Astra's Birth Story

Finally sharing Astra's birth story with you guys! If you read my previous post about my pregnancy, it was fairly easy for me up until my last trimester. Especially the final month, when I started having difficulty walking due to manas/swollen feet and feeling a lot of pressure and pain in my pelvic area. I experienced having trouble sleeping, and just turning from one side to another was so hard! And ugh, the constant need to pee!

My 4th Pregnancy!

Hello again blog! Wow, my last post was in April pa pala! If you're following me Instagram (@mrsmommyholic), I'm sure you know by now that I've given birth to my 4th child! So many people were surprised, shocked, and in disbelief (some actually thought prank lang daw haha) because hubby and I never posted about my pregnancy on social media.

#BeloBaby turns 1 (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

Belo Baby is now a year old! I still remember the launch event I attended where we were first introduced to the Belo Baby line. And since then, the brand has really proven itself by coming out with products that are crafted with care for the most delicate skin, for the most meticulous moms.

From the beginning, I was impressed with the Belo Baby Guarantee that each product formulation uses 100% certified natural ingredients with 0% harmful chemicals, clinically proven gentle and less irritating.

Their core natural ingredients are all great for baby’s delicate skin too:

Cocoa Butter - has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; strengthens and moisturizes skin

Shea Butter - a known superfood for the skin; naturally heals common skin conditions of babies like eczema and rash.

Sweet Almond Oil - a natural emollient for softening skin; locks in moisture into the skin

JOHNSON’S Bedtime launches new Baby Sleep App

When it comes to raising a baby, a mother’s priority has always been about ensuring their health and development. For working moms especially, the ultimate challenge is getting the right amount of sleep for both her and her baby.

What with busy schedules and always being on-the-go, pioneer in the science of baby development, JOHNSON’S®, has developed a new mobile application perfect for all working parents. Featuring a set of proprietary and customized tools, the app is designed to be the ultimate sleep expert-partner for parents.

The importance of a bedtime routine from Johnson's Baby

Mothers all around the world share a similar challenge: getting their babies to sleep and stay sleeping. Studies indicate that 20-30 percent of babies experience sleep problems, including difficulty in falling asleep and sleeping through the night. This does not only cause problems for mothers, but also impacts the healthy development of their babies.

A Baby Shower at Tsukiji Japanese Restaurant

Since it's Mother's Day today, I'll be sharing a baby shower my friends and I threw a few weeks ago at Tsukiji Japanse Restaurant in Makati.

Belo Baby product launch

Last April 6, I was invited to the launch of Belo Baby, the newest line of products from the Belo Group.

Carefor Baby

I was so happy when I got these new baby products in the mail from Lazada. Carefor Baby is a complete range of skin and hair care products for babies and mothers. It is safe and has no AES material, formaldehyde and dioxin contents. Most ingredients are natural, hypo-allergenic, soap-free, dye-free and alcohol-free, making it ideal for baby's sensitive skin.

Skyler's cake smash

Our little Skyler just turned a year and a half year old. How time flies! So to celebrate this milestone, I'm sharing pictures from our cake smash session with Sugarpuff Photography after Sky's 1st birthday. Cake is from Shortcrust btw. Enjoy! :)

probably my fave pic haha! Skyler clearly knows it's HIS cake!!!

Baby Care Rituals for Happy, Healthy Development

Johnson’s® shares how moms and dads can 

stimulate their baby’s senses through these baby care rituals

JOHNSON’S® understands that for Filipino parents, their baby’s health and development is of primary importance. This is why we’ve developed sensorial rituals that parents can consistently enjoy doing with their babies. When used with our specially-formulated JOHNSON’S® products, these rituals can unlock the full power of the senses and help baby develop healthily and happily.

We encourage parents to learn more about these rituals, and regularly practice them with their children from birth up until their toddler years.

Newborns aged 0-6 months use their five senses to survive. Their senses allow them to feel safe, stable and secure. JOHNSON’S® advocates newborn rituals for sensory security.

1.     4-Step Newborn Bathing Ritual – Calms the baby’s senses to help him feel more safe and secure.

a.     Step 1: Massage baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil to leave a warm protective barrier on his skin.

b.    Step 2: Wrap baby in a swaddle to mimic the feeling of the baby while inside the mother’s womb. This will make him feel safe and secure as you lower him down in a tub of lukewarm water. Using JOHNSON’S® Top-to-Toe Wash, start cleaning baby’s face first, and then slowly unwrap him to clean his body. This ensures that he isn’t stripped of his skin’s natural moisture.

c.     Step 3: Rinse baby and dry. Lock in the moisture with JOHNSON’S® Baby Pink Lotion.

d.    Step 4: Apply JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder on baby’s body, including the nappy area, to protect him from irritation-causing wetness and keep him comfortable.

