Life of a babywearing and breastfeeding mommy

The Superfood Grocer's Going Super Learning Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:39:00 +0000

Last April 27, I dragged J to a workshop held by The Superfood Grocer which is the Going Super Learning Workshop. From their website:

Description
Our much raved-about, eye-opening learning workshop on going healthy

Functionality
•Our much raved-about learning workshop
•Includes 4-Course Vegan Meal
•Green Smoothie Demo

I can't recall exactly how I came about The Superfood Grocer but after signing up for their free newsletter, tips, and the promise of a free vegan cookbook, I was exchanging emails with Carmela, one of the owners of the shop, about blenders. There wasn't any scheduled workshops at that time and I told her to give me a heads up if one would be held sometime soon. She said that yes, a workshop is in the works and she'd tell me about it.

The notice came in the form of their newsletter and Carmela also told me about it in one of her email replies. However, I was short of funds at that time and I'd only be able to pay the next week so I didn't "order" two slots in their website. When I was ready, there weren't any slots left already and the workshop is still two weeks away! So I emailed Carmela and asked her if there really wasn't any more slots as I wanted to go with my husband. Thankfully, she told me to just go and pay and that she'd make sure to make it work so we can squeeze in (what a darling and I instantly loved her. Haha!). So I did pay and next think I knew, she was sending a reminder already to those who reserved slots.

So Saturday came and I was so excited. Despite the sad news surrounding my husband's family, I didn't let it dampen the chance to meet like-minded people and get the boost and encouragement I need to start a healthier lifestyle. So off we went to Quezon City at 12NN, not wanting to be late and not knowing the traffic conditions of the streets we will be passing on a Saturday afternoon as we don't frequent the North. We arrived at the venue at 12:30PM, thirty minutes early and the early birds. It was a quaint house, nestled at the corner of the street and there was a big open space seen through the window where the chairs were set up.

Yes, that pic on the right is chap chae. Perks of being early. ;)

At around 1PM, people slowly trickled in and Carmela already put on an appearance that we'll just wait for the other participants and then we'd start. While still waiting for everyone to arrive, Carmela gave out a simple questionnaire on all the food that we ate the day before. She said there were no right nor wrong answers but that the questionnaire basically would make us feel a little bit guilty and to give us insight on what we've been putting into our bodies.

Please don't judge me... ;)

After answering the short questionnaire, Carmela showed us short clips from a documentary, which I believe the title is Food Matters. It talked about how the food we eat affects our whole wellbeing. And that pharmaceuticals creates customers and not cure. After the clip, we were given another set of questionnaire, this time, on how "Super" we are, or in short, how healthy are we. The highest score is 20, and the lowest is -40. After computing for our scores, I looked at J's paper and noticed that he was -16 while I was -18. I couldn't believe that he was more "Super" than me until I saw that he computed it wrong.


Jaypee's		Mine

After this survey, we proceeded to why we came to this session. Carmela started talking about why her whole family became vegans and why she started looking into a healthier lifestyle. Her mom has diabetes and if they could find an alternative to her mom's medicines or better if her mom stopped all her medications altogether, then they would do it. And they found it by incorporating smoothies and having a plant-based diet.

Carmela and Ralph explained how diabetes actually starts, that diabetes and cancer were "affluence" diseases. Meaning that those two, and some other diseases come about with this thinking: the higher your income, the more chances of you eating certain kinds of food that are, yes, expensive like steaks, lechon, etc. because you are expected to eat those with the amount of salary that you take home. They also said that diabetes is actually because of fatty foods, where the fats and oils coat our cells, making it harder for the sugar to penetrate and move about our body, which then are trapped in our blood stream making our pancreas work overtime to create insulin to regulate the glucose in our blood. Until it's overworked and unable to provide insulin for the amount of sugar not getting absorbed by our body. Did not get it? Check out this out.

From the discussion of diabetes, they moved on to cravings, our feelings after eating (sluggish or sleepy) and why these are so. We crave for certain types of foods because our body tells us that it needs something that it's lacking. For example, we may be craving for sweets but what our body is actually telling us is that it needs some more carbohydrates, a specific vitamin, etc. We'll eat donuts and our body processes it, finds it did not meet what it needs so another craving hits. It becomes a vicious cycle until we realize that we've been eating unhealthy foods and then we look at the mirror and bam.

And that's where the vegan diet comes in. And the smoothies, of course. Everything that our body needs, all the nutrients that it needs to function well and to repair itself are in the vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts available for our consumption. When we start eating nutrient-dense foods, our cravings will stop and we will see a beautiful change with ourselves: more energy, better sleep, glowing skin...

More talk and then came the smoothie demonstration. Carmela showed us how to make a green smoothie using bananas, kang kong, and strawberries. Then we were served scrumptious food: minestrone, vegan lasagna. For the dessert, Carmela made it for us: raw and vegan ice cream using frozen bananas, frozen coconut milk (gata), frozen strawberries, and some ice, then topped with cacao nibs.

Talking, demo, lasagna, cacao nibs, and ice cream!

Q&A portion as we eat our dessert and one last video showing a 70yr old woman who looks like she's only in her 40's due to eating raw food only. A few closing remarks and the workshop was done.

My take during the workshop: I'm at least on the right track and Jaypee now "listened" to what I've been telling him ever since, to eat more greens (cooked or not) for better health and to become fitter.

The birthday aftermath

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:18:00 +0000

I was too groggy to properly post yesterday so here are my sons' pictures. The good ones are taken last Friday then the others are taken yesterday.

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Happy 1st, Gabby!

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:52:00 +0000

Time flies so fast. I can't believe it's now a year since I gave birth to my second baby, Jonathan Gabriel. Our Gabby.

Still connected to me thru the cord

You were born naturally, with no medication for me and because of that, you were very awake and alert when you came out. You were attuned to my sudden cries of pain while they were repairing where you passed through and you would quiet down when you hear my assurances that I'm ok.

Baptism on May 19, 2012

You're a delightful addition to our family of three and while your kuya Jack got jealous of the attention we were giving you when you were still very new, he adjusted well and seems to be the foremost source of your laughs and giggles.

This should be dated March 9, 2013.

I pray that you will always be happy and that you will love your older brother as much as he adores you. We love you, Gabby. Happy Birthday!!!

At Conti's Serendra.

The should have been March 2nd post

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 12:08:00 +0000

I forgot to take pictures of my two boys last Saturday. I remembered it one week after. Thankfully, we went out and took the kids at the park in Terra 28. It drizzled a little so we went to Bonifacio High Street. Jack-Jack ran around in the grass and I let Gabby go after his kuya Jack-Jack with his babysitter. They sat on the grass and that's when I grabbed the opportunity to take pictures of them.

So here they are... Gabby is sporting a Honeybaby owl bonnet. :)

Smile!

Don't take it off!

PS. I should probably set an alarm for this. ;)

Feb the second of twenty-thirteen

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:46:00 +0000

Kuya Jack, your glasses are not in the middle. ;)

Gabby, you don't like the glasses?

