If breastfeeding is as easy as putting water and scoop of milk into a bottle, formula milk wont be popular. I mean, there are lots of things to keep in mind like food to avoid, clogging, soreness, let out of milk, helping your child to latch, etc. I cant even believe that you actually need to teach a baby to properly latch, shouldn't it be innate? And oh, add the judgmental eyes of the people when you breastfeed in public in the complexities of breastfeeding list.

This is the most informative video I've seen so far: Breastfeeding: Getting a Good Latch Every Time

So here's a list of rants:

1. Latching is crazy - if you do it wrong, your nipple will hurt and your milk supply will slow down. So basically, it's everything. Should it be simple? No. How could a first time mom and a first time human know how to work together and perform that dreaded latch? Even if you watch a hundred videos (like I did), and read a hundred articles and asked a hundred moms, latching can only be performed perfectly by you and your baby. So practice, research and practice proper latching. Just make sure it's a proper latch you're practicing. *wink*

2. You are badly needed. The baby can't literally eat without you. It's not just a romantic fancy quote of boyfriend-girlfriend which says "I can't eat without you...". It's crazy, again. When you're hungry and your baby is, of course, as a mom, you will let your baby eat first. The key is that you have to find time to eat even if it's not yet 12noon for lunch or 7pm for dinner. Just eat. You need food to be able to make food for your baby.

3. The low milk supply and slow milk flow problem. This is my major stress. I feel like I have a low milk supply even if I've been doing everything to boost it - malunggay supplements, soup, massage, etc. The only thing I haven't tried is looking for a lactation consultant. Maybe that's the answer. OR MAYBE I dont really have a low milk supply at all. During the first month I got depressed thinking of my milk supply but then after a while I learned to let it go. If I think baby is hungry because he cannot get enough milk from me, I give him formula milk and we're done - he sleeps, I'm not stressed. I know, breast milk advocates will be like "why give him formula milk?". For me, it works. What's the total fret about formula milk? My first baby was breastfed only a month and the rest was formula milk in a bottle and she grew up just fine, perfect and healthy. BUT I still want to give the best for my baby now that I know the benefits of breastfeeding so, as the baby's pedia advised, I pumped milk so that when he gets fussy because the flow is too slow, I can give him the expressed milk.

4. There are lots of things to be considered that needs much attention. Before, when women are expected only to look over the child and are not involved in corporate lives, they can pay attention to these breastfeeding details. Today is different, I want to work and earn money and I need to breastfeed. So there's mastisis, breast engorgement, breast milk life span after expressing, breastfeeding position, hunger cues, etc. It's a lot to take so I took it one step at a time.

My baby and I are still trying to get the hang of our breastfeeding journey. Now I know why it's called a journey. You learn things all through out and you grow together. Will I recommend breastfeeding? Absolutely, Yes.

Here's a picture of my breastfed baby

1. Watching over your baby's "schedule"

Babies, especially the first year of life, have only one schedule: an erratic schedule. There's no point in trying to stick with it or even looking over it. There's no such thing as "at 8 o'clock he will fall asleep and at 10 he will wake up... then poop at 11:15...eat at 11:30...". Newborns will sleep when they want to, as long as they want to, even if it's freaking noisy in the room. Don't think that they will sleep at the time they slept yesterday. They will also cry and poop whenever they want to, and that's not in a schedule. What moms need to do is just attend to what the babies need for the moment. When time comes, around 6 months (3 months if you're lucky) their schedule will be predictable.


2. Dying to get your pre-pregnancy body.

Your pre-pregnancy body aka the good old days will remain a hallucination right after your delivery. Your tummy will be saggy and ridiculously big as if you're still preggy. But you cannot do your exercises yet because you're body is still recovering after delivery. Give your self some time. Accept that you have this ugly tummy for now but then after a year or two you can regain your body back. Patience is a virtue. For the mean time what you can do is wear a waist trimmer or girdle tightly (so tight that you could almost forget to breath) all throughout the day and even at night. This will help your muscles in the stomach regain it's tone and shrink eventually.


3. Prioritizing your baby 24/7

Who said you should attend to the monster every second of your life? Yes. You've read it right. You don't have to be there with the baby always. You need time for your self. Go on and take a bath, brush your teeth, savor your food. Just make sure to leave your baby safe or to someone else while you're doing that. Don't be guilty when you need to make that morning or evening routine. Babies can wait and that doesn't mean you love them less. If you forget to take care of your self you will be irritated and in turn you may channel the negative energy to the baby. A happy mom has a happy baby so take care of your self and be happy.