2.     2-Step Soothing Nappy Care Ritual – Protects baby from irritation.

a.     Step 1: Use JOHNSON’S® Baby Skin Care Wipes, which has moisturizing essences that cleans and protects baby’s skin better than water and soap alone.

b.    Step 2: Before changing baby’s diaper, give baby’s skin complete protection with JOHNSON’S® Baby Complete Care Powder, which effectively absorbs and repels wetness, reduces skin friction, and soothes skin irritation from wearing diapers.

Infants (7 months to 2 years) use their senses to explore for rapid brain development. JOHNSON’S® advocates daily rituals for sensory discovery such as a playful bath of textures, sights and scents, and a calming bedtime routine for better sleep.

3.     4-Step Infant Bathing Ritual – Stimulates baby’s senses to help his development and growth.

a.     Step 1: Massage baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil to leave a warm protective barrier on his skin.

b.    Step 2: Cleanse baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Milk + Rice Bath to nourish his developing skin.

c.     Step 3: Rinse baby and dry. Lock in the moisture with JOHNSON’S® Baby Milk + Rice Lotion to strengthen growing skin with 200%* more nourishing ingredients.

d.    Step 4: Apply JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder Milk + Rice on baby’s body, including the nappy area, to complete skin nourishment and keep baby’s skin healthy, soft and smooth.

4.     4-Step Bedtime Ritual – Proven to improve baby’s sleep to help him grow and develop to his full potential.

a.     Step 1: Massage baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Oil  with NATURALCALM™ essences that help baby feel calm, relaxed and ready for better sleep.

b.    Step 2: Bathe baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Bath to help your little one let go of the day’s excitement

c.     Step 3: Rinse baby and dry. Massage with JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Lotion to foster mom and baby bonding and sooth & strengthen baby's skin.

d.    Step 4: Protect baby from wetness while helping him sleep better with JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Powder.

Children aged 2-5 years use their five senses to build an understanding of everything in the world. Their senses must be stimulated with hands-on activities that are the foundation for learning. JOHNSON’S® advocates sensory mastery, which includes getting ready for play and stimulation of each of the five physical senses.

5.     3-Step Playtime Ritual – Supports growing kid’s healthy sensorial development by making him ready for play

a.     Step 1: Bathe baby with JOHNSON’S® Baby Active Fresh Bath. Its easy rinse formula is infused with ActiveFresh™ technology that leaves skin clean and smelling fresh all-day.

b.    Step 2: To let your child play outdoor more pleasantly, use JOHNSON’S® Baby Active Fresh Powder. It contains ActiveFresh™ technology bursts with fragrance upon contact with sweat, for long lasting fragrance all day.

c.     Step 3: Keep baby smelling fresh with JOHNSON’S® Baby Cologne that instantly energizes with an invigorating scent.

All of these rituals are made possible because every JOHNSON’S® product has Triple Baby Protection, which promises:

1)     Only the safest ingredients that are proven to be appropriate for babies

2)     Mild formulations to avoid irritation on baby’s skin

3)     Effectiveness in helping to keep skin’s natural moisture

We encourage moms and dads to make bath time and the other baby care rituals mean so much more to maximize their happy and healthy development. Make sure to spend more quality time with your babies in these different rituals  – massage them more, talk to them more, play with them more – to help nurture their ability to learn, think, love, and grow.

*press release

Continuing Breastfeeding

I'm proud to say that I've been nursing Skyler exclusively for a full year now! Like I mentioned before, I definitely experienced my own share of challenges and difficulties with breastfeeding especially with my first 2 kids (read about my breastfeeding journey HERE). It is only with Skyler that I've been able to nurse for this long and without having to mix feed with formula.

Nursing at The Boutique BnB in Tagaytay. And I love this chair, very apt don't you think? ;p

I'm so happy that he has developed a big appetite and fondness for all types of food. Because of this, he doesn't nurse as often anymore during the day. Sometimes, he even doesn't drink the expressed milk I leave behind when I go out for as long as 6 hours. Also, I noticed that he doesn't like feeding when we're out since he gets so distracted with his surroundings. During his 1st birthday party, he didn't nurse the whole time since he was probably so excited!