Surprised with the flash... :D

I tried to challenge myself two years ago to have a blog post every month by posting a family picture every month. But I wasn't able to do it. I only got to do it for around three months. Now, I'm challenging myself again. This time, posting pictures of my two baby boys. And today's the perfect day to start... February 2, two on two for my 2 boys.

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Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Realizations

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:22:00 +0000

As I look back on my second son's birthing story, recalling what I experienced during that time, I can't help but compare it with my first birthing.

Ever since I became pregnant with Jack-Jack, I wanted to have a natural birth. Natural birth meaning no interventions, no anesthesia, just me, my body and my baby, the hospital staff on stand-by to catch the baby and at the ready in case something happens during the birth. J and I even went to a Childbirth Preparation class by Rome Kanapi so that we would know what to expect and we would have ideas and tips on how I will overcome the pain associated with childbirth. Alas, my birth plan then was not followed (though it might be partly because I didn't print it). Looking back, I realize what my short-comings were before that birth:

1. I wasn't well-prepared. Yes, I went to a class but that was all. I didn't read other books. I didn't scavenge the internet for information, for other birthing methods. I didn't read blogs or articles about other moms' experiences, what method or belief they used, etc. I only knew the tip of the ice berg and because of that, it led me to the next reason.
2. I didn't push with what I want, with how I wanted my birthing to be. I told my OB then that I wanted no anesthesia and no episiotomy. She said she'll have an anesthesiologist ready in case I change my mind and if I were Caucasian, she would consent to the no episiotomy. I just accepted what she said.
3. I didn't realize (or didn't want to accept) that my OB wasn't that supportive of natural births. I should have interviewed her thoroughly or asked questions to those who gave birth under her regarding her drug-free birth rate or on how she is during the actual birthing.
4. I should have gone and went to other doctors before settling to one. That way, I can compare our rapport and choose who I feel more comfortable with. Although doing so at that time was not feasible due to my limited finances.

Add to these, Jack-Jack's birthday was the day my OB then was to go to Paris and attend a convention. And I guess she wanted my birth "on the way" already so I was given pitocin, broke my water bag, and epidural to help me relax so my dilation would progress. I was also IE'd several times (which I learned later on as unnecessary) to check my dilation and because it was uncomfortable, I was trying to control my reaction to the examination which prevented the progress of my dilation. So many interventions just so my OB could be the one to deliver my baby.

With my second pregnancy, I really wanted it to be drugs-free. No anesthesia. That was just my requirement, along with Unang Yakap. And yes, someone who was within our budget and participates in the hospital's maternity packages. I was still with my previous OB then, but after discussions with J, our budget for this pregnancy and all that, plus my previous experience, I started searching for another OB who would listen and support what I wanted when I give birth. I found her when I was already four months pregnant, just before I was due for a congenital scan. And the hospital is perfect, too as it's just a stone's throw away from my place of work and very near our house.

Aside from changing doctors, I also wanted a different childbirth experience than what I had so I was weighing the pros and cons of buying the Pink Kit when I saw Jenny tweet about wanting to buy a home study course of hypnobirthing(?). I became curious as to what it was about so I searched the internet and happened upon Hypnobabies. There's another hypnosis birthing home study kit I found but after reading reviews and comparisons, I decided upon purchasing Hypnobabies. I had to convince J that I was going to buy it and that I fully intend on using it and practicing it.

I was also reading and arming myself with information, especially after going through the Hypnobabies materials on the different choices a woman can make when giving birth. And I told my choices to my doctor and she was very encouraging, especially during the last few weeks of my check-up, when she was "stripping" me and I wasn't crying out in pain. I was actually practicing my hypnosis techniques already by then, so the IE procedures were a test-run for me.

Because of these, my birthing time this time with Gabby was more to my liking. It was how I envisioned my birthing time to be. I was more knowledgeable. I let known my preferences and insist on it. I printed my birth plan and showed it to my doctor (who advised me to bring a copy of it during my actual birthing time so that the staff would know what I want and what my plan was). It was quite funny, actually, looking back. When I pushing out Gabby, that the doctors and nurses were all just standing around and looking at my spread legs, waiting for him to come out as I did all the pushing. Unlike before, someone was pushing on my stomach to help with the descent of Jack-Jack while I push.

This birthing experience is definitely something I would gladly tell over and over again as it shows what a woman is capable of, what we're made for. But this wouldn't come out how I wanted it to be if it weren't for:
1. my OB, who is very supportive and open to the different birthing methods available;
2. the information that I gathered while pregnant, reading up on the different procedures being done while giving birth and knowing which ones I don't want to have;
3. Hypnobabies which taught me the relaxing techniques that helped me birth the way I wanted (maybe not fully pain-free as I wasn't able to master the anesthesia technique); and
4. J who supports me on how I wanted to give birth and who convinced me to look for another OB who supports and encourages natural birthing.

Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 1
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 2
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Realizations

Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

April 1, we woke up early and we went to Bonifacio High Street, with Jack-Jack in tow. I wore him on my back, hoping that the added weight would help me. We walked the whole length of BHS around twice before I got tired of carrying him on my back. We stopped at Krispie Kreme for breakfast, then we walked again. We went home at around 10AM and we decided that J and I will hear mass on 12NN and walk to and from church. Jack-Jack will stay at home. Every now and then there’s some tightness on my stomach but they’re so fleeting and I wouldn’t even be aware of them until after the fact.

After mass, we ate a late lunch and J and I each took a bath, while I listened to one of my CDs. I had been listening to the Birthing Guide CD since I had that discharge, hoping that the powerful suggestions would jumpstart my birthing time. I even listened to the Pushing Baby Out track but to no avail. It seemed that my baby really wasn’t ready to meet the world yet. After I took a bath, I noticed that my birthing waves were becoming frequent, so I decided to time them. They were about an average of 1 minute every 10-15 minutes. And they weren’t intense yet, so I wasn’t too excited. Until J noticed me timing and he asked me how were they? I answered, maybe Gabby would be out tonight, so that he’d have the same birthday as my late grandma.

So after a few more birthing waves, we went to St. Luke’s, our bag into the car again (as we previously took it out so I could add more things needed) and went straight to the DR. I asked the receptionist if my OB was there and she said that my doctor just called and will be up in a while. She asked if I’m to be admitted and I told her I just needed to go there for an IE and that I’d rather wait for my OB. My OB came and she checked me and I was already 3cm dilated, almost completely effaced, and she asked if I was having birthing waves before I came there. I told her that I’ve been experiencing some but they weren’t regular yet. Then she asked me if I wanted to get admitted already or if I wanted to walk around first. I answered I prefer the latter and she said that since I’m still smiling, she gave the go signal. She also told me to eat something first.

