Lucas’ First Birthday — January 15, 2012

Since I became a mother, I promised myself to be more practical and realistic on what I can and can not afford.  As educators, we admit, my husband and I don’t earn that much.  But of course, we wanted our first born’s first birthday to be memorable as possible for HIM ..meaning the party is really for him not for anybody else’s pleasure.

When we’re planning his first birthday, our dilemma has always been the guest list.  We wanted to invite all our friends whom we were not able to invite during his baptism (which we kept really intimate for the godparents and family) but apparently we would end up inviting so many people — not a lot of kids but a lot of adults.

We then decided to have a charity birthday for him.  Get in touch with an organization where we can have a party with the less fortunate children.  However, even the closest relatives are expecting for a party and it sort of drove me crazy.  We can’t decided of what to do on his birthday.  I wanted it to be fun for Lucas at the same time I don’t want to end up inviting more adults than kids.

My husband and I finally decided to give him a Jollibee Party — Jollibee is really an icon for Lucas.  He loves Jollibee.  How?  He got this limited edition stuffed toy my mom bought when I was still pregnant with him.  So know he plays with it and yes, he kisses it all the time.  So there, Jollibee it is.  I knew it’s going to be a typical Jollibee party just like the other parties I’ve attended before.  But the party is all for Lucas and we knew he will love it — and yes! He loved it 🙂

Guest list dilemma? Solved.  We decided to just invite our family and closest relatives and friends.  There were several kids who enjoyed the games and the adults too. 🙂

What about the charity plan?  It was just timely that there were many victims of the Typhoon Sendong that hit Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, we pledge to donate by any means we could.

Not so happy about Lucas’ first birthday?  He came down with a fever the night before.  Good thing though he wasn’t cranky that day.

We’re just so thankful that Lucas was able to celebrate his 1st Birthday.  Thankful that he had it in Jollibee (which we knew he appreciated despite his age).  Thankful that he celebrated it with the people close to him.  But most especially, thankful to our friends and relatives who were so understanding why we were not able to invite them 🙂

It Helps to Share

Last year, a contributor from smarparenting.com.ph asked if there were brave mothers out there who would like to share their miscarriage story.  I have experienced this and it was really one of the saddest moments of my life.  But with God’s grace, I was able to recover emotionally and told myself that life goes on.  I thought maybe if I share my own story, it will not only help other women who experienced this to move on, but also myself.  So I did..and yeah I can say that it helped a lot.  Luckily, my story was chosen.  I know there were more “tragic” stories than mine, but I hope somehow readers with the similar experience were inspired.

Here’s the link to the article:

http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/getting-pregnant/miscarriage/surviving-miscarriage-testimonies-by-moms-who-lost-their-babies

 

Just My Thoughts

I live in this democratic country wherein people have the freedom to express themselves.  So whatever I’ll be blogging about are just based on my own opinions…my own thoughts.

Some may like or agree with me but of course others won’t.  For those who will like my posts, thanks for the time :)..but for those who belong or will belong on the latter, my apologies.  Again, these are just my thoughts that I would want to express.

Breastmilk is My Bestfriend

When I was still pregnant, I told myself that I will breastfeed my baby.  I admit I was uneducated about it back then and too busy getting excited about other baby stuff.   All I know about it is that breast milk comes naturally as long as you let your little one suckle.  I never knew there were blogs, websites and Facebook pages of breastfeeding advocates who really encourages expectant mothers to breastfeed until I’ve read articles in parenting magazines and checked out their websites.

When I gave birth, my goal of initially feeding my baby didn’t happen.  I went through an emergency C-section and was completely knocked out because of the anesthesia.  I wasn’t able to hold my newborn until the next day I could stand up.  Unfortunately, since I got no choice, my newborn had formula milk first before breast milk.  I agreed to mix-feed my baby until my milk supply became sufficient for him.

It wasn’t easy at all.  I went through all the woes of breastfeeding but I never gave up.  Though mixed feeding was still an option.  I did direct feeding and manual pumping at the same time and those helped a lot in increasing my milk supply.  I also took Moringa supplements and soup, as they said those will help too.

When my baby was on his 3rd month, that was the peak of my milk supply.  I was even able to donate several ounces to my cousin’s baby.  I never bought an electric pump, for I thought my supply won’t last for long because soon I’ll be going back to work.  When my baby was 5 months old, I was already back to school.  Luckily my superiors granted my request that I just take one class for the school year so I could take care of my baby.