But at night, that's when he nurses practically the whole time. He sleeps early (about 8pm) and doesn't wake up until about 6-7am (parang alarm clock). He would cry for a bit at times and toss and turn, but then he'd just need my breast to fall asleep again. I'm his human pacifier! Sometimes when I'm facing the other way from him in the bed, I'll suddenly feel him tap on my shoulder as if to say "Mommy, wake up! I'm hungry!" But the good thing is I don't have to get up anymore to sit down like when he was younger. Now, all I do is just lift my shirt while lying down and he'll know what to do haha! Which means more sleep for mommy as well. And I love how we're in a hugging position when he feeds at night. Makes me sad to think when he's bigger na and I have to wean him already. :(

He also now loves to tug at my shirt, either lifting it up or pulling at the collar. And then he says "mim" (milk). But what's funny is he does this to his yaya or his lola too! And they get so scandalized especially when we're out in public haha! And sometimes when I'm at bed but working on the computer or just watching TV, he'll just crawl over, lift my shirt, and start feeding on his own lol!

Anyway, here are some questions I usually get about breastfeeding these days:

Doesn't it hurt especially since he has teeth now?
Him breastfeeding with teeth doesn't hurt at all. What hurts is when he intentionally bites me (I guess he gets gigil sometimes?). I've been bitten quite a few times and I couldn't help but shout in surprise. This makes Sky cry since he seems to know he did something wrong. I don't know if me telling him not to do it again worked, since he hasn't bitten me for quite some time now. But he has bitten me and other members of the family in different body parts hehe! ;p

Your baby probably never gets sick since he's exclusively breastfeed.
I don't know why, but Skyler was the one who got sick most of the time compared to his older sister and brother who were formula fed at the same age. I was confused too since I know that breastfeeding should provide him with antibodies and make him less prone to sickness. But I guess you really can't help the virus from spreading in the house especially with kids. Whenever Miley or Sabe would get colds, Sky would get it too. Probably because they can't stop hugging and kissing him! So I guess breastfeeding exclusively is not a guarantee that your baby won't get sick at all. What I think helps is that he's able to bounce back quickly from it. :)

Why don't you use a breastfeeding cover when nursing in public?
I only used a nursing cover for the first few months. But after a while, both me and Skyler found it constricting. He would refuse to feed from under it and would keep trying to take it off. I guess he just likes to see his surroundings and me clearly. And it's just easier feeding him at once without having to take out the cover from my bag and then putting it on. I also don't own any nursing tops or dresses, I just usually wear something loose that I can lift up without exposing my back or too much skin. I admit, I myself got uncomfortable whenever I would see breastfeeding women in public before I had my own kids. But now, I don't care where and when I have to nurse. I'll do it literally anywhere haha! But I make sure that I am always discreet. And I really prefer this because I find it's less obvious when I'm nursing without a cover. With a cover, people know that you're really breastfeeding. But without one, it just looks like I'm holding a sleeping child. :)

Until when do you plan on breastfeeding?
I hope to be able to do it until he turns 2 years old. But I now know the feeling of wanting to breastfeed forever, it's kinda addicting haha!

I remember the first few weeks of nursing, of having to remind myself to take it one day at a time. Then suddenly it was 6 months already and now a year. I know eventually we'll have to start weaning, but for now, I'm enjoying every single minute of precious bonding time with my baby. :)

Skyler's monthly photos

My baby Skyler is now officially 1! I can't believe a whole year has already gone by! I love this idea I saw in Pinterest about taking monthly pictures in the same spot to really see the baby's growth over the year. I wasn't able to do this with Miley and Sabe so I'm happy I was able to do it with Sky. :)

It was a bit of a challenge making sure the angle of the photos was similar all throughout. What I did was mark the spot where the chair should be with masking tape so I'd have an easy time positioning it whenever we did the shoot. And it was also quite hard making Sky sit still in the chair as he got older! I definitely needed someone close by to help me make sure he didn't fall. ;p

Anyway, I love how the pics turned out. A great way to look back at the year that was. So again, happy 1st birthday Skyler! We love you so, so much!!!