J and I decided that we would walk to Burgos Circle and eat there, so that I wouldn’t be inside the LR long and also hoping that my dilation have progressed much when we come back. We decided to eat at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf since I didn’t want to eat a full meal. About midway with my Tomato and Herb pasta, I was starting to really feel the birthing waves so J and I decided to fast-track our snack/dinner so that we could head back to the hospital. By then, I already took out my cd player and started playing the Easy first stage track. By then, I was only observing J and timing my birthing wavs, waiting for his signal that we can now start walking back.

On the way back to the hospital, we had to stop several times on the side-walk, walking past The Mind Museum, Mercury Drug, and then finally back to St. Luke’s. We took the elevator going to the third floor and the receptionist immediately admitted us, letting me change into a hospital gown and then hooking me to a machine to monitor me and the baby. Then I was asked if I wanted to lie down in the LR (labor room) already or if I wanted to walk around first. I told them I wanted to be able to walk around first so they gave me a robe to be able to go back to the reception/waiting area. I sat beside J, waiting and letting each birthing wave run their course. All this time, I was listening to my cd, recalling the lessons I took for weeks just for this occasion. After about 30 minutes or so, I told J I wanted to lie down and maybe nap a bit as it was tiring to sit down and I was getting sleepy already. I told the receptionist that I wanted to go and lie in the LR already and she called for a nurse.

Once inside the LR, a hep-lock was inserted on my left hand and the nurse hooked me to the fetal monitor again (as they would be doing that every hour) and then left me to my birthing waves, after asking me if I wanted some water. I did ask for water after a few minutes and I also asked for the lights to be dimmed. I lied on my side as it was more comfortable for me, listening to my cd, imagining my cervix opening with each birthing wave, my baby descending and preparing to come out. My birthing waves were becoming more intense as each minute pass, and I was moaning and aahh-ing with each wave, imagining my cervix becoming more open. At 7:30pm, the nurse hooked me up to the monitor again, my waves more intense than ever.

After being monitored, I felt the need to pee, but I couldn’t push for the call-button because my birthing waves were coming one after the other, with little resting time. I was about to call the nurse when my body took a rest so that I could stand and pee when a birthing wave hit me. It was so intense, I couldn’t hold back my aahhh and at the same time, my bladder burst. There was also some pushing feeling with this wave that I just followed it. This time, I immediately called the nurse and told her I peed already. She helped me take off my underwear, and noticed that I was already bleeding and she called another nurse to do an IE. It was around 8pm already, and I could feel that I would be giving birth anytime soon. I was fully dilated already and they were rushing about to call my OB (who went home after checking me). After the nurse who examined me went to call the other staff to prep me in the delivery room (DR), I felt a really intense wave, with more pushing instinct and with that wave, my water broke, and I felt as if my baby was about to go out that I was shouting at the nurse about it.

They rushed about in the LR, and then they wheeled me to the DR, a wave going thru me as we went those few seconds (maybe a minute) it took to get from the LR to the DR. With no anesthesia running through my veins, I was able to transfer beds once in the DR and once a wave passed. It was a flurry of activity around me as I semi-sat/squat down and they ready the tools, holding on to the bars at the side of the bed to help me push, the nurse cleaning me, the on-call OB talking to my OB, and I changed the track I was listening to to the Pushing Baby Out track. J was called into the DR and when he came in, he immediately exclaimed, “Is that the head?” as I was already crowning. After being prepped and J ready with the camera, the staff and on-call doctors (already gloved and netted) awaited my baby’s arrival.

Then I felt it. That need to push, and push, and push as a really strong wave hit me. I felt his head, then his shoulders, and then the rest of his body slide out with that last push. It took around a minute or so. I didn’t pause except to aahh (or was it AAHH) him out. As soon as he was out, I looked at the clock and noted that it was 8:30PM already and Gabby was placed over my chest. He was awake and he was crying and it felt really good to see him and touch him. The OB on-call waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing and she told me when it happened so she could already cut the cord. Once detached, the pediatrician asked if she could clean my baby and I said yes. It was good timing, too, as I felt another contraction afterwards and I gave birth to my placenta.

As they were cleaning me and looking at the damage I made without being cut (episiotomy), we tried to make Gabby latch but he wouldn’t. So they placed him back on the crib and dressed him up. I was stitched up, and my OB finally came and finished patching me up, with no more local anesthesia towards the end of the stitches. Now, that was an ouch. After being patched up, we transferred to the recovery room, Gabby close behind and he was placed beside me so he could nurse. The pedia was really happy with me because I seem to know what I was doing, breastfeeding, especially when I told her that I breastfed my son for two years. And after about an hour, we were wheeled to our room.

And that’s the end of Gabby’s birth story.

Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 1
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 2
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Realizations

The great debate: Medela Freestyle VS Ameda Purely Yours Ultra

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:41:00 +0000

I've seen a lot of online discussions between moms on which breastpump to buy, on what is the "best" currently available in the market. These questions are especially of concern for working moms who need something reliable and would put up with the demands of their lifestyle: pumping every 2-3 hours, 5 days a week, and a minimum of 6-months for those who wish to exclusively give their baby breastmilk and not supplement with formula milk. Among those available, two brands of breastpumps usually come up: Medela's Freestyle and Ameda's Purely Yours. The comments and praises of the pumps recommended by the moms in these online discussions come from their usage of either one of the two, and I have never encountered a mom who gave her recommendation based on her experience with both pumps.

And here's where I come in.

When I was breastfeeding and expressing milk for Jack-Jack, I used a Medela Freestyle breastpump. I used it for one year and 8 months until such time that someone needed it more than me and I already weaned from the pump. I donated it since we weren't planning to get pregnant sometime soon and it wouldn't be difficult to buy a pump when I'd need it again. Now, with Gabby, I'm using an Ameda Purely Yours Ultra. I've been using it for around 8 months already and with these number of months of experience with the pump, I can already safely say my opinions about the two of them.

From Medela:
Freestyle is our first hands-free, double-electric pump.
•Pump anywhere - no need to be near an electric outlet.
•Pump hands-free - the hands-free kit and mobility accessories give you freedom to relax or do other things while pumping.

Featuring the original 2-Phase Expression® technology - only found in Medela breastpumps. Through research, Medela learned that there are two distinct phases of how babies breastfeed.
1.Stimulation Phase - when babies first go to breast, they suck fast and light to stimulate milk flow.
2.Expression Phase - after milk flow or "let-down" starts, babies breastfeed with a slower, deeper suck, bringing out more milk faster.

Features:
Daily use - double pump - electric
Compact pump weighs less than one pound
Hands-free
Rechargeable battery
Two sets of PersonalFit breastshield sizes (when I bought mine, only the standard size was included then)
Microfiber tote
Adjustable speed/vacuum combinations
One touch let-down button
Digital backlit display
Pumping timer
Memory button
Cooler bag with contoured ice pack
All parts that come into contact with breastmilk are BPA-free

Medela Freestyle

From Ameda:
The Ameda Purely Yours Ultra offers all mothers— including full-time working moms—the flexibility, convenience, and styling they need and deserve from their breast pump.