4. Worrying too much

Watching your baby sleep that you lost your sleeping time? Worried that the baby is not getting enough of your milk or wasn't able to burp? New moms worry too much about everything. Babies can survive in hostile environment. I mean, 2000 BC ago, there wasn't crib to put your baby to sleep, no formula milk, not even comfy clothes! Watch over your baby but do not exaggerate your worries. Just make sure he/she is sleeping safe, nothing that will cover the nose or else the baby can't breath. Burping a baby doesn't mean that you have to hear the burp sound. Just hold the baby upright for a maximum of 10 minutes then you can put him/her down. Milk coming out of the mouth and nose is normal as long as it's not in a form of vomit. You know vomit? It's when your stomach is forcing for food to go out of your mouth, that's not a good thing for babies. When you worry too much or panic, your judgement will be clouded. If something happens, monitor and analyze properly the situation then consult your pedia as necessary.

5. Putting your baby to sleep
Yup, you've read it right. Don't put baby to sleep. "Putting" baby to sleep means you try desperately to swing him/her to make him/her drowsy, thinking that it'll eventually lead to sleep. What I learned from my two babies (a one year old and one month-old) is that when they're really sleepy, they will eventually sleep, no matter how noisy the surrounding is. There could be some crying especially if they're over-tired but then they will sleep right away after a few attempt to soothe him/her. Usually when my toddler cries because she's sleepy, we'll just have to put her to bed, tap her bum and sing some songs, then she'll knock her self to sleep right away. For my newborn, I will just let him stay in bed and stare at the ceiling at midnight without any attempt to put him to sleep. I don't force him to sleep just because it's sleeping time. No, newborns don't know that 12 midnight is a sleeping time. If he gets sleepy, I will just carry him because, usually, babies need an assurance of safety before going to safe and there's no better place to find it than in your arms.

Remember: if babies are sleepy, they will sleep no matter what.

To avoid depression that you're baby's so fussy and sleepy but doesn't want to go to sleep, guide him/her to sleep when he or she is tired. This will make sure that he/she won't be over tired. This is tricky, sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't. You just have to practice, trial and error would do, don't worry, if he/she cries, eventually he/she will stop crying, that's their nature.


This will be a good read for expectant and new moms: http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/pregnancy/labor-and-childbirth/life-after-giving-birth-expectations-vs-reality-lfrm

There are lots of articles posted online regarding your hospital bag. Some can be considered, yes, but for me, these are the only essential things you would need. This worked for me because I don't give a fuss about anything else than giving birth. I also went to the hospital during my labor unlike other people who wants to be admitted in advance. Since I had normal delivery with my two babies, I just spent 24-36 hours in the hospital.

My Hospital Bag Must-Have Checklist For The Big Day [Labor to Delivery to Discharge]:

1. Important Documents

• Philhealth Documents (for you and your husband)Make sure you have a printed-out Member Data Record. If you're employed, you can get this from your HR Department. Otherwise, you can get it in Philhealth's office.
• Photocopy of valid IDs (yours and your husband's)
• NSO Birth Certificate (yours and your husband's) - just in case. We actually did not use this but we brought it anyway.
• Marriage Certificate - some hospitals need this.
• Your pre-natal book from OB-GYNE
• Recent laboratory test results (Ultrasound, CBC, etc.), if any

2. Clothes

• For Mommy:
• Few Set of Clothes. I brought with me only 3 pair of clothes because I was expecting a normal delivery which means I could just go home the next day after I give birth. On the duration of your labor, you will be using the hospital gown so you won't change clothes too often. If you don't like to wear it, go on bring additional clothes. My advice, though, is that you should use the hospital gown because it's easier to have an IE and deliver with it.
• Lots of underwear. During my labor, the mucus (blood) came first so I was having a heavy menstrual-like blood discharge. This caused my napkin to overflow and I needed to change underwear regularly. Even if you do not have a blood discharge during labor, you may need to change undies regularly because you will have a heavy bleeding after giving birth.
• Tummy Binder! This is one of the best things I brought during my second delivery because I got to wear it before my tummy gets comfortable with its size (big, that is). It helped me condition my tummy that it should go back to its pre-pregnancy size.
• Jacket. Because hospitals can be so cold. Lol.
• Going home outfit. Make sure you bring the outfit that fits you when you were pregnant since your tummy won't be back to its glorious days in an instant. You will still look like 6 months pregnant.
• Cover-up for breast feeding. If you intend to breastfeed after giving birth then bring this. Just take note though that for most of moms that I know, milk doesn't come out right after they give birth so they don't have a choice but to give formula milk. But you may still request to exclusively breastfeed your child since it is your right and it's in the law.
• For Daddy:
• Clothes of his own choice. (Lots of shirts especially if he will do the running.)
• Jacket. Because. Cold. Lol.
• Undies, shorts, slippers.
• Pillows and Blanket for a good night sleep because he cannot co-sleep with you on your hospital bed.