Applying for my baby's passport at DFA Alabang

I was so happy when I found out that there was already a DFA branch in Alabang Town Center because it would be so much more convenient for us to go there. Plus, it's inside the mall which makes it even better! ;p

I realized that I needed to get my passport renewed already, and figured I'll just get Skyler one as well para sabay na. Although it says in their website (http://alabang.passport.com.ph) that children below 1 year old do not need appointments, I still went ahead and made one for both of us (using the family appointment option).

We were scheduled on a Tuesday at 4pm. We arrived a little bit earlier (like around past 3pm), and normally you will not be entertained until 30 minutes before your appointment. But since we were with Skyler (who was 9 months old at that time), they let us in at once. Oh, and hubby was also with us. I think they usually only let one parent/companion in (unless all of you will be getting passports) but since I also had an appointment, hubby became Skyler's chaperone.

Here were the other requirements I brought:

- Printed Application Form (on long bond paper)
- Skyler's Original Birth Certificate from the NSO (plus a photocopy)
- Our Marriage Certificate from the NSO (plus a photocopy)
- Original and photocopy of valid passport of the person traveling with the minor (in our case, I brought mine and hubby's as well)
- I also photocopied our IDs (driver's license) just in case they ask for it

In the general requirements list though, there is an item requiring a Notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent to travel from either parent (if minor is a legitimate child) / from mother (if minor is an illegitimate child).

I was really confused about this and didn't know if I had to make one since Skyler was going to be traveling with me anyway. I tried to research and some said you still had to submit one regardless, while others said there was no need. In the end, I didn't make it since I remember not having one when I applied for Miley and Sabe's passports a couple of years ago. And I was right, since they didn't ask us for it. You only need to submit this if the child will NOT be traveling with the parents:

Affidavit of Support and Consent (ASC) executed by either parent indicating the name of the traveling companion and relationship to the minor. If minor will be traveling alone, ASC must be executed by either parent, stating that his/her child will be traveling alone. If minor is illegitimate, mother should execute the ASC.

There are other more specific requirements for minors with different cases (parents abroad, illegitimate, orphaned, adopted, etc). So just check the website for those.

It was all smooth-sailing once we got inside. First, we presented our application forms at the Appointment Counter. Then, we were given a queue number and then waited a bit for our number to be called (maybe about 5 minutes). We then went to the processing window where all our documents were checked. I remember having to photocopy something again but the xerox machine was just a few steps away so no problem. You'll also be asked if you prefer rush (7 working days) or regular (15 working days) processing.

We then proceeded to the Passport Enrollment Section where we paid the processing fees: P950 for regular and P1,200 for rush. We just got the regular since we weren't in a hurry anyway. After, we headed to the Encoding Section where all the data from our application form was entered in the computer system. They also make you double check all information and then when your're ok with it, your photo is finally taken.

Skyler wore a white collared shirt btw. But I think it can even be just a regular collar since it's not even noticeable in the final pic. It was also so funny because Skyler had a scratch near his eye so I had to apply concealer to make sure it didn't show in the pics. They were able to take his picture quickly but then the computer hanged so we had to do it again! Which is a shame coz I think his first photo was cuter hehe. ;p

such a good boy!

Anyway, you can choose to have your passport delivered to you for an extra fee of P120 per passport. But we just chose to pick it up when it was released since it was another excuse to go back to the mall. ;p

There were still a lot of people in line waiting and I don't really know the average time one normally spends if not on the priority lane. But I swear, having a baby is the way to go hehe! Ang bilis! 

Anyway, passport of a minor applicant shall be released to parents only or to an authorized representative. Our release time was from 1:00-3:00 pm, 15 working days later, and it was also a breeze getting it.

And finally, here's Skyler's passport pic! Open-mouth pa talaga e haha! Ang cute! As for me, I'm not happy with my pic as usual hehe. I really can't carry the no-smile look hehe. ;p

Anyway, DFA Alabang is located at the 4th floor of Metro Department Store, Alabang Town Center (near the toy section). They're open from 10AM to 7PM, Mondays to Saturdays. Go to http://alabang.passport.com.ph to set an appointment and for other details.

MMC’s Pregnancy & Beyond 2014

Before you pack your bag for the hospital, be sure you are acquainted with this new and important job of being parents!

Discover the basics of nursing and caring for your baby in MakatiMed’s Pregnancy & Beyond 2014 lecture series. Be a breastfeeding pro and learn proper infant care techniques and child development. All these on November 22, 2014 (Saturday) at 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Auditorium, 8^th Floor Tower 2, Makati Medical Center.