CustomControl:

The Ameda Purely Yours Ultra—with separate CustomControl suction and speed dials—doesn’t make decisions for you or limit your choices like one-dial, pre-programmed pumps. Dual adjustability allows you to choose from a total of 32 combinations— for the best comfort and milk flow every time.

CustomFit Flange System:
Every mother needs her breast pump flange to “fit” for the greatest comfort and best milk flow. Enjoy a good flange fit at your very first pumping and later as your body changes. Purely Yours Ultra features three of the most commonly needed flange sizes and easily adapts with four others available separately.

Convenience:
The lightweight Purely Yours Ultra offers professional performance and easy care wherever you go.

Designed to work with all Ameda electric breast pumps, the HygieniKit™ Milk Collection System features proven Airlock Protection™, a solid barrier which prevents moisture in tubing to help protect against viral and bacterial growth. The HygieniKit is dishwasher-safe and can even convert to a manual pump.

Ameda Purely Yours Ultra

Below are my take on the two:

Weight: Both pump motors are light, weighing at just a pound each.
Pump design/construction: Having no issues on which you can lug around as a full-time working mom, you'd probably take note of how the pump itself is constructed. The Freestyle's pump motor is rectangular in shape and fits at the palm of your hand. You can conveniently tuck it inside your bag, taking note to take out the battery so you (or your other stuff) wouldn't accidentally turn it on. The Purely Yours Ultra (PYU), on the other hand, is designed for desk top use and would fit on top of both your palms. It also has bottle holders which I use to hold the milk bottles before and after I pump. The PYU also has a closed system unlike the Freestyle, which means no air comes into contact with your milk, no milk particles comes into the tubing and the pump.
Pump Control: The Freestyle has 2-Phase Expression® technology which simulates how a baby breastfeeds. It has the Stimulation Phase and the Expression Phase, both which you can control the vacuum level from L1 to L9. There is no separate control for the speed of each pump. The PYU meanwhile, has two dials which controls the speed and suction separately, so you can choose how you pump, i.e. slow and light suction, or fast but strong suction, etc. In this regard, I miss the Freestyle's Stimulation Phase as I feel it helped me let-down quicker because the speed and vacuum level of it's Stimulation Phase is really just like a baby's. Even if PYU has separate controls for the speed and suction, its fastest speed isn't comparable to the Freestyle. What I like about the PYU, though, is I can choose to have a deeper/stronger suction without slowing down the speed or have slower speed but the same suction I chose after my let-down, which the Freestyle does (as far as I could remember).
Power: Freestyle includes a rechargable battery whereas for PYU, you have to provide your own 6 AA batteries for you to use it without the AC adapter.
Breastpump parts (flanges, tubings, membranes): The Freestyle has 2 parts more than the PYU, which is the breastshield connector bodies (which are two parts) as the PYU's breastshield construction lets it connect to the bottles directly.
Insulated carrier and ice pack: Both brands include carriers and ice packs for you to be able to take your expressed milk home in its freshest state as possible. Freestyle has one big ice pack, which has special curves on it to fit the 4 bottles included.

PYU gives you 3 packs, one for each side and one at the bottom of the bag, to give your bottles surround cooling.
Tote bags: Both have bags you can use to bring your pumps or even as an everyday bag, your officemates none-the-wiser that what you're using is actually included in your breastpump's box. The Freestyle's bag, tho, has light yellow lining.
Cleaning: The PYU is easier to clean, especially the flanges as the whole part is clear and you can see where you need to focus your attention on. And their nooks and crannies aren't that hard to reach with a cotton bud. The Freestyle is a bit harder, as the breastshield connector is colored and there are holes that you can't easily reach even using a cotton bud. So it's best not to let milk dry up with the Freestyle parts else you wouldn't be sure if you've cleaned the parts thoroughly.
Price: The Freestyle is more expensive than the PYU by around PHP5,000.
Ease of use/hands-free pumping: I used the hands-free kit provided by the Freestyle so that I can play a game on my cellphone then or to doze off for 15mins without worry that I'll drop the shields and bottles. With the PYU, I have one hand free as the flanges have this tube-part (where the diaphragm is inserted) where I can hold both flanges with the use of my forearm and hand.

Both pumps are easy to use. For the Freestyle, you press the buttons for your desired phase and vacuum level. For the PYU, you turn the dials. What I like about the Freestyle, though is the digital display which shows how much time has passed, so you know exactly how long you've been pumping already. There's also the memory button which allows you to store the length of time it takes you from the simulation phase and its strength to when you start your let-down and your preferred vacuum level.

Verdict: Despite it being hard to clean, I do miss the Freestyle as it's easier to bring around and I wouldn't have to worry about having short on power as the battery included can be used up to 3hrs. Both have pros and cons, but overall, either pump would be a very good companion to have when you want to continue breastfeeding after going back to work. In the end, it will probably boil down to cost. If it isn't a problem, I would suggest getting the Freestyle as it offers the ultimate portable breastmilk expression experience due to its 2-Phase technology. But if you want something that is less expensive but still get the power of dual pumping, get the Purely Yours Ultra.

Note: I started writing this before the Medela Swing Maxi was available and about to finish before I knew about it. Yes, I'm that out of loop when Jenny had a review about it here last month. I've had this drafted since August (I think) of 2012. In line with knowing about the Swing Maxi... I probably would have bought that pump if I knew about it and if it was already available when I gave birth last year April. Hope this helps!

Disclaimer: All opinions are mine. I've tried to be as objective as possible in expressing my thoughts regarding the two pumps. All are based on my experience with both pumps, the Freestyle from January 2010 to August 2011, the PYU from May 2012 up to the time of this publishing.

The battle with low milk supply

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:33:00 +0000

After consistently having abundance in supply for the first few months I got back from work and being able to donate breastmilk to moms who need them, I never imagined I would be suffering from low milk supply. I'm quite sure I have enough supply for Gabby's demands when he directly nurses from me but the milk that I'm able to pump and leave for him, that's something I was worried about. The good thing is, I know the culprit: I wasn't able to express milk on consistent intervals when I'm at work.

See, when I got back from my maternity leave, I had to report to a new department, not the department I left when I went on leave as my previous group was dissolved. I was able to pump regularly in this new department, however, I longed to change move to another department or outside (another company) due to the working hours. I was working on a 3pm-12mn shift. I got my wish about a month after, and moved into my current department. The problem was, I wasn't able to pump regularly. My pumping times would be around ever 4-5 hours, so I was only able to pump in the office twice, then catch up when I get home for the third pumping session.

For a while, this seemed to be ok. However, around 3 weeks ago, I noticed a decline in my expressed milk, pumping just enough for the next day's feeding. Until it wasn't even enough that it really is a blessing I live just 15mins of walking from work. I had no frozen stash during this period since I recently just gave them to a mom in need.