His 6 month came and I was still breastfeeding.  I was so proud of myself that I still give him the best, but then he started teething.  It was one of the scariest and traumatic experience of my breastfeeding moments.  I asked for advice from breastfeeding advocates because I didn’t want to stop.  I tried everything they said but still he bites and I was like traumatized.  I already accepted that eventually my milk supply will stop because I decided that I will just pump milk and bottle feed him.  Believe it or not, now he turned 1, I’m still pumping breast milk for him.  I feel proud and happy that I’m still giving him what’s best.  I won’t be hypocritical, but I still do mixed-feeding 85% of which is breast milk.  I know I could do better but honestly it is not easy since I’m not a stay at home mom.

I’m just glad I could still give him the best.  I know that it made a lot of difference on his health that he only got sick once when he was 8 months old (coughs and colds) and unfortunately the night before his 1st birthday (he was about to have roseola then).  But so far, I know the mother’s milk really contributed a lot for him to become healthy.

I’m sharing this for the sake of those who are still thinking about breastfeeding.  It is really challenging.  But with a lot of motivation (your baby’s best health) and support from the people around you (especially from your husband), it won’t be that hard. I don’t know how long I can do this.  But I’m telling myself that I’ll do this as long as I can, until there is supply.  I’m still not buying an electric pump though, it’ll be another adjustment for me. 🙂

Feels Like Yesterday

Feels Like Yesterday

I’ve written this note last January 19, 2011.  I shared my first every Nanay moment.  I still cherish everything and for sure I won’t ever forget this experience.

I can’t believe it’s been a year.. it feels like yesterday.

For those who can’t view the note I made in Facebook.  Here it is:

I know every mother has her own “mommy” moments especially when the time comes she feels the labor pains for the very first time.  I just want to share my own Nanay Moments, days, hours, and minutes before I truly became one.

January 13, 2011 (Thursday around 1:30 am)

For 9 months of being pregnant, once again I felt pre-menstrual cramps.  It was really weird so I thought this could be the start of labor.  Since it was my first time, based from the articles and books I’ve ready I have to time it, so I did.  The pain was tolerable, but it was happening in irregular intervals between 10 to 15 minutes.  I timed it for about 1 and a half hours and still it was happening, I decided to wake up Brio and my parents.  Just to be sure at around 2:45 in the morning, we drove to the ER of St. Victoria Hospital.  I was IEd by the ER doctor, gave my admitting order slip, but my cervix was still closed.  The ER doctor called my OB and she talked to me that she feels it’s not necessary for me to be admitted yet.  So then, it’s a false alarm, we went home.  I tried to get some sleep, and decided not to go to work anymore so I could observe the pains (it’s still happening in irregular intervals).  I woke up at around 8am, still feeling the tolerable cramps (maybe because I have high tolerance to pain), but then I had bleeding that was probably caused by the IE.  I informed my OB and she suggested that I go to her clinic for her to do the IE herself.  We went there and it was still closed.

Many were saying it was Braxton Hicks, but I really felt differently.  Because from what I’ve read, Braxton Hicks shouldn’t hurt at all…but maybe for someone who’s doesn’t have a high pain tolerance, what I’m feeling is painful already.

Thursday was almost over, I decided that I’ll go to work the next day.

January 14, 2011 (Friday 1:30am)

An even painful pre-menstrual cramp woke me up.  But of course for me it’s still tolerable.  I timed it and it’s happening with intervals of about 10 minutes and each cramp lasts for about 30 seconds or so.  Brio asked if we need to go to the ER, I said I’m fine and I can handle it.  I told him to go to work, but as for me, since I was sleepless and the pain was getting weirder, I decided to stay home.

I gave my OB an update and she said that I just observe the pains.  So I did.

I texted some friends (T.Rhea and Maiti), that in case the pain gets really worse I’ll give them a call because I’m sure I won’t be able to drive myself to the ER.  They were on stand by.

The whole Friday, I’ve been feeling the contractions.  Still not knowing if this is false or real labor.  I even managed to go out and have a merienda with my friends and Brio in a nearby restaurant despite the contractions every 10 minutes.  When we went home at around 7pm, the contractions still persisted, but still they were tolerable.

Until around 10pm I was getting really uncomfortable.  I texted my OB and she said I better have an IE.  So Brio and I went to the ER again and found out my cervix was 1 to 2 cm open.  So then I was admitted.

January 15, 2011 (Saturday 12 midnight)

I was at the labor room at 12 midnight.  This time I was sure I was having the real labor pains.  There happening with intervals of 5 minutes and each contraction lasted for about a minute.  I was then prepped by a very friendly female nurse.  She taught me to breathe by blowing whenever I feel contractions.  She shaved me and gave me an enema (which was so uncomfortable!) and monitored my baby’s heartbeat, my blood pressure, my heart rate, my temperature and my contractions.  I was also in dextrose because during that time I am not allowed to have any food or water.  I kept on looking at the wall clock and hoping that my doctor would tell me or us something.  She was calling the labor room while the nurse gives her updates.