3. Slippers
It's so comfy to have your labor, delivery and recovery in slippers. I mean, I can't imagine wearing sneakers nor sandals that time.

4. Toiletries

• Maternity Pads or heavy flow napkins. I needed a lot of pads during my delivery because of a heavy discharge. I even wore adult diapers on the first 24 hours after delivery just to make sure the bed won't be full of blood.
• Soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Feminine wash - can't live without it
• Tissues
• Facial Wash

5. Lots of water and some Snacks
Water sold in the hospital can be so expensive so it helps if you can bring a bottle or two. If you can't bring it during the rush to the hospital like me, you may ask some relatives to bring it for you.

For Baby:

1. Going home outfit and receiving blanket.

This is what the baby will wear when you bring him/her home. You would also need to wrap the baby with a blanket to keep him/her comfy on travel.

2. Feeding Bottles

Some moms are blessed to have their milk supply ready before they deliver. But as for me, breast milk came 3 days after delivery which means at the hospital, the baby needs to drink formula milk first.

Diapers, soap and other things needed by the baby will be provided by the hospital.

6. Infant Car Seat - if you have car and if no one will help you carry your baby.

After delivery, your whole body will ache. Trust me. You cannot even lift a 3-kilogram baby. It pays to bring an infant car seat so you can just relax in the car without carrying anything.

P.S. Although it's called a hospital bag, you don't actually need to buy a specific bag. I used my husband's back pack and travelling bag during my big day.

image from www.huffingtonpost.com

Dear Knetina,

When you got your first vaccine on your 6th week of life, you were terribly crying all throughout the day until night. I questioned everyone in the world on why did they allow these practices to continue. Babies don't deserve such pain. I wanted to take away all the hurt you were feeling but then I realized that there are things in life that you should face on your own. There are fights that you should win alone, with your own strength. There will be a lot of pain when you grow up but remember that Momma and Poppa will always be here to help you. When we're gone, I hope you use our teachings as armor in this battlefield. I hope you grow strong physically and especially spiritually. Just as how I endured my labor with you, I want you to hold on tight to God on your most painful experiences in life.

Love,

Mudra

I brought my beloved (yes, that adjective is necessary) one year old to her pedia earlier this day because she's constipated. Every time she poops, she exerts a lot of effort, cries and turns red. At first, I googled about this and look for suggestions to ease her constipation. I got results that said it was just normal, to just give plenty of water, etc. How could this pain be normal? I gave my baby lots of water in a day but it did not helped. So we finally decided to bring her to the doctor which told us that, it's not just about the water intake but the fiber intake that would ease constipation.

Apparently, according to doc, the cause of my baby's constipation is that she is not getting a balanced meal. I'm guilty about this because I got so busy with my work that I was not able to monitor my baby's food intake. She should be eating food that consist of fiber-rich food such as vegetables and fruits, mixed with proteins and carbohydrates in one meal.

The doctor have me a list of of food that will help soften her stool:

• Camote
• Green Peas
• Peanut
• Prunes
• Papaya
• Yogurt
• Corn
• Oats (Mixed with baby's milk)
• Mango
• Green leafy vegetable

Doc also recommended to change our milk from Progress Gold to NAN Optipro 3. She said it was a common complaint from parents that once they changed their milk to Progress Gold 1-3, their babies constipate.

Hope this helps. :)

Chopsuey is great because it consists of vegetables and proteins but make sure to prepare it healthier by using less oil.

On the first year of my first baby's life, she caught 4 major colds. Major colds for me means that she had slight difficulty in breathing, lacked appetite and the cold led to cough. What I'm sharing with you is real life experience and info from our pediatrician. Every time the cold turns out to be out-of-control, we immediately seek pedia's advice because, just because, I panic.

Major cause of colds
The major cause of colds as what the pediatrician said, and according to my observation also, is having contact with someone who has cold. So if your baby's parents (yes you!) have colds, your baby has a 99% chance to have colds too. If you notice slightest symptoms of colds, the best thing to do is to drink medicine immediately. There are over the counter medicines such as Neozep or Decolgen that would ease out your colds immediately. Keep your baby away from relatives that has colds. Just explain to them that the baby will suffer if the colds will be transferred.

• DO NOT kiss your baby on the face as you may transfer virus without knowing it.
• DO NOT give your baby to any relative that has colds.
• DO NOT let your baby play with his/her brother/sister, cousins, playmates or neighbors that has colds.

Relief

You cannot force the cold virus to go away immediately because that's not its nature. Additionally, your baby's immune system is still developing that's why colds will usually last for two (2) weeks. This timeline includes your baby's improvement in breathing and mucus secretion. These are the things that helps in making the baby feel better:

1. Using nasal spray and rubber suction
Nasal spray helps the mucus in your baby's nose to loosen up and would also make your baby's breathing easier because of unblocking the mucus. However, it should be used in moderation with a maximum of two times daily. This is because the spray can irritate and eventually wound the nose lining that will cause more problems.

