children telling the Truth is very important to me. As with every parent.
Marriage needs a lot of Understanding.
I hope my parenting could instill Values in my children. C. S. Lewis said: "Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. "
I am happy that my kids love to drink lots of Water. They don't ask for juice or soda.
I have never imagined giving my child a name that starts with the letter X.
I love it when my daughter says "Yummy" when I present to her some snacks.
I don't think I'll ever try Zipline. I think I am less adventurous after having children.

Macaroni Salad

Have you noticed that my last few posts are about food? Well, days at home could be all about preparing food for the children, for my hubby and for me. This is especially true when we don't have any activities like swimming or baseball. I would really make time to just even watch if I get chicago cubs tickets, boston red sox tickets or san francisco giants tickets. It would also be good for the kids to watch sports and witness team play. If Philippines has a site like Ticketamerica.com, I wonder if people with a small budget like me would be able to buy tickets to games. Ticketamerica.com has tickets for the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Redsox and all San Francisco Giants baseball tickets. But, meanwhile, I'll just make macaroni salad, and more.

No, it isn't Christmas yet. And who says macaroni salad should only be made during the holidays?

As a breastfeeding momma, I am constantly hungry. I always look inside the fridge or the cupboard to see what I could have for snack. They say it's best to have frequent small meals so that I won't eat too much for lunch or dinner. My calories are always being used for making milk. No, I'm not making this up. That means, I have an excuse to eat more. :-D

Making savory macaroni salad is easy.
Mix together the following:

• salad macaroni, cooked according to package instructions
• chicken, boiled until cooked, season with salt
• potatoes, cubed and boiled where chicken was boiled, until tender
• raisins
• cheese, cubed
• mayonnaise, I prefer my all-time favorite Lady's Choice sandwich spread with pickle relish

Messy, but yummy

So, whenever my tummy grumbles, I could open the fridge, get the salad bowl out and scoop some macaroni salad into a small bowl. Delicious!

I need more nursing wear.

The bazaar at Bellevue started yesterday. I have bought tops there for me, for my hubby and for our daughter Elle last two years. Brands that were carried include Guess and Mossimo. There were super many people at the booth rummaging through the display cases and scoring sweet deals for themselves and to give as gifts.

I have decided to breastfeed my third child this year, therefore I would need nursing tops. So, I wouldn't be able to shop at the bazaar this season. I have a few nursing blouses I got at a warehouse sale while I was preggy. And, I'm hoping to win one from Dainty Mom Martine's giveaway of Latch a Babe Nursingwear.

I am eyeing this dress:

and this top:

5 Tips for Unsuccessful Breastfeeding

AKA What I did wrong with my first two kids, thus resulting in just under a month of breastfeeding, and causing them to be illness magnets. 

I'm not saying I'm successful now. Not yet anyway. It still remains to be seen. Ask me after 6 months. But so far,  I have been exclusively breastfeeding Cayla directly for one month and two days without supplementing with formula. I'm so relieved to know that she gained weight and grew longer. Yey!

Baby Caleb with a bottle, photo taken by Elle

• Lack of information. I'm thankful to Beth for inviting me to go with her to several talks regarding breastfeeding when we were still pregnant. It helped a lot! It also helped that she briefed me on what to expect after she gave birth. She was ahead of me by about a month.
• No resolve to be committed and determined to breastfeed. It is a big factor to want to breastfeed and see this decision through. Even if it meant not bringing formula to the hospital with me, to avoid temptation.
• Mixed feeding at the very beginning. Before, I supplemented with formula right from the start and this was a wrong move. 
• Not believing I have enough milk to nourish my newborn. One thing I learned from attending the talks is that I should believe that my milk is and will be enough for my baby, despite what naysayers claim. I should not let anyone discourage me. Or anything. It seemed that she's not gaining weight or retaining any fats was disheartening. I always kept in mind that formula-fed babies really become chubby faster.
• Stopping breastfeeding when mommy is sick. I also learned that breastfeeding while I was coughing and sneezing will prove to be beneficial for my baby because she will get the antibodies that help fight these sicknesses, although it was very hard for me to see Cayla being sick too, at that time. Because she was so fragile, I cannot help but cry when her nose was stuffy and she would also cough. I am so grateful to God for healing her.

There are of course many challenges still. There were a few people dissuading me from breastfeeding. And there's the pediatrician of my two kids who seems to discourage breastfeeding. I don't know what she gets out of recommending formula. It boggles my mind. Then there's the discomfort of having a C-section. Let's not forget the sore and cracked nipples (ouch!) and the engorgement of the boobs. Plus, breastfeeding on demand demands a lot of energy and time, especially at nights. I miss uninterrupted sleep. *sigh*

So, if you would want to breastfeed, really, really want to breastfeed, think about these tips and do not follow them. :-)

Chinese General Hospital & Breastfeeding

As I have mentioned in my breastfeeding posts on Cymplified.com, I decided to pursue exclusively breastfeeding my third child.

The Department of Health of the Philippines had been actively campaigning Breastfeeding as the primary means of nourishing babies. In line with this, the hospital where I gave birth had implemented guidelines on breastfeeding which were not practiced when I had my first two children.

So who could blame me for not entirely believing that they have turned a new leaf? Thus, I still wrote down, by hand, my requests regarding the situation surrounding my delivery via C-section. This piece of paper was read aloud, endorsed and circulated, as I was informed.

After the baby was delivered, she was cleaned then put on my chest and the lady tried to make her latch, which I cannot feel because of the epidural. They said it was supposed to be for 30 minutes, but I knew it was barely 5 minutes after which she took my newborn to the nursery.

Despite my instruction to room her in after 6 hours, they followed their own SOP of 12 hours for Caesarian. But since the 12th hour would be midnight, I consented to their bringing my baby to me the next day, which reached 24 hours. What made me grudgingly agree was that I was promised that my daughter will be given donor expressed breastmilk, and not glucose water as the pediatric doctor said. That was an improvement even though it kind of gives me a weird feeling.

I was always asked by the people from the nursery if my daughter was taking in milk and if her suction was strong. A lactation consultant was also sent in to check on me and give me tips on breastfeeding. Like:

• Put breastmilk on the nipples so the cracks will heal because breastmilk acts as an antibiotic.
• For my baby to open her mouth wide before feeding, run my nipple down the length of her nose to her lips.
• My baby should fully face my breast so that she won't have a hard time drawing in milk.
• And the usual, drink lots of soup with malunggay leaves to help in lactation.

Over all, I was a bit satisfied with how Chinese General Hospital implements the Breastfeeding policy. I hope that more and more moms would be encouraged to breastfeed. Because whenever I go there to be checked, or when I bring my kids to the pediatrician, I don't see moms who are feeding their children with their breasts. Always with a bottle. But maybe they pumped their milk? Maybe. And I hope they would truly make the hospital a mother-baby-friendly one, because there are no diaper-changing stations in restrooms, and even in the new building where my children's pediatrician's clinic (and others, too) is located, I don't know where I could clean up a poopy diaper. There is also an absence of breastfeeding areas or rooms.