So, panic rising plus the determination not to succomb and supplement with formula, I read up on how to up my supply... fast. I tried power pumping, then eating galactagogues from Mommy Treats' cookies and brownies to Motherlove's More Milk Special Blend and herbal teas. It helped in normalizing my output but I still wasn't satisfied. I pumped at least once during the weekends, and after attending the La Leche League Support Group Meeting 2 weeks ago, I also increased my pumping sessions to five per day (I'm now able to pump semi-regularly for 3x while at work), once when I wake up and another one when I get home.

So far so good. I have around a full day's worth of breastmilk. I still mean to increase the stash I currently have so I have to continue my regular pumping sessions at work, and then when I get to my desired output, slowly wean myself from the galactagogues I'm ingesting.

Wish me luck!

A day of firsts

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:42:00 +0000

Today is October 1 and today is the day Gabby turns 6 months old. And what does the 6-month mark means for breastfeeding mommies? It's when their baby first tries solid food! I'm trying to introduce solids to Gabby via baby-led weaning and this means getting messy. That's right! Because it's all about letting baby dictate just how much food he wants to try by letting him feed himself. And since he's still experimenting and exploring, it is bound to get messy.

Let me show you just how messy it was:

And a closer look...

Well, I didn't take a picture of our floor but just so you can imagine, the first 2 pieces of squash he was able to grasp was thrown. Very good baby, right? All in all, it was a success. We now know not to soften the squash too much and we'd have to place old newspapers on our floor tomorrow to catch the flying food.

Another first for today, but this time with Jack-Jack, is a visit to the dentist! He was very good and didn't make a fuss when the dentist brushed his teeth. I sure wish he would be like that when his teeth is brushed at home. We're going back after 2 weeks to see if the cavities that are already starting to form in his teeth have been minimized. Hopefully, he'd cooperate when it's brushing time.

The only problem I'm happy to have

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Ever since I started breastfeeding Jack-Jack, I never thought it was possible that I'd be donating breastmilk to moms who need to supplement their own supply and didn't want to feed formula milk to their babies. I've been eager and hopeful that I'd be one of those lucky moms who have ounces and ounces of frozen breastmilk that their able to fill up an entire freezer. Of course, I was also being realistic, especially since about a week or so that I went back to the office, my frozen stash was almost depleted! So storing a lot of breastmilk in the freezer wasn't an option. Especially since I was using a manual pump then.

A few months after and when I was already using a double electric pump, I noticed that I'm slowly building up my frozen stash. My rule at home was to always give Jack-Jack (and eve now with Gabby) fresh milk, which was expressed breastmilk stored in the refrigerator. On Fridays, I would leave milk expressed that day (maybe even one or two from Thursday) in the ref and place all the other milk expressed earlier in the freezer. And from then, came my problem: what to do with my excess milk? I mean, I'm sure enough by then that the milk I leave in the ref is enough for the next day I'm out of the house and working, plus, I could always leave a few bags in the freezer just in case. My freezer was almost up to capacity and I still have a few more bags to freeze from my stash in the ref. Plus, some have been frozen for more than a month already. What did I do? Posted in NAW about my excess supply so if anybody from there or somebody they know needs them, I can readily meet up with them and give them the milk.

I forgot how many times I've shared my milk to free up the space in our freezer and also to avoid throwing out the milk when I was still expressing milk for Jack-Jack. Now, with Gabby, I've donated around four to five times since his second month I already have a ready donee.

Sharing my milk to these moms and to their kids eases my problem (lacking freezer space, storage time) and at the same time, eases their problem, too. We also get to talk, share insights and thoughts about breastfeeding... I'm also able to help them in their breastfeeding problems, sharing my experiences with them and also encouraging them to attend breastfeeding support group meeting where they would be able to meet other moms and know that they're not alone in their breastfeeding problems.

Having this problem that I'm happy to have and being able to share this problem to ease another's is something I'm always grateful for. I'm able to provide my baby with my milk and at the same time, provide for another's baby with the abundance of supply that I have.

Check out these posts from other participating bloggers (updated throughout the day):

Brenda has notes on milk givers and receivers

Mafeth wrote about being a milk donee

Cris donated her liquid gold

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

Back from the mommy land

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:16:00 +0000

It's been quite a while since I posted my birth story here which isn't finished. I admit I haven't made the time to blog when I actually have a lot to talk about!

But anyway, here's to a preview of the next posts I'll have (to force me to write!):

Continuation of my birthing story

Comparison of the various cloth diapers I have with pictures!

Medela's Freestyle vs Ameda's Purely Yours Ultra

Plus, I'll be joining CoaNM's September carnival. To join, simply go to here for the mechanics.

Special thanks to Tiffanny of My Cup of Cocoa for helping me realize that while I may not have a big scope of readers, I do influence a mom, or two, with my experiences thru blogging. And to Jenny of CoaNM for reminding me to blog.

Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:52:00 +0000

It all started on March 28. I wanted to give birth on that Friday, March 30, and I had been trying to walk more to give my birthing time a headstart. I usually walk home from my office and my OB suggested that I walk more to help with the descend of my baby. Why that Friday? So I wouldn’t have to undergo another ultrasound and testing, which meant additional expense since now, I would have to be closely monitored since the last ultrasound I had, my placenta was already matured.

I had a very sticky discharge that I soon researched as my mucus plug. It was very thick and I actually discovered it sticking on my leg as I was putting on lotion. Haha. I was 38 weeks and 2 days then, two days after my OB stripped my membranes for the second time. I didn’t want to feel excited but I was so ready to give birth that I texted my sister (who’s a med student) and my OB, keeping my fingers crossed that things would progress soon, rather than waiting for a weeks as was the usual text on when active birthing time would start when I researched about my discharge.

I continued to slowly discharge my mucus plug, with no progress on the color as it was still brownish, not reddish that would signal more progress on my cervix’s dilation and course of my birthing time for the next two days. March 29, I even attended a Parents’ Meeting at St. Michael Playhouse and I walked from there to Power Plant Mall to meet up with J. And we bought a new playard and some swaddling blankets. I even walked up and down the stairs several times while carrying Jack-Jack when we got home, hoping that my birthing time would start. March 30, still no progress and my officemates were all “ready” to escort me to the hospital in case birthing time would start. They were practicing panicking and how they would go about leading me out of the production floor since I told them I had a discharge and was having pressure waves at irregular times. Hee. But, to my and their disappointment, nothing happened.

I walked home that Friday and started going up and down the stairs, carried Jack-Jack a couple of times again, when I received a text message from my sister if I wanted to take a walk. I took up on her offer and we walked from home to St. Luke’s. And then we decided to continue walking to Bonifacio High Street and from there, to wait for J to take us home as it would be night time already.

Saturday morning, March 31, still no regular pressure waves. I have been feeling some tightness around my tummy every now and then but nothing to really be aware or concerned about. J and I will be going to St. Luke’s for another NST and BPS just to check if everything’s still ok. We met with my doctor and she said that I’m already 2cm dilated but my cervix seemed to have been higher than her last check, plus, it was still thick. She prescribed some medications to help me efface (evening primrose and Buscopan) and told me to come back the next day at any time and go straight to the Delivery Room (or Genesis, as she called it) and come in for an IE. We told her that we’d be going to the mall again that night and would be walking around and around just to help my birthing time to get started.

