August: Breastfeeding Month

Well, well, well.

We meet again my friends.

Okay, fine. I know. I'm sorry for not being able to write for more than a month now. I've been very busy with prospect job interviews while juggling it with mommyhood. Time flies! Inno just turned five months last Sunday. He's really getting a lot longer than the usual babies of his age (or so I think). I'm happy and super thankful to God for keeping him healthy. So far, he hasn't experienced anything major than a cold and a little coughing. No fever whatsoever giving me more reasons to love and stick with breastfeeding. 

Speaking of breastfeeding, I've been itching to write a blog about it since August, as I've read in some mommy blogs, is considered as the breastfeeding month. But of course, as I've said, I have been focused on job hunting and landing down on interviews, giving me no time to write. So, what do I write here. Hmm..

Well, each month that Inno celebrates his birthday, I also celebrate my breastfeeding milestone. I honestly could not imagine that I've lasted this long compared to other moms I knew who gave up nursing their babies as early as their 2nd month. I have nothing against moms who feed their babies formula milk. Just like anything in this world, breastfeeding is a choice you make as a mom and so I understand whatever reason they have for stopping it and opting for canned milk. I just wish I could influence my other friends who are soon-to-be mommies and those who just become one to atleast try and put effort in nursing their babies. Why? Because I want them to experience for themselves what I learned from breastfeeding Inno.

I've come up with a list why I love breastfeeding. Let me share. 

1. Breastmilk boosts Inno's immune system. 

2. Breastfeeding gives us a special kind of bondage. 

3. Breastfeeding brought me back to my pre-pregnancy weight in less than four months. :)

4. Breastfeeding serves as a discipline to me, making me watchful of what I eat. 

5. Breastfeeding saves us from the P800/week cost of formula milk. :) That's more or less P80,000 in two years. 

6. Our diaper bag is literally a diaper bag. No formula milk and bottles. Just my nursing cover and me for meal time!

7. Breastmilk ensures Inno from being overweight or obese. 

8. Breastfeeding lowers my risk for breast cancer. 

9. Breastfeeding gives me a different kind of self-esteem boost as a mom. :)

10. Breastfeeding opened doors for me to change and become the best mom I could be for Inno. :) I learned to sacrifice my wants over Inno's needs. :)

I really wish that new moms and moms-to-be would try their very best first and prioritize breastfeeding before choosing to feed their babies formula milk. I know how instant formula milk could be, and it would be very easy to believe what doctors favoring formula milk and the media (TVC's) say, but give it a try before jumping into it. Not everything you see or hear or read about formula milk is true. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of breastfeeding groups already in the Philippines and they are all willing to lend a hand and guide you on your breastfeeding journey. JUST ASK. 

I wish I could share more about breastfeeding, but I don't consider myself an expert but rather an advocate. However, in any case you read this and you  yourself is a mom or know someone who's about to become a mom or a new mom, and you want to encourage her to breastfeed, leave a comment. I will be willing to recommend you/them to breastfeeding groups. :)

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More. More. More. 

Pumping Journey

I'm loving August more. Why? Because I already got to purchase my Medela Freestyle Pump. Thanks to my dad who just received his retirement benefits, I got showered with some. Prior to my purchase, I was actually leaning on buying an iPhone4s to upgrade my phone, or rather, have my own phone (I've been using Kali's phone for months now.) But I've pondered about it and thought that I'd better get a good quality pump instead. The price of the iPhone4s is almost the same price with the pump but I know it'll be worth it. Besides, the phone could wait and I need to store milk for Inno so I don't have anything to worry about whenever I'm out of the house. 

I can't wait for my pumping journey to start. So far, I'm doing some powerpumping sessions and taking a lot of galactagogues to increase my supply. :) 

Wish me luck! :)


xo

Yan