Breastfeeding Archives - Page 2 of 4

McDonald’s Morning

Mcdonald’s Morning once a week? why not?!?

As promised to Sam.. we had a Mcdo morning last weekend (Saturday with the Marces, Sunday with the Ranchers.. and yes Sunday morning with Ronald).. Mcdo offers the best pancake (uhhmm in terms of price)

Sunday is a very busy day at Mcdo.. too many kids (and bullies) at the playplace but the kids managed to enjoy after almost all the kids went home.. ikaw ba naman magtagal sa McDo ng isang oras eh haha (iniwan na nga kame ng driver eh)

The boys were rowdy as usual, hence we don’t have a lot of photos..but Sati and Chico played along:

ang cute di ba? pede na endorser ng McDo hot choco hahaha

I also discovered that McDonald’s offers the most comfortable chair for breastfeeding!

and since we’ll be having breakfast here once a week, please don’t hate me if I will flood you with Mcdo Mornings post..teehee

Stress Free Parenting Tips On Weaning

While Chico was feeding on his bottle and Sati on my breast, I asked Sati if she’s ready to move to bottle.. and a violent AYAW says it all. Chico on the other hand asked her if she wants to drink GATAS (milk) on the bottle. Sati answered, “Ayaw ko ng Gatas!” huh? ayaw daw ng gaats eh panay ang dede.. turns out, my milk is DEDE.. and it’s not Gatas!

That reminds me about weaning.. so for our Tuesday Parenting Tip, let’s talk about weaning.

Scientifically, weaning is the process where the baby stops nursing and also the time where in adult diet is introduced to the baby and all his nutrient sources is no longer the breast.

When is the right time to wean?

Reading would suggest that moms need to continue breastfeeding until the baby is 6 months. Our pediatrician also mentioned that and we should breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. After that, it is our choice if we want to continue or wean the baby and start feeding them with formula. I choose to feed them as long as I can.. but with my first born, pregnancy comes in the way and I had to wean him when he turns one. With my second boy, he was breastfed for 1 year and 8 months. My third son’s case was the same with my first born, pregnancy came in the way. As with my youngest, you know I’m still breastfeeding her until now.. she is 2 years old and 4 months.

My experiences weaning my kids led me to a conclusion that the right time to wean a baby is before they turn a year old. Anything later than that is not advisable. Why? As the kid turns one, they were old enough to understand but young enough not to argue. Just like what happened to my first born.. when I told him he can no longer have mommy’s milk as soon as he turns one, he never asked for it after his birthday party. It was quite sad for me.. I was expecting commotions.. The same thing happened with my third son, when I started weaning him, it took him only a week to get used to it.

The story of my second born was different.. in fact telling I have a hard time weaning him is an understatement. It was riot and the whole household can attest to that. Husband complains of lack of sleep… good thing he had to leave for US for 3 weeks and that’s how I finally won in weaning. What went wrong? He is old enough to know what he wants and knows how to get it through tantrums.

Stress Free Parenting Tips On Weaning

Start early. As I have mentioned, the age is very important as it can make or break the weaning process.
Start gradually. Cold turkey maybe effective to some but to me, gradually reducing the feeding is more effective. If you’re baby use to feed 3 times on day and 2 times at night, start reducing it one feeding at a time.
Increase the break time. If you’re baby love feeding every 3 hours, try increasing it to 3 hours and 30 minutes and so on.
Simultaneously, reduce the time that they spent on your breast.
Do not introduce bottle feeding yet, delay it for a few more weeks or until the baby is almost ready to give up your milk.

When should you delay Weaning? When the baby is sick or is experiencing a milestone such as teething or starting to walk, delay it for a few more weeks.

When a baby is old enough, like with my second born, the most effective way to wean them is to decrease their supply gradually. It takes time, sleep and a lot of effort. And it will take a lot of tears too, just remember that if you are determined to wean the baby, do not give up.

I’ll let you in to my little secret.. with Sati, it’s me that would needs weaning.. yes, I just can’tlet go of this little girl.. it’s a little bit selfish, what can I do? she’s my only girl *wink

Mommy Bloggers Speak Up On Breastfeeding

make that Smart, glamorous and hardworking mommy bloggers speak up on breastfeeding..