I was also not comfortable because my nose was really really congested.  I could just breathe through my mouth.  So my OB decided to give me a tablet of Neozep for temporary relief.

At around 6am, the ER doctor gave me an IE and surprisingly after 6 hours my cervix dilated to about 4 to 5cm! I was halfway…no doubt the contractions are getting painful (during this time, I haven’t asked for any pain reliever because the pain was still bearable but whenever I feel the contractions I blew harder, squeezed the blanket and sometimes whispering “oh shit!)).  Before the friendly nurse’s shift ended, she called Brio and gave us a chance to talk.  Brio held my hand, rubbed and just kissed my forehead.

waiting area outside the labor/delivery/recovery room where Tatay Brio waited for hours…

After about 2 hours, it’s getting really painful and I started to pray the rosary and to Padre Pio. I felt that delivery time is getting closer. That time I asked the nurse if they could give me something for the pain, so the nurse injected something in my IV.  A fetal monitor was also attached to my belly so they could hear and check my baby’s heartbeat from time to time.  The contractions got even more painful and then again I started to feel so tired, so I asked if they could add more dose of the pain reliever.  The nurse injected something in my right arm, then I felt really sleepy, but the contractions kept me awake.  Around 9am my OB came and gave me an IE. My cervix was dilated by 6cm.  She was going through the fetal monitor print out and noticed that whenever I have my contractions, my baby’s heartbeat slows down.  She explained to me that is not normal, there could be something wrong, like a cord coil (umbilical cord around the baby’s neck).  I also started to feel liquid coming out whenever I contract.  My OB tried to pop the bag, again it was weird, I didn’t have enough amniotic fluid but I wasn’t soaked at all.  She monitored me for more than hour and she explained that I might deliver through C-section.  I told her, do what you think is best for me and my baby.  She decided to put oxygen but then realized that my nose got congested again.  They gave me a dose of Drixine, once again to give temporary relief and so I could breathe better.  I started to feel a lot weirder because despite the pain relievers they gave me, my contractions are so painful that I really couldn’t take it anymore.   My OB talked to Brio and my parents outside the labor room and they agreed that she does what would be best.  When she went back, I started to cry because of the pain.  I begged her to put me to sleep and just do the C-section.  She then injected something through my IV and said that she’ll do it.  The last thing I remembered was my last contraction that I think I grabbed my OB while I was crying and told her “Doktora di ko na po talaga kaya!”  I remembered her saying “Oo na-inject ko na patulugin na kita. Huwag ka na umiyak baka bumalik sipon mo at mahirapan kang huminga.”

there goes

the reason for my C-section..look at the knot! that’s how likot Lucas was when he’s in my belly

Lucas is out! 😀

That’s all I remembered.

I woke up, I have no idea what time and where I was.  Maybe around 6pm, I’m not really sure.  I felt pain in my lower abdomen and touched my belly.  Then I realized it was over.  My baby was delivered.  I was positive he’s alright.  A few minutes later, my OB showed me Lucas.  I can’t believe he was just inside me a few hours ago.  He was so tiny.  Still feeling really weak, I just touched and rubbed his head.

our bundle of joy 🙂

There goes my Nanay Moment.  It was tough and painful (until now) but fulfilling…

But for now Brio and I would say…”one baby lang muna ang hirap pala..”  🙂  We’ll first enjoy being parents to Lucas.

*As of now he was left in the nursery for it was found out that he had UTI, so he needs to have a complete 7-day dose of antibiotics.  We thought this is better than forcing to bring him home.  We’re confident that the nurses are giving him all the care he needs.  We may also visit him everyday until he comes home with us on Sunday 🙂

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us.

Finally!

I have been meaning to write a blog since I registered.  But I can’t seem to find the right timing and topics to talk about.  Yeah..maybe I’ve been busy being a mother, a teacher, a wife…and every time I’ll have the chance I would just end up sleeping.  Sleep — that’s what I’ve been lacking for almost a year since I gave birth.  I would always sleep whenever my baby sleeps.

A lot has happened since I became a Nanay.  There were ups and downs of course but I’m glad, with God’s grace, I dealt with them gracefully.

So this is just the beginning.  I just needed to warm up and be inspired to start writing.  I hope I can go on….I will try my very best to go on.

Happy reading! ..well if any one will ever follow me 🙂