And J and I went to Ayala Center. We bought some cloth diapers and we ate dinner and we walked and walked. We started from Greenbelt 3, then Landmark, then SM (where we bought the diapers), then back to Landmark, then around the 5 Greenbelt areas.

Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 1
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Part 2
Jonathan Gabriel's Birth Story - Realizations

Self-hypnosis birthing, night-time potty training

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:33:00 +0000

I bought a Hypnobabies Home Study Course for Expectant Mothers a few weeks ago via Amazon. I haven't actually gotten around to sending the enrollment form included but I've already started reading the book and listening to the cds. So far, I've enjoyed listening to the cds and learning how to relax and focus my mind on sound of Kerry's voice on my discman. Of course, there are times (if not most, honestly) that I'd be drifting off or falling asleep (especially when I listen at night, after Jack-Jack falls asleep), but as she reminds at every start of the track, as long as I continue listening to it, my sub-conscious would pick up all that it needs.

I found that listening to the cds and learning to relax and at my current class, learning self-hypnosis, made me less sleepy during office hours, even if I didn't get a full sleep the night before. I think the 30+ minutes of listening to the tracks, and just relaxing and letting your mind do all the work and learning is worth extra hours of lost sleep (especially now that I'm on my last trimester and achieving a fairly comfortable sleeping position is almost a challenge every time, plus my bladder always seem to be full).

I'm faithfully going thru the course, listening to the cd tracks as suggested, reading thru the literary at the beginning of each course week. I'm just having trouble going thru this week's daily exercise, the Finger-Drop technique. But I compensate by doing at least 3 of those one after the other, before I listen to a new cd. The physical exercises... I have yet to start. I'm hoping that all these would help me have a natural (no anesthesia), vaginal birth. I just fear a bit since my baby would be bigger than my eldest son. Well, pelvic excercises, here I come.

On another note, my son still doesn't seem to be disturbed sleeping in wet briefs and pajamas. I would wake up in the middle of the night, touch his bum, and discover he's wet. I think the cool weather is what makes him pee during the night plus the liquids he takes in before going to sleep. I do make sure that he pees before we finally settle down but sometimes, that doesn't help. Oh, well. We finally bought a mattress protector so that at least, our bed wouldn't continue absorbing all his urine. Hee.

2011 in Retrospect

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:48:00 +0000

The year has come and gone and it's been more than a fortnight since the new year arrived. I have been busy lately, or rather, I haven't given any time to blog and post what's happening with me especially since I'm already in my last trimester and on my way to becoming a new mom the second time around.

2011 has been an interesting year. J and I have gone to several trip with Jack-Jack, once within the country, and once outside the country. We've been to Dumaguete (which I promised we will come back sometime in the future as we now know where the best possible place to stay is) and then we went to Singapore.

It was also the year that I told and nagged J that I have to get pregnant so that the age gap between Jack-Jack and his sibling would be almost three - not too close, yet not to far either. Just about right. I was actually hoping that I would already be pregnant when we went to Singapore just so my expected due date would fall on March this year (as I promised my sister I will try my hardest to give her somebody who has the same birth month as hers. I did get pregnant... But it was after our Singapore trip and I learned it while J was away on a company trip. I took the test a few days before I was due to have my next period, excited because instinct told me I'd be carrying then... And I was right.

2011 was also the year we started seriously potty-training Jack-Jack. I even went so far as to buy a book on how to enforce it gently. Of course, we modified it and I'm glad to say that while he isn't 100% potty-trained, he does go to the toilet when he needs to go (although sometimes with a bit of pushing) and our bed remains dry most days in a month (I can probably count 2-3 times we woke up with a wet patch in the last few months).

And as 2011 was the year Jack-Jack turned two... Well. Terrible Two's it is. We've had shouting matches, crying episodes... I even had to step back and take a breather, get away from it all as I felt too strung, too tough, too hard, too everything and I'm worried I'm making some dent in my son's personality and overall mental behavior than progress. Hay. But I think we're making progress right now. I've purchased several books to help me and J... It's just a matter of finishing them and applying them. Tho we're applying some already as we go along.

It was also the time J and I argued so much, raised voices, and subsequently called for talk time. Must be my hormones. Haha. Yes, I'm blaming them... Then this time around, I'm going to blame post-partum effects. I love J sincerely, though. And I'm always thankful he's by my side and my partner for life.

2011 was also the time I splurged... Again. Le sigh. When will I ever learn? Probably soon. Praying soon. Hoping soon. As two kids will be hard to raise when everything seems to be rising with them.

In the end, I'm grateful for everything that happened last 2011. It's been fun. I've met new people, gained friends, and reconnected with a previous passion, my love of reading.

Here's to a grand 2012. Looking forward to birthing my second baby and bonding with my two kids during my leave. :)

So I finally merged all my blogger blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:19:00 +0000

Into one. Which started when I was still in college and then when I was preparing for our wedding. It's quite nostalgic, when I read some of the posts I did, especially during my college days, how young and shallow my worries were. Hee. I guess we all have to grow up sometime. :)

The start of a journey

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:34:00 +0000

I bought a sewing machine last year in the hopes that I'd find the time and resources to learn how to use it and start a hobby that would, hopefully in time, turn into a business so that I can spend more time at home with my son. Sadly, I still haven't really used it, though I already threaded it a few months back. I almost have all the resources. What are missing are the fabric and some other notions.

I found the fabric in Glorietta 5 and Divisoria. Notions were from National Bookstore and Landmark. I even got to photocopy the pattern. So what's stopping me? Time. It seems I have to make time for it, when I can find and make time to read, and still do my mommy duties.

In about four months, I'll be giving birth and I need to start on this project, this journey. You see, I want to sew cloth diapers for this next baby. The instructions seem easy enough and I'm not about to venture into the unknown world of fold-over elastics (FOE) so I'll be sticking with regular polybraid elastics and such.

So I need to make time. I'll probably do it one step at a time. Cut out the pattern copies then trace them to the fabrics. Then cut the fabrics... Then sew.

Hopefully, by making this project, this dream public, I'll be able to start off soon. Besides which, I'll be giving birth soon enough anyway.

And speaking of cloth diapers, I've been researching on how meconium is with cloth diapers. Is it easy to wash? Hard? Does it stain? Thankfully, all my research tells me that it's quite easy to wash off! Yay! If I manage to sew at all, my next goal is to CD by Day 1.

Wish me luck!

I just wonder

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:08:00 +0000

I've been breastfeeding for 27 months already, 6 of those months pregnant. And with all the hullaballoo's surrounding breastfeeding in public (posts from Chronicles of a Nursing Mom and from the Painter's Wife here and here), I suddenly wonder about it. Why some breastfeeding mothers have no qualms about nursing in public (with or without cover), some prefer to nurse in the comfort of a nursing station, and some would bring expressed milk in bottles when they're out and about with their babies.