For inquiries, contact 8888.999 local 3756.

And the Winners of Smart Parenting’s “Best for Babies Awards 2014” are…

Last September 18, Thursday, Smart Parenting Magazine officially announced the winners for Smart Parenting’s first-ever “Best for Babies Awards” for 2014!

Laundry Detergent for Baby Clothes Category: Pigeon Baby Laundry Detergent

Disposable Diapers Category: Pampers Active Baby

Baby Wipes Category: Pigeon Baby Wipes

Baby Skin Lotion Category: Baby Sebamed Baby Lotion

Regular Baby Skin Cleanser: Johnson’s Baby Milk + Rice

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser (Bar): Oilatum Bar

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser (Liquid): It’s a tie between Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Physiogel Cleanser!

Together with a panel of experts, Smart Parenting conducted tests on different products essential in daily baby care, following specific criteria.

NOMINEES:

Out of the all the popular brands in the market, these brands made the cut. We recognize these as the go-to  brands when it comes to baby care:

Laundry Detergent for Baby:

• Pigeon Baby Detergent
• Cycles Mild Laundry Detergent
• Perla Laundry Soap
• Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent

Disposable Diapers:

• Pampers Active Baby
• Drypers
• EQ
• Huggies
• Mamy Poko

Baby Wipes:

• Pigeon Baby Wipes
• Johnson’s Baby Skincare Wipes
• Nursy Baby Wipes
• Tiny Buds Sticky Hand Wipes

Baby Skin Lotion:

• Baby Sebamed Baby Lotion
• Johnson’s Baby Lotion
• Pigeon Baby Lotion
• Mustela Bebe Body Lotion

Regular Baby Skin Cleanser:

• Johnson’s Baby Lotion (Milk + Rice)
• Pigeon Baby Wash 2in1
• Lactacyd Toddler Tubs

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
• Baby Sebamed Liquid Cleanser
• Johnson’s Baby Top-to-Toe Wash
• Oilatum Bar
• Physiogel Cleanser

Aside from the Smart Parenting mommy editors and publisher, the panel of judges consisted of moms & baby experts, and a person from a related medical field:

Mrs. Menchit Ordoveza has been an expert nanny trainer for 15 years. Her discriminating clientele include doctors and professionals. Mrs. Menchit is also a mother to a 15 year old son, an 11 year-old daughter, and a 9 month-old baby boy.

Ms. Fleur Sombrero works as a Post-Construction Manager for one of the largest real estate companies.  More importantly, she is a hands-on mommy to 4 year-old Annika. Her blog, mommyfleur.com, is full of her daily motherhood adventures.

Ms. Arriane Nervez is an ob-gyne nurse of St. Luke’s Hospital. She graduated from University of Santo Tomas.

*press release

Traveling without baby: How I pumped & brought my milk home from Korea

I just got back from Korea where I tagged along with hubby on his work-related trip. Like I said in my previous post, my main concern was leaving my 8-month old baby Skyler since he is still exclusively breastfeeding. I definitely had a lot of worries - will the expressed milk I left for him be enough until I get home? Will he drink my expressed milk in the bottle the whole time I was gone? Will my milk supply go down on this trip? Will I be able to bring home my pumped milk? Will he still want to nurse from me when I get back?

I read a lot of articles about traveling without your baby, and I was greatly reassured by other moms that YES it can be done! I was initially thinking of just pumping and dumping my milk, but after more research, I made up my mind to bring home my breastmilk. I was thinking of getting a Fridge-to-Go, but then I asked Jenny of Chronicles of a Nursing Mom and she said that an insulated cooler and frozen ice packs would be enough since Korea is just 4 hours away.

Our entire trip lasted 6 days, so I didn't have to freeze my milk since freshly pumped milk is good for about 7 days in the refrigerator. Of course, I had to double check if our hotel room had a fridge and thankfully they had one.

Before we left, I actually tested how long my ice packs would stay cold inside my cooler. I placed the bag inside our bathroom (so no air-con) and was happy to find the ice packs had thawed but was still slightly frozen after 8 hours. I checked again after 12 hours to be sure and although they had completely melted, it was still cool.

The flight to Korea is only 4 hours, but you have to take into account the total duration from the time you leave the hotel to go to the airport until you get to your house - in our case, about 9 hours.

