Missing out on Milestones

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Being with my son for the past 5 days (weekend + 3 work days) made me realize how much he has grown and is now his own person. He gets frustrated easily, plays with several toys at the same time (oh, he looks like his dad but is more of me in attitude) and he is an affectionate and articulate little boy. Reviewing his pictures and making a pact to have them all printed soon, I found this from our Baguio trip with him smiling, showing the lower front tooth that fell off the early part of this year. I didn't even get to blog about that important milestone where he felt like a "big boy" now that the baby teeth are being replaced by permanent ones. Fast forward to August, he now has 3 permanent teeth, not one needing tooth extraction. Yey for cost savings and louder yey for another benefit of breastfeeding! I love you my little boy and mom's gonna miss you when I return to work.

Breastfeeding Room Story

"Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (November). For this month, participants share their experiences on extended breastfeeding. This includes tips to moms with young babies, as well as barriers and myths which discourage extended nursing. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants."

It’s a happy, happy day! We’re strolling without errands or a definite agenda for the afternoon. I might be able to buy a stuff or two for myself. Thinking about all the possibilities make me giddy. But within 10 minutes after this thought bubble in my head, my baby is suddenly hungry. Thank goodness this mall has a breastfeeding facility. We walk faster. Oh, there it is! He is getting fussy and wants to be fed.

We open the door and greet the lady at the desk. “We’re here to use the breastfeeding room”. The lady smiles. She smiles and asks “where is your baby, ma’am?" “Ah, this is my baby”. And together, we pushed the door leading to another room inside.

My ‘baby’ is walking, pushing doors and talking… a lot. He was 2 years old then.
After that long walk, he was tired and cranky. Wanting to appease him, I immediately pulled up my top to give my peace offering. He latched on, but there proved to be distractions in the same room. The inquisitive boy got down, left my boobies exposed, and walked to check on the other babies.

Inside, I still get stares from other moms because while their baby feeds peacefully, mine keeps getting down and playing peek-a-boo with theirs. He keeps on inspecting. Yes, inspecting every baby, making other new moms uncomfortable in the process.

The first 6 months were the hardest in this breastfeeding journey. That was when I was stressed the most on my son’s weight gain, my output, and when I got back to work, on my pumping schedule. Breastfeeding him after his first birthday was relatively easy. He didn’t feed that often, I’m more comfortable in little baring episodes (my son sometimes will just push my shirt up, or put his hand inside my to), I can leave him for longer periods without worrying on what he's going to drink. It is actually quite convenient, too. Imagine I'm al groggy from sleep and he askes for milk at 4 am. When I'm too sleepy to do what is needed, he'll usually be the one to pull up my shirt, drink until he's satisfied, then go back to sleep on his own.

With that story, what can I share to all moms who chose to breastfeed longer than what most people know and think is possible? Breastfeed as long as you can. You can never go wrong.

Jared breastfed until he was almost 3 years old. His favorite expression is "Oh, there it is!" He stopped on his own, without fuss and drama, after the author was away on a week-long business trip. This mama considers those times the most precious and to this day, does not forgive herself for not having a nice enough breastfeeding picture for all the world to see.

SM Supercenter Las Pinas Breastfeeding Room

Having another mall in an already congested and perpetually traffic city is a bane to many, but if there is one good thing about the new SM Supercenter along Alabang-Zapote Road,it's their nice breastfeeding room.

Breastfeeding moms today have an easier time as breastfeeding is slowly getting the attention it so deserves and malls are providing at least one room where moms like me can feed their hungry kids in comfort (not luxurious by any means, but give me a couch where I can sit and I call that in comfort already).

The breastfeeding room is located at the upper ground level, near the entrance to the supermarket.As with most SM malls, you enter the room that doubles as a clinic, too. Then, another door opens to the actual breastfeeding room.

There are two one seater upholstered seats. Harder than most couches but very clean and nice looking.

While you are seated, the area on the left is a sort of changing table for babies. We'll just a flat surface. A sink would be very much appreciated here (better with soap, alcohol and tissue or wipes), very useful during nappy times.

It's a small space. Smaller than the breastfeeding room at Megamall and Southmall but a bit bigger than the one in MOA but it's spotless, the way rooms of this kind should be.

I wish more moms would actually use the rooms so SM will think of improving it some more.

August, Breastfeeding Month

I almost forgot that August is Breastfeeding Month. I just read yesterday's papers and there was an article on the breastfeeding rooms of the SM group. I've used those rooms quite a few times and even if there is still much to be desired in terms of how they can make it more comfortable (and cleaner) for us moms, it is indeed a commendable start.

Now, I wonder if there was a Mommy Milkshake Marathon this year. If there was, too bad we did not get to join. We joined last year, with the then 4-month old Jared in tow.

On being a mama cow

I've been proudly breastfeeding for the past 15 months and I have no intention to stop anytime soon. It gives me and my baby precious bonding time. It's my alone time with him and it is during those moments that I can make him feel how much he is loved by mommy, after being away from him for most part of the day.

Many are still amazed that I still have milk. Sometimes I am amazed myself. I still pump 2x a day at the office and he feeds from me directly in the evenings, before I leave for the office in the morning and on weekends.

I admit it wasn't easy at the start. During the first few weeks, my life is one long loop of breastfeeding, burping, changing nappies and breastfeeding again. My baby can't seem to get enough of my milk. While emotionally rewarding, it was on the other hand physically draining, too.

Jared thankfully had no trouble latching. Many thanks to the kind nurses at The Medical City who taught me and baby the proper way to feed.

While there are days that I hate lugging around my cooler and my pump bag, those are few and far in between. Epecially when I think of how much my baby loves mama's milk more than formula. He can gulp my milk in seconds while it takes him time to drink the same amount of formula.

I read in one forum that to breastfeed is something that you have to decide on even before you gave birth. It also says that it is a mind-game. If you believe you can give nourishment to your child, you can produce enough milk.

Such became my mantra for my last trimester of my pregnancy. I was mentally preparing myself for the birth of my baby. When I gave birth to a smaller than average baby boy, weighing 5 lbs 2 oz, my resolve to breastfeed grew stronger.

That same phrase was something I keep repeating to myself while I pump. I was able to purely breasfeed my baby for the 1st 10 months-- not a drop of formula. Then I got busy at work and had to reduce the times I pump at the office from 4x to 2x, hence we had to supplement with formula.

We're taking this one day at a time. But as long as I know he still wants my milk, I'll breastfeed him for as long as I can.

I'm a mama cow and I'm so loving it.




Since we don't have a decent enough photo of me breastfeeding, I'll just post this photo of Jared drinking mommy's milk in a bottle (Jared at 4 months old)