I for one, am comfortable nursing in public. It was a struggle at first, I admit, as I was a new mom, with continuously leaking breasts during the first few months, and a demanding son who usually cannot wait until we get to a nursing station. So my nursing poncho from Indigo Baby was always in my bag to cover up when Jack-Jack wanted to nurse. Other covers I used were my ring sling from Next 9, and pouch and SaYa from Indigo Baby. Until I felt comfortable enough to nurse without a cover especially since I already collected enough nursing tops that I can discreetly nurse in public. Of course, my husband was more conscious for me. He'd tell me that it was so obvious I'm breastfeeding and that I should at least cover up and I'd always retort that he noticed since he knew that I really was breastfeeding.

I haven't really been harassed nor was asked to nurse someplace else, except that one time in Circles when a waitress offered a shawl for my use as a cover to which I politely declined. Who would stare at me, anyway, when it was lunch time and we were sitted at a corner? Besides, I chose not to use a cover and thankfully, there was no objection at my refusal.

I love breastfeeding, with all those advantages and convenience it brought to our lives. We didn't have to invest with a lot of bottles nor bottle nipples with different flows (my son never complained that he was stuck with the slow flow nipples until he weaned from the bottle). I only woke my husband up in the middle of the night when I needed help in changing diapers as I didn't have to get up when my son needed to nurse back to sleep. We didn't have to bring bottles with sterile water and powdered milk containers when we go out, nor did we have to worry if we bought enough milk for his consumption or if the temperature was just right.

That's why I wonder... why there were/are mothers who breastfeed their babies and yet they would bring expressed milk when they go out for the baby's consumption. Do they also bring their pumps with them? To replenish their stocks and to empty their breasts since the baby would be getting milk from the bottle and not direct? I'm just curious because like I said, one of the reasons I loved and embraced breastfeeding was because of the convenience. Anybody can enlighten me on this? Is this an unconscious choice due to shying away from breastfeeding in public (which was one of the reasons I thought of when I thought of one reason why I'd bring expressed milk with me)? I'm just thinking out loud as I know someone from my family who brings bottles with expressed milk and gives the bottle to her baby when my niece was hungry. I never really got to ask her why she does that.

So anybody, somebody... Do you know or have any idea why?

The search is on

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:51:00 +0000

For a new OB. Yes, yes, I know. I'm on my 20th week already. But what can I do? I need someone who is not just accredited with St. Luke's Global City, but also someone who does maternity packages in that hospital. I seriously thought I didn't have to search for a new OB since my current doctor is affiliated there. However, we just found out that she doesn't do packages in St. Luke's. And Makati Med's new packages are just woah. They're more expensive than St. Luke's packages. We can't afford to pay out the same amount like we did when I first gave birth. We have more things to consider this time around and just paying out that much isn't practical.

I've already had a few in mind to check out on but I'm still waiting for feedback and referrals from my trustee online support group. There are already a few referrals but I'm hoping I'd get more by the end of the day so that I can already set an appointment for Saturday.

And because of that... Any referrals?

My mom was surprised

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:19:00 +0000

That I can still breastfeed Jack-Jack despited being pregnant. She found out when we were going home from his second-cousin's birthday party and he asked for milk. I knew he was already tired and wanted some snuggling, which meant that as soon as he latches, his eyes would roll upwards, as if on a high, then slowly closing until he was fast asleep. And they did. It wasn't even five minutes and he was already dozing off.

Mama was surprised that Jack-Jack was still nursing from me, despite already drinking Nido, and despite me being pregnant. But she didn't say anything negative about it. In fact, she was amazed at how our body works, to be able to provide to my babies both in and out of my tummy. Well, so was I.

Still breastfeeding after 2 years

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (November). For this month, we focus on extended breastfeeding. Participants will share their experiences and tips on breastfeeding their child/ren beyond 12 months. Please scroll down to the end of the post and check out the other carnival participants."

When I first got pregnant, one of the things that I immediately decided upon was that I'd breastfeed my child. And if he ever self-weaned before he was two, I told myself that I'd pump and give my expressed milk to him until his 2nd birthday just so that he'd be getting all those wonderful benefits of breastmilk. Especially since my husband's side of the family has all those illnesses I don't want my son to have when he'd grow older.

Well, now, Jack-Jack's already 25 months old, and with no sign of weaning anytime soon. I admittedly stopped expressing milk for him around a month before his 2nd birthday, because it was admittedly tiresome to lug around a cold bag with milk in it everyday, and also because there wasn't a dedicated lactation room in our office at that time that I pump inside a toilet cubicle. Yes, it's admittedly not the best place but even the clinic is crowded. I recently heard that there's now a lactation room but I have yet to inquire if it's true. I supplemented my diminishing supply of expressed milk with fresh milk and powdered milk (which I forgot to up the amount when my stash was completely consumed until his pedia check-up, thus the dilemna on his weight gain which I posted here and moaned about it here). But despite that, he still nurses directly from me before he goes to sleep at night, and when we're together during the weekends and I'm trying to make him nap. Even now when I'm already pregnant with my 2nd.

So our breastfeeding relationship continues. Our still on-going journey is like this: having a correct latch from the onset, minor problems on sore nipples during the first month, no biting when he was teething but he loves pulling my nipples out when he was done, having to slowly take it out when he's already fast asleep since he doesn't have the habit of letting it go himself, pulling my shirt up or tugging the neckline down when he wanted his milk, playing with me at night like trying/joking to latch on with my shirt still covering my breast, and several other instances like acrobatic stunts while nursing himself to sleep.

At 5 months...

At 21 months...

It was, and still is, a pretty easy relationship, despite having those sore nipples at the start or the (what I thought then as) neverending sessions during the first 2 weeks or not being to sleep longer than 3 hours during the night as he nurses in the middle of the night.

I think we're slowly on the way to weaning, in my opinion at least, as he now rarely roots for the breast in the middle of the night. Of course, I still wake up due to my full bladder courtesy of my pregnancy. It's one step towards his self-weaning. But I'm in no rush. It's now one of the precious moments I cherish since he's already growing up and I feel that it'd be one of the ways that he wouldn't feel left out when the new baby comes out. Until the day he's ready to stop requesting for my breast, I wouldn't refuse him when he asks.

Check out these posts from other participating bloggers (updated throughout the day):

Chronicles of a Nursing Mom - Barriers/Myths vs. Extended Breastfeeding

J and the Three Boys - No More "de-de"

My Mommyology - My Extended Breastfeeding Experience

Mommyluscious - Breastfeeding For Two Beyond Two

Truly Rich Mom - Truly Rich Tips for Moms: On Extended Breastfeeding (a perfectly normal thing to do!)