I use the Medela Swing Pump which is really convenient to carry around inside my bag because of its size. It's an electric pump but can still be battery operated when you're using it outside. I hand carried this with me so that I could pump in the airport and also on the plane.

Other things I brought:
- 2 storage bottles
- breastmilk storage bags (ziplock type)
- rechargeable batteries (Eneloop) for my pump
- nursing cover / shawl
- liquid detergent for cleaning the bottles & pump parts (then I'd sterilize by pouring boiling water using the electric kettle in the room)
- plastic container / tupperware to store the bottles & pump after washing

Since this was a working trip for hubby, we didn't really have the whole day to go around sightseeing and shopping. We would spend about 6-8 hours a day exploring, which was fine with me since that meant I only had to pump once or twice outside. I would pump right before we would leave the hotel, then usually when we'd take a break and eat. I'd just cover myself with a shawl and pump away. I don't think naman it was noticeable e, parang nilalamig lang ako haha! ;p

pumping in Hongdae

pumping while eating in Myeongdong

But there will be times na alanganin talaga and I'd really have to stop wherever, whenever. Even if just for 15 minutes coz I'd feel really uncomfortable with my boobs so full. Parang breastfeeding lang, strike anywhere hehe. So of course I had to make sure to wear clothes that were easy access for pumping too. ;p

in Dongdaemun Park

My limit for taking the pumped milk back to the hotel was 3-4 hours. I didn't have a cooler so if I felt it was out for too long (it was also summer in Korea so it was pretty hot outside), I'd just have to throw the milk away to be on the safe side. I didn't want to risk it din if the milk was spoiled already.

And even though I'd be so tired from walking the whole day and would just love to sleep in, I'd still get up twice at night so I could pump every 3-4 hours. It was more important for me that my milk supply wouldn't decrease on this trip.

Hand-Carry or Check-in?

I had a hard time deciding if I should hand-carry or check-in my milk. Based on forums I read, most moms prefer to hand-carry their milk since they feel it will be hot in the airplane's cargo. And I guess they feel safer having their breastmilk close where they can continuously check on the temperature. Maybe you can even ask for ice from the flight attendants or ask them to place your milk in their chiller (if it fits).

My main concern with hand-carry was that I didn't want to get hassled at the security checkpoint if ever. Although based on this TSA article, you can definitely bring breastmilk on board the aircraft. If you're planning to do so, I guess just print the document and have a doctor's certificate that states you're a breastfeeding mom to be sure.

I talked to my friend who's a flight attendant and although she never had an experience dealing with breastmilk on a flight, she recommended that it would be better in her opinion to check it in. Apparently, it's cold in the plane's cargo which I didn't know about. The hottest it can get is 21°C, which is the temperature when there's pets/animals on board. But if there's none, temperature is 7°C! 

After hearing that, I finally decided to check-in my milk. We asked the hotel a day before our return flight if they could put my ice packs in their freezer, which was no problem. Getting my frozen ice packs from the concierge and packing my milk was the last thing I did right before we left for the airport. I placed the milk storage bags inside big ziplocks as well, just in case any of them burst (none did). We had a hard case luggage and I placed the cooler on the very top of our things. To be on the safe side, we also put a sign on the outside of the luggage that said "THIS SIDE UP".

my liquid gold

Total duration from the time I packed my breastmilk at the hotel in Korea until we arrived at our house was 8.5 hours. And when I got home, I was delighted to find the ice packs still 75% frozen which meant my precious milk had made the trip safe and sound. When I placed everything in the freezer, I was happy to find 3 remaining packs of breastmilk from the stash I had left for Skyler. Super sakto!

Now I was worried Skyler might not want to breastfeed anymore when I got home since he might have gotten used to the bottle. I nursed him immediately, and he seemed hesitant at first since he kept stopping and looking at my face! It was as if he was thinking "Mommy, is that really you?" Awww... Well, I'm so pleased to say that we're back to regular programming folks. He's back to nursing on demand and it's like I never left. :)

I'm glad everything worked out in the end and I was able to bring home the best pasalubong for Skyler. Since we're direct feeding, I don't know if he'll be able to drink all of the milk I brought home. But at least I didn't lose my milk supply and I'm now back with my babies who I missed so much! :)

Pumping & Storage of Breastmilk

Since August is National Breastfeeding Month, I decided to share how I pump and store my breastmilk. I proud to say that I have been exclusively nursing my baby for 7 months now (read about my journey HERE). I'm also lucky that I'm a stay-at-home mom so we direct feed most of the time. However, I also pump to relieve engorgement and to be able to leave milk at home when I go out without baby.

