The 30-Day Mommy Challenge

Found this at Mommy Mec's blog post and thought this is worth while re-posting for me to at least remember it and some of my friends that can read this be inspired and take the challenge by themselves.

As I go through the list, for sure, I won't be able to complete all of them in 30 days!!! My son is too young for some of the items from the list.

I think, what I can do for now is only 11 out of 30 which are numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 & 19.

I want to challenge myself and do Number 29!!! ^__^

Sharing my side: August is breastfeeding month

I am a month-old nursing Mom and counting....

I already talked about my experience on breastfeeding on this entry but let me continue and share some more since August is the month of breastfeeding.

My son, Aedan Jared is a vigorous sucker. It is painful everytime I feed him. My nipples are sore (as always since day 1). Even if he latched on properly, still, the pain is there. There are times he will bite on my nipples and Boy oh Boy, that is really painful. Recently (about 2 weeks ago, apart from biting), he learned to pull my nipples when he is upset or when he tries to get his best position to sleep (He do this everytime inaantok na sya) Hay naku! Talaga naman! Napapasigaw ako.

My MIL (Mother in Law) used to teased me na "Nag-aaway na naman kayong mag-ina..."

I tried putting on nipple cream to help ease the pain and soreness. It works, yes, but as mentioned, everytime I feed my son, the pain is there as well because he is indeed a vigorous sucker. As what I read from books, babies who suck vigorously are also called "Barracudas". Dabbing on my very own milk on my cracked and sore nipples helps and actually heals them. Yun nga lang, nasusugat ulit.

I have been away from home and my baby for more than 3 times now. My baby fed on extracted milk from which I pumped out manually from my boobies and put in the fridge so A and I can have our "US" time. Being away from home for several hours resulted to big, swollen, hard and painful breasts or termed as "breast engorgement". With this condition, we need to immediately go home. And when we get home, I still need to rest at least 30mins before I can feed baby J or pumped the milk out just to be relieved from pain. But pain does not stop after pumping out milk, it is still there. A throbbing and itchy feeling combined. Hu hu hu. Hardships and sacrifices all for your little one.

I admit, there were more than a couple of times I thought of giving up breastfeeding. I even consulted our Pedia for a formula to give just in case my milk is not enough or dries up when I report for work a month from now. I confess, that in my head, I am really thinking of mix-feeding.

But despite of these pains and rants on breastfeeding, I still do it and don't have any plans (as for now...hehehe) to give up breastfeeding. I do a lot of reading on breastfeeding so as to keep me in the zone and be positive on continuing breastfeeding. I also follow old-school-tips on breastfeeding that really works such as:

• good diet and nutrition since I am still feeding for two
• Malunggay, malunggay and malunggay always on my food with soup or sometimes, it's just malunggay soup only mixed with Knorr cubes.
• Making sure I drink lots of water every day to keep me hydrated.    

I know my son will benefit most from this sacrifice. Basta, all the best for him. I will provide and give my all as long as I can even if it means that I will undergo hardships. To moms, mom-to-be and women who will happen to read this, I am telling you to help promote breastfeeding. I have talked about its advantages on my previous post.

Bottom line, I know i made the right choice of having my shot on breastfeeding and hoping, I can sustain this for x months and even years for my son.

just a month-old-nursing-mom and counting...

It hits me

July 19, exactly 3 weeks after giving birth, I suddenly broke down and cry. Postpartum depression hits me. Nyay! Well, all I know was I am pissed and I feel low.

We just finished watching TV and about to go to our room to tuck the baby to bed as well so we can all rest and sleep. A was surprised seeing me crying on the couch. I just said "Naiinis ako eh!"

A, being a loving husband, get near me, hugged and kissed me on my forehead and then told me that I should not cry cause it may affect the baby.

I don't know!!! At that time it seems all my frustrations bottled up to my neck and I can't breathe!!! I am irritated!!! There are things I am certain why I am pissed. Why?

It's hot!!! I feel hot. I am perspiring so much that my hair (those near the "batok") are always wet. I can't take just bathe to freshen myself because of many "pamahiin" and beliefs or simply safety precautions to avoid the "Binat".

In line with not getting all the "Ligo-Galore" I am so longing for, I smell not-so-good! I smell a bit sour and stinky (But not so foul...basta there's a weird smell). It's because I am leaking milk over my dress almost every feeding sessions with my baby. And I can't just change that often or the laundry will pile up to the ceiling. My mom says the smell that is coming out of my system is natural coz I am breastfeeding. Aaarrggghhhh!!! If only I can get all the "Ligo" I want!!! But not yet...My Mom is watching over all my actions, making sure I follow the rules. *Sigh*

I can't eat those food that relaxes me. I can't have cold drinks and desserts. I need to stuff myself with soup, malunggay etc... to keep the supply of milk flowing. What about the grilled liempo, fried chicken and the crispy pata? Hay, i am craving for more.

But all of this self-centeredness vanished when i held my son again. As I was feeding him, I simply stare at his so angelic face and I suddenly came back to my senses. That all of these sacrifices are nothing. It's just the start. These are so simple and I have to prepare myself for more. But whatever parenting hardships i may face, I know I will surpass it all because i am equipped with the greatest weapon i can make use of...the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Aaawww...I am a Mom na talaga! ^__^