Got to Belive - Breastfeeding Room Story

apples & dumplings - My Constant Challenge with Extending Breastfeeding

Mommy Kwentos - Challenges and Rewards of Extended Breastfeeding

The Odyssey of Dina - nurturing rafael: extended breastfeeding, stretching some more lovin'

Legally Mom - Breastfeeding Beyond 1 Year: Barriers and Issues

Mec as Mom - Shooting for the Benefits, Extending the Love

Homeschooling Mommy - Yes, I've Got Milk

SOlovelyN - As long as he wants, I can

Life of a babywearing and breastfeeding mommy - Still breastfeeding after 2 years

"This kid is driving me crazy!"

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:19:00 +0000

Yes. I'm echoing Robert Munsch's line from his book Love you Forever which I love to read and I usually sing to my son at night. However, yes! Jack-Jack is driving me crazy at 25 months!

He has bad eating habits which I know and feel guilty about because he must have picked it up from us. It's just that I'm not sure how to correct it. And it saddens me and irks me because while there are a lot of times he'd eat so eagerly and would ask for seconds, there are times he wouldn't even touch his rice and just eat the meat. Or, he's like a mouse, he'd bite on one piece, put it back on his plate, then bite another one and so on and so forth. But he wouldn't finish all even if there are only a few pieces. I'm finding it hard to really feed him, and he's underweight already as it is.

It's also hard to make him fall asleep. Even if we have a semi-established bedtime routine, most nights it's a struggle to make him sleep. Just like last night. He didn't take a nap so it should have been easy making him sleep. But it was just the opposite. He was still bouncing off the walls and he'd keep on asking for the potty twice in a row even if it's just a trickle and he'd keep on going down the bed. I had to roughly push him back on his bed with a shout until he cried. Then I told him sorry while I held him, but that he's being very naughty and mommy wants to sleep already and that mommy also knows he's already tired. He leaned on me with half-closed eyes, echoing what I said with a sleepy voice. And that was the only time he did lie down and proceeded to sleep.

It's exhausting, frustrating, irritating, and even saddening. I know and I admit I might have missed something but I do plan on slowly trying to correct it before it becomes permanent. But I need help, especially my husband's. I have to be firm, but still caring and understanding. But I need J's support in this. Besides, the cycle isn't healthy for my pregnancy. So I really need an overhaul. And a peaceful mind.

Carriers vs Strollers: In celebration of International Babywearing Week

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:09:00 +0000

Because it's International Babywearing Week, I just thought it appropriate to share with you my thoughts between travelling with baby using a stroller vs a baby carrier.

I've been using baby carriers since Jack-Jack was a newborn. It did add some bulk to our diaper bag but the ease and convenience of going around crowded places, just minding your own footwork and making sure no one bumps into your baby's head was nothing short of great. I never had difficulty going up or down a floor or level of a shopping mall, I never minded where I'm going. I just made sure that baby was safe. I actually owned several baby carriers which I blogged about here. For a rundown of the carriers I own and owned: 2 ring slings by Jen Tan, a Blissfulbabes pouch, a Kangaroo Korner mesh pouch, a SaYa, a Baby K'Tan, and a mei tai. I've sold some but I retained four carriers.

Before Jack-Jack hit his second year, we wore him less and we sometimes forget to bring a carrier when we go out since he was very active already and liked to walk around. But then he would get tired and cranky and sleep so up he goes. Which resulted to aching arms and backs. That was why we thought maybe it was time we buy a stroller for him. It would especially be useful when Jack-Jack would fall asleep. We bought one and for a while, he liked sitting on his stroller. But that was only about two to three times. And those few times only lasted when he was asleep, or as soon as we got out of the car. Most of the time, the stroller became our shopping cart, wherein the diaper bag was sitting on the seat, shopping bags hanging on the stroller's handles...

While the weightless feeling of not having to carry Jack-Jack was very much welcome, the hassle that came with using a stroller was not. I was always annoyed at having to push the stroller since I now seldom carry him for long periods because of my pregnancy. I hated having to go around stairs on malls and find the ramp so I can go smoothly. It was a hassle going on escalators. I always had to mind where the wheels were going so as not to roll on somebody's foot. The first few times I ran over my husband's toes and he was really upset. What can I do? I'm not used to going around on wheels!

But then after those few times, he didn't want to sit on his stroller! He instead wanted to push it with us. And even after he'd fall asleep on our arms and we'd try to transfer him to his stroller, no more luck. That's why we're actually selling it right now.

So now, we're back to using carriers. Although I actually am looking at buying a soft-structured carrier, like the Boba 3G.

I guess my previous paragraph said it all. Baby carriers are better. Plus, my kid was more behaved when he was carried than when he was in the stroller.

And to end this post, a video I saw from Boba Family's site. View on full screen to fully appreciate the video. :)

I am ready

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:51:00 +0000

To come home later tonight and kiss my son endless. I missed him, and J of course, and our little apartment. The overnight vacation did me good. I think it's good for my me, my soul to really miss my kid because I haven't seen him for more than 24 hours. It's like, the love you have for your kid becomes more... intense, in a manner of speaking, when you truly miss them because you haven't really seen them in a while.

Even moms need a break

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Grace) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:57:00 +0000

I've been stressed lately to the point that I can't help but burst into tears in the comfort of darkness and solidarity. I'm not sure if it's because of my raging hormones or what, coupled with a terrible two...

I've been asking myself lately if I'm being too strict, too stiff, too whatever as I find myself raising my voice and being a little to rough on my little boy. It's heartbreaking when he'd cry but I still myself from crumbling down and retracting what I said as I wanted him to exhibit good manners as early as now. I know he's just two but when should I start if I wanted him to grow up as a gentleman, to almost always be on his best behavior? I sometimes think I did something wrong along the way that it's quite difficult to contain his temperament right now and that it's quite a bit late to start teaching him discipline.

I'm on an emotional rollercoaster ride and it's stressing and frustrating and I feel as if I'm a failure at being a mom and I'm even tearing up right now just thinking about it.

I need a break from it. Just to be by myself again, to find myself, as I find it a little too hard to just cope right now. J's not asking me what's wrong anyway and it's not in my nature to just blurt it out. It's not healthy for our relationship, I know, but I need someone to ask me why, how are you, and I need him to do it. It's difficult for me to just suddenly open up and confront people as I'm not that type. So I want and need him to ask me first.

I'm going to take a break. Just for a night. I'm going to stay with my parents and take a breather. I know most moms would prefer to be with their child 24/7 or at least, every sleeping and waking moment. I want that, too, but I think it's time I step back and do something for myself for a change. Besides, I haven't been away from Jack-Jack since he was born. I would go out and have fun but in the end, I would snuggle to him to sleep at night. He went with me on teambuildings and other overnight escapades. So it's going to be a challenge later on, for me and for him. But I think it would benefit us both. I wouldn't be there to challenge his every move and I wouldn't be concerned on his behavior.

There are a lot more things I want to say and to get out of my system but it might not sound coherent at all. So I'll just end this and good luck to me as I miss him already.