I don’t know if I can call myself a breastfeeding advocate.. I do believe in breastfeeding and in fact breastfed all my kids. The boys were all breastfed for one year (oldest is one year, second is one year and 9 months, third boy is one year too).. I plan on breastfeeding them until they are two.. but you know pregnancy got in the way. As with Sati, she’s still breastfeeding and she’ll be turning 2 this November. I guess with her, we’ll do this thingy until, oh well, I don’t know. Guilty your honor..breastfeeding her is just heaven.. you know I just can’t let go of it.. the bonding, the cuddling and being that close to her. And with that motive, can you really call me an advocate?

But yeah I DO encourage a lot of people I know to breastfeed their kids exclusively. I know it’s not easy but it’s very fullfilling, believe me.. I have been there.. 1 week, 2 weeks..a whole tree of malunggay, a drum of soup.. what else? hot compress, chocolate drinks, breast massage.. everything! I experienced all those.. no support? oh yeah baby! It was hardest for my first born, I have little milk for two weeks, he’s crying and very frustrated everyday.. every time he feeds.. but I never gave up… and I am more than glad for that. And yes, people around me were not that encouraging, who would be, when all you hear all day is a tiny baby crying. I have to muster everything not to give up on pity and give him a bottle so that he would stop. Of course people around would say otherwise.. kawawa naman ang bata, iyak ng iyak, padedehin mo na kasi sa bote..

When I became pregnant with my first born, I never got the chance to choose if I will breastfeed him or give him formula.. I don’t know but it feels like, breastfeeding is the only way. Or maybe one of the reason why, was because I am stay at home mom. It’s like there is no reason why I can’t give the best food for my baby.. maybe if I was working then, it would be different.. I always thought that working and breastfeeding are two things that will never get along together.. and then\I learned I was wrong when I met Nicquee.

Nicquee is the blogger behind Pop Ups of my mind. I first met her from a breastfeeding event. We talked about breastfeeding, of course, and I was surprised to learned that she has a full time job and yet she is EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding. Is that really possible? yes it is! And here’s a living proof, in front of me. So it really is true that exclusive breastfeeding in the formative first six months of an infant is NOT a hindrance to a mother’s professional or personal goals. That’s one of the misconception BBB wants to correct.

“Beauty, Brains & Breastfeeding Inc. (BBB), a silence-breaking organization advocating breastfeeding, says only 34 per cent of mothers in the Philippines practice exclusive feeding in the first six months of their babies. Based on UNICEF statistics, BBB also reveals that nearly half of all mothers in the country depend on artificial milk in varying degrees. The group would like to correct several misconceptions which discourage mothers with infants and young children to breastfeed — main hurdles to having all Filipino newborns properly breastfed.”

Exclusive breastfeeding is a commitment to give one’s child with life-nourishing food and a good start in life; to think of breastfeeding as only for the poor should be dismissed immediately– so true! you know what, all my kids are very healthy… well except for an episode of Primary Complex (which they got from an adult) and not to mention brainy!

Continued breastfeeding DOES NOT cause a woman’s breasts to deform, sag or make her look haggard and unattractive– yes it does not. Shh, stop raising your eyebrows, mine’s really big to begin with 🙂 In my experience, I learned that you have to wear bra all the time, not wearing bra may cause it to sag, not breastfeeding itself.

The act of breastfeeding in public places is not an act shame and therefore should be encouraged– I was never ashamed of breastfeeding in public. Breastfeeding is a natural thing, what’s there to be ashamed of?

“To correct misconceptions, a trio of smart and beautiful women has decided to speak out and recount their empowering experiences with breastfeeding. Billboards featuring breastfeeding advocates Daphne Oseña-Paez, Patricia Bermudez-Hizon and Iza Abeja with their kids will be seen all over Metro Manila within the month to help bring their strong and timely messages to life.

According to BBB, a total of five billboards will be rolled down: three along MIA Road in Pasay City which will be launched on October 14; one in Philcoa, Quezon City; and one on the DILG Building in EDSA. A few more billboards will be up soon with sites currently in negotiation.” -BBB press release

And to help correct this misconception, why don’t we have our own version of this billboards.. uhm let’s call them BILLBLOG

Mommy Chris of The Mommy Journey