I've been using the Medela Swing electric pump for all 3 of my kids. I first used this in 2010 after my first child and it's held up fine until now. This was recommended to me by a friend and I'm really happy with its size and the fact that it's not so noisy. I bring this with me whenever I leave the house so I can pump when needed.

Most of the time, I nurse right until I have to leave the house then baby just feeds again when I come home in about an hour or two. But if baby is sleeping or is full, that's when I pump right before I go and then leave the milk at room temp without refrigerating it (usually 4-6 hours) for when baby gets hungry.

Usually, I'm just out for about 2-4 hours anyway (maybe 6 hours max) and then I'll also pump on the way home in the car. Hubby and I also love going on movie dates and what I do is pump in the theater while watching. I mean, you're just sitting down doing nothing, might as well pump right? At least after, if we decide to have dinner or go to the grocery, I don't have to worry about my engorged boobs anymore. ;p

When going out, I usually have 2-3 bottles in the refrigerator. I keep them for 3-5 days, then move it to the freezer if baby doesn't get to consume it. I usually keep the milk in each bottle to about 3oz to prevent wasting milk in case baby doesn't finish it.



There are times though that I'll get to pump just a little (like maybe 1-1.5oz). What I'll do is set aside the bottle (still at room temp) and pump again after an hour or so until I get 3-4 oz. Then that's when I refrigerate it.

I've also mixed milk pumped at different times of the day. I did research on it and it said it was okay as long as they're the same temperature when mixed. So let's say I pumped 1.5oz in the morning and placed that in the ref. When I get to pump another 1.5oz later in the day, I put that also in the ref and then combine it in one bottle after a few hours when they're both the same temperature. But I've rarely done this (maybe just thrice?), and only mixed milk pumped in the same day.

I also use Pigeon's Peristaltic Nipples with cross cuts since the milk will only come out when baby sucks on it, just like when breastfeeding. Not like nipples with round holes where the milk comes out as soon as you tilt the bottle. With these nipples, baby is able to replicate how he naturally latches on to you when nursing.

I also use this small cooler bag when transporting my refrigerated or frozen milk somewhere (for example when we go to my in-laws house and leave the baby there for a few hours). It also comes with 2 reusable cold gel packs which helps keep the milk cold while in transit.

I have just a few frozen milk in storage because I prefer giving my baby freshly pumped or refrigerated milk only. I also read that frozen milk can lose some of its nutrients and antibodies, but of course it is still better than formula. Besides, we direct feed most of the time anyway. The frozen milk is just for emergency purposes just in case the refrigerated milk isn't enough when I'm out.

These are the storage bags I use:

I prefer the Lansinoh ones since they have a ziplock seal. However, they're a bit expensive so I only use these when transferring about 3-4oz of milk so there's more space (the bags can hold up to 6oz).

The Playtex Nurser Liners are what I use most of the time since obviously they're cheaper. I only transfer 2oz of milk into these 4oz bags so that there's enough space to seal it (take note that milk expands when frozen so you don't want to fill the bags all the way too). However, I've encountered instances when the bags had little holes so the milk seeps through. So just make sure to double check before freezing, or place them inside another ziplock bag when thawing.

I was given this sealer by a friend which I use to seal the Playtex bags:

There are 8 heat settings, but I only place it at no.2 then press down for about 2 seconds. I once didn't realize it was at no.4 and the Playtex bag sort of melted where I sealed it because it was too hot.

I try to remove as much air as possible before sealing it, but it's a bit tricky sometimes since the milk goes up. I just do it really carefully then seal quickly. Although I'll probably buy the bigger sized bags next time to make it easier hehe.

I also seal it twice just to make sure it's really closed.

Then I lay it flat in a tupperware before putting it in the freezer. I also place all the packs in a big ziplock bag when frozen already.

When thawing, I transfer it to the ref a few hours before if I know I'll be using it within the day. If using it straight from the freezer, running the frozen pack over tap water helps to thaw it quicker. But our yaya just puts the frozen bag in a bowl of hot water and then transfers it to the bottle when already warm.

For more information, I read Chronicles of a Nursing Mom, especially the VIP (Very Important Posts) section which has really provided me lots of useful tips. :)