Around 10 seconds after you sprayed your baby's nose with nasal spray, it is best to use a rubber suction to remove remaining mucus inside the baby's nose. This will definitely make your baby feel better afterwards because the thing that makes his/her breathing difficult will be removed. I have to warn you, though, that babies don't like their noses to be suctioned. They will definitely fight it. Just take the proper timing or distract your baby so you could suction properly.


2. On the first sight of runny nose, give your baby Disudrin BUT on a maximum of 7 days.
Follow the dosage of Disudrin (written on the box and on the bottle). Remember that you could use within 7 Days ONLY. Overusing of this medicine will cause rhinitis to your baby. I suggest that within 7 days, you make the most out of your baby's recovery, suction his/her nose, give lots of water, let her rest, give fruits, and follow this list.


3. Giving your baby lots of water
What can I say more? Water therapy is best for babies and adults too. Give her water every after milk or as often as possible.


4. Let your baby rest
Everybody needs rest when sick, that includes your baby. However, rest doesn't mean your baby doesn't have to play. He/she can still play as long as it's not with somebody who has cough and colds and as long as there will be no physical exhaustion.


5. Do not bath him/her on the first two days of serious colds
This is not our pedia's advice. I even know one doctor that bathes her baby with fever. There's nothing wrong with taking a bath but giving baby a bathtub-break is my rule when my baby is sick. Bathing alone cannot aggravate your baby's colds. What I'm concerned about is the long exposure to water that will lower his/her body temperature and will cause cold virus to spread more. You can still wipe your baby with warm wet cloth anyway.


6. Give your baby fruits with Vitamin C
Vitamin C works wonders. But also make sure that your baby gets a balanced diet to maximize the absorption of Vitamin C. I give my baby a mix of green leafy veggies, mangoes, tomatoes, apples and oranges in a day in addition to milk and some carbs.

The relief I listed is not applicable to your baby if he/she has:

• Temperature higher than 38 C - rush him/her to the pedia immediately.
• Serious difficulty in breathing where he/she cries for hours because she cannot breath - rush to pedia immediately.
• Mucus in nose has blood - rush to pedia immediately
• Coughing blood - rush to pedia immediately

An example of a bulb syringe to suck out mucus from nose

Image from http://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/dce07b8c-6d81/k2-_10ad3f44-f3d1-4a4b-8ed9-68eee3d4221c.v1.jpg

For new moms like me, there are some newbie mistakes that we make. When I first learned that I'll be having a baby girl, I got so excited like a little girl waiting for her doll. I browsed the net for possible clothes to buy. I've bought some, around 1% of the overall clothes I put in my wishlist, and disregarded most. Here's a list of my personal insights when buying clothes for your little ones:

1. Choose comfort over style

• In my experience, always go for clothes made in COTTON. It is soft and gentle on my babies' skin.
• If I buy clothes with mixed fabric, I still choose cotton as the main fabric. Fancy dresses are no-no's if they are made of heat-inducing materials.
• I tried to buy this beautiful cheap dress without thinking if my baby would like its "feel". The result is that everytime I put the dress on, she freaks out like there's something disturbing her. The dress ended up as a display in our closet.

2. Buy size 2-3 months advanced than the current size of your baby.

• This goes to shoes also. Babies' feet are rapidly growing that's why it's good to buy shoes with size allowance. Make sure that they can still use the shoes even with extra space.
• When my baby will about to turn 6 months, I bought a cutie sleeveless top with bow on it having  a size for 6-month old babies. When my baby tried it on, it doesn't fit her and she freaked out that's why it also ended up as a display (and waste of money) in my closet.
• This formula worked well to me:
• If your baby is newborn, you may buy clothes for Newborn (NB) - 3 months.
• If baby is greater than 3 months old, buy clothes 2-3 months bigger than her size. For example, for 6-month old babies you may already buy clothes in 9-12 months category.
• If the clothes are too big now, don't worry there will come a time that it will fit already (very very soon).

3. Don't buy too much nor too few clothes 

• First of all, your newborns don't need to go out more often to avoid viruses that's why they won't need too many fancy clothes.
• Second, newborns until infancy up to toddler years, your baby will wee, spit out, vomit, get wet and get dirty a lot so make sure you just have enough clothes.
• During their 6 months onward, I found the need to buy additional going-out clothes because I tend to bring the baby out more often already.

I think that's all I can think for now. I will update this list if ever I remember something. Post a comment if you think I missed something. Back to baby sitting duties now!

Dress we bought for baby's 1st bday party

from http://zuribabycouture.ph/collections/tutu-set/products/good-as-gold