On Breastfeeding @ 1 year

Liane and I have been direct breastfeeding since birth for the past almost 12 months. Our first meeting was a beautiful memory etched forever at the depth of my heart: the breastcrawl and skin to skin. When I gave birth for her, I saw the shock of raven hair, her skin color and her strong cry brought me to blissful tears. But when she finally reached me, she latched on to me and she looked at me. Her eyes, my eyes were the last thing I saw before I passed out. 

It has been a blissful experience with a lot of memories I treasure in my heart. It has inspired me to grow as a person, as a mother to L and has allowed me to nurture not just my own baby but more babies who we have shared and donated breastmilk to. 

Along the way, we have met new mommy and baby friends and I have nursed L everywhere: in church, at the mall, airport, beach-- name it. She has also discovered what I fondly call "breastfeeding acrobatics" which makes our nursing sessions even more fun and memorable. 

She is also Mommyfide's inspiration for me to provide fashionable, affordable and Modern Mommywear for breastfeeding moms and the sole reason why breastfeeding is close to my heart. 

But it wasn't always easy at first. Being a new mom and persevering the first 3wks up to 3 months, establishing milk supply, adjusting to not sleeping straight at night, unli latch and growth spurts, plugged ducts, sore nipples, limited wardrobe and more! 

But today, L is turning 1 year old in less than 2 wks. I feel like I earned a medal for coming full circle. Breastfeeding her has become so valuable to me:

1. It is her instant comfort whenever she is not feeling well: teething

2. Helps her sleep

3. No painful ears when we travel by plane, so she is such a happy traveller

4. We travel and go out without worrying if we packed enough bottles, formula, sterilizer, etc. it allows us to travel light.

5. The savings (!!!!!!!)

6. The experience. Ohh when she looks at me and smiles, when we play while she is latched on or when she tries to put her foot in my mouth because she wants my undivided attention when I am on my phone while we nurse-- stuff like these.

7. Jumpstarts her immune system. Babies spend 40 wks in the womb, but the last that develops is their immune system which breastfeeding complements! Isn't that amazing? 

8. The bond I have with L :)

9. Best thing my boobs have ever done

10. Lost pregnancy weight quickly

I miss how she would be latched on to me all day and all night when she was tiny. Trust me, it gets better. Today she looks forward to meal times, would play or like to go out on a walk instead of nurse... Would be too distracted to nurse for more than a few minutes when we are out. All these things.

Mommies and mommies-to-be, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you have very limited time and window for this experience with your children. 

I feel like I am a super hero and have super powers for making milk even while I sleep! What's your super power? 

Indeed, it is a selfless act of love and devotion only a determined mother can provide. Daddies can change nappies, Grandma can babysit for a bit, Nanny can take over for awhile, Grandpa can do playtime... But only Mommy can breastfeed :)

Many have asked me for tips how to succeed because I have made it look easy. Just set your mind to it, no bargaining... Enjoy your baby, enjoy, live and love the experience while it lasts and trust me, it will be hard before it becomes easy and it will get better and better. 

 I think a breastfeeding mother and child is a beautiful sight. We will be breastfeeding until L self weans whether that will be when she is three or when she is 30. Hehehe!

South Mommies 1st Breastfeeding Meet

Today, October 5, 2013, at Asian Hospital was our first breastfeeding meet for South Mommies. 

I was there with Raymond, Liane and Ate Inday (her nanny). We met new friends and it is nice to finally put a face to some mommies at the Breastfeeding Pinays support group online. 

Let me just say how passionate everybody is and how cute all the babies are! My Liane was instantly so excited, bouncing, babbling, squeeling the whole time.

Here's a photo of her with her new friend Tita Mau, NICU nurse at Asian and Tita Virgie.

The mommy treats were so good. Especially Mommy Christine's muffins!!! I did not get to take photos as I finished off 3 instantly. (Oops)

My favorite breastfriend Jah was there with Jacob and James, too and we had dinner at Conti's right after.

I know I should have taken more photos at the event, it really slipped my mind!

Here's Liane sleeping in between activities during car rides, pooling her energy! Adorable!

On our way to Asian

From Asian after the event to Conti's

On our way home to Tagaytay trom dinner.

Of course, Ellie the Elephant is her favorite buddy. She held my hand for comfort when she was fussy on our way home and slept. What a good girl!

Canyon Cove Wednesdate

Today is a milestone for our family. Since we had Liane in April, I have not been out of the house for more than 3 hours (I go now to the gym to attend aerobics classes, or to catch the occassional movie with hubby) because I worry that she might not feed well from the bottle or I always take her with me.

Raymond and I went on a Wednesdate at Canyon Cove with two other couple friends who also are his highschool friends. We had a great time. 

The beach was beautiful, the swimming pool was nice; it was one fine day. It rained a bit and we had a dip in the sea and talked a little, then transferred to the pool. The pool was warm, it was actually the temperature Liane would have enjoyed. I thought of her the whole time since we left to do some grocery shopping in the morning after our morning booger battle and babath routine. 

I actually also relaxed a little when I called to check on Bubbah how she was and she was just quiet and sleepy mostly. The took the bottle with out fuss (again, Avent Natural is pure love!).

Here's a 3month, 2wks and 4days milestone!-- she held the bottle for the first time :) thanks to Ate Ailyn who took it and is just as kilig! (her Yaya)

So we enjoyed the day, I pumped a couple of 8 ounces by the beach, got to wear my bikini, am sunkissed and came home to a tummy sleeping little bug.

8:10PM Almost an hour later she was at the dead end of her crib, so I adjusted her and she flipped from her tummy to her back and gummy-smiled at me! Oh my heart melted. I pick her up and put her on my chest and we have been this way for the last 20mins. Sleep-feeding. 

8:30PM Placed her in her in her crib. She is such a happy, peaceful baby. Thank you Jesus!

The Laughing MOM: Spreading Breastmilky Goodness!

On Breastfeeding--

The benefits of breastfeeding is no doubt, the best for the little one.

No need for water, no need for vitamins, no need to warm the bottle; it's actually also convenient for Mommy-- all you need is a boob and a baby!

But it's not as easy as it sounds; you have got to WANT to breastfeed.
1. It needs a lot of patience. Sometimes, the milk doesn't come right away and we worry our baby gets hungry. When a baby is born, her tummy capacity is literally pea-sized. So that's all she needs; that's why the colostrum (first milk; yellow colored) is enough.
2. Determination. It HURTS. Sore, chaffed, painful nipples for the next 3 weeks... and your baby feeds almost every 2 hours!
- Make sure your baby is latched on properly.
- I personally found The First Years Nursing Care Nipple Butter really effective in soothing and relieving nipple soreness. It's lanolin free so it's safe for baby to ingest.

- The Boppy Pillow really made breastfeeding so much more comfortable especially during night feeding. 

It goes around your waist, on your lap so you can support baby more comfortably during feeding on the cradle hold.

It also doubles as support for baby's back and for her chest during tummy time!

3. Establish your milk supply. 

First, eat healthy... and next My Ameda Ultra Double Electric breastpump, along with countless milk bags has been my faithful friend. 

4. Donating to milk banks or hospitals will help lots of babies and mommies too! Plus, you get to make new mommy and baby friends :)

5. And lastly, breastfeeding makes mommy lose the pregnancy weight  and recover faster. After 3 whole weeks of pure direct feeding, you will find that you and baby have found a routine. 

The little one is happier because breastmilk boosts the immune system and she gets to bond with more mommy time!

Mommy is happy because we all know a well baby makes a happy mommy. It's certainly not easy, but knowing our baby is healthy gives us peace of mind that we are on the right track!