My breastfeeding gadget list

This is a very long over due post. It's been a year since I last posted about breastfeeding .  But as I promise to Sis Kendz, Sis Ginapie and Sis Rhessy, I'll share how I prepare my breastfeeding gadget list. You may also check my old post about breastfeeding preparation while pregnant.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful yet challenging journey. Wonderful in a sense that you're not just giving your milk to your baby but giving your time and literally yourself to her. I believe that to be successful in breastfeeding proper mindset and 80% of work is done during pregnancy. I think I'm one of the lucky pregnant mom since my husband supported all my decision in breastfeeding even preparing for my gadget list :)

But trust me all of these items are must haves hahaha :)

1. DISPOSABLE BREAST PADS / NURSING BRAS

Pigeon Disposable Breastpads

You don't want to have a leaking patch in front of your clothes right? So better prepare yourself with this item. Nursing bra is also a must have so you can easily remove the cover in front and give your breast to a hungry baby. (If I'm home, i don't wear a nursing bra at all. T-shirt/sando will do and it's really comfortable).

2. NURSING COVER & BONCHO

I'm always on-the-go. So part of my list is to have the boncho AND nursing cover. What's the difference? Boncho (by Indigo baby, a revamped breastfeeding poncho) can be use not only as a nursing wear, nursing cover and even as a normal mommy clothes. It has 14 yummy ways to wear.

I'm using NEXT9 nursing cover. Both of these items were really helpful specially when we're outside our home. I can nurse/pump anywhere. And you can also use your nursing cover as cover for your car seat carrier, stroller or even as an emergency blanket.

I tried pumping inside the cinema while watching ICE AGE 3, eating at VIA MARE and inside SINGAPORE AIRLINE. People don't really notice (or I really don't mind them) that I'm doing my mommy duty :)

Boncho (top) and Nursing cover (below)

At DFA-Aseana while Nursing Ryleen

Using my boncho at IMM Mall in Jurong East, Singapore with my Mom

3. MY BRESTFRIEND PILLOW

My brestfriend with extra slip cover

Optional gadget. But since I was scheduled to have an elective CS this gadget became a must have on my list. It's hard to carry a 3.08kg baby for 2-3hrs straight. I don't need to carry Ryleen anymore. I just place her on the pillow and waaaahla after nursing she's comfortably sleeping on my brestfriend arms :)

4. BREASTMILK STORAGE BAGS & CUPS

Some mommies can produce a lot of milk. I can't produce that much before but having these items on hand helped me with my mind-setting. I always dream of having all of these avent cups full of milk and  the storage bags properly and equally place inside our fridge (like Mimma Benz)

Storage bags with markers and masking tape

Avent storage cups, medela cup and avent breast shield 

My frozen milk using storage bags

My express pumped milk from work

Milk inside using Avent storage cups

5. SEALER

electric sealer and battery operated sealer (for emergency purposes)

Optional gadget. I have 2 sealers. One electric and the other one is battery operated that can be use in your office/travel and very handy. Why I tag this as an optional? You can buy storage milk bags with double zipper seal so you will not need this. But if you want to try saving your milk using playtex then definitively you must have a sealer. 

6. ZIPLOC / GLAD BAGS

Freezer bags

I don't have a separate freezer for my milk. So to ensure that my milk will not be contaminated I'm using these freezer bags. I have a rule in the house that one level of the freezer is dedicated to Ryleen's milk

7. REUSABLE ICE PACK

My medela freestyle comes with a free reusable ice pack but I find it easy to melt. Most of the time I'm 8hrs away from home and I'm working on-site so I need my fridge-to-go/medela bag to act as my mini-fridge. 

8. BASIN, BRUSH & BOTTLE CLEANER (BBB)

My BBB

Since most of your gadgets are plastic you need a brush and a bottle soap to clean it. I also have a separate basin for all used bottles, milk storage cups and my breast pump.

9. DRYING RACK

Ryleen's drying rack 

After cleaning and sterilizing you need to air dry the bottles (if you're too lazy to cloth dry it), then you must have a drying rack :)

And the star of this blog....

10. BREAST PUMP

My Medela Freestyle breastpump

I'm a working mom and I still wanted to give breast milk to my daughter even I'm away, this pump help me to produce the quantity of milk Ryleen needs. It's a bit pricey but this is much better than buying a can of formula milk (pro-breast feeding). 

And if you owned a medela freestyle, you must have a Tinytots handsfree bra. I use it most of the time in our office (our office have a Silent/lactation room) so while pumping, I can also do my office task. Thanks to this bra I can do multi-tasking. 

Tiny-tots handsfree bra

Most of the items are available at our online store - www.cherubsnest.com. 

Ready, Get Set, Go for Breastfeeding!

"Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (August). For this month, we join the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in it's "Talk to Me!" theme where participants will share personal experiences, insights or recommendations in communicating breastfeeding intentions and goals to their support system. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants."

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Breastfeeding is nature's precious gift to our babies but it is sad to think that according to UNICEF data only 34% of Filipino mothers exclusively breastfeeding their babies for six months. Lack of information and campaign drive for breastfeeding is the main issue why we have a low statistics.

Many soon to be mothers and mothers want to breastfeed but they don't make plans to breastfeed. They didn't realize that 80% of the work is done during pregnancy and 20% is the practical aspect after giving birth.

So, I'll be sharing how I gear up for breastfeeding.

1. Elucidate your Goal - the moment you knew you are pregnant decide to breastfeed your baby. Be firm with your decision. Our belief and attitude towards breastfeeding are formed from people around us. Allow breastfeeding moms influence you. Understand the importance of breastfeeding. Read/listen to their stories, ask questions and don't be afraid.

I like to quote Ms Rebecca Chin, President of Breastfeeding Mother's Support Group here in Singapore "Breastfeed like it's your responsibility and you don't have a choice, this way you won't be tempted to supplement".

And include your husband/partner in every planning and decision that you will make because he will play a very important role in your decision. He's your moral, emotional and physical support when you start your journey.


2. Equip yourself with knowledge - in our modern day society information is everywhere. Research online, read books, join breastfeeding class and  workshop and seminar.

Breastfeeding book

 

Aside from yourself, share this knowledge to your husband/partner, immediate families, nanny or to anyone that will help you on breastfeeding. Find a support group who are also breastfeeding advocate.

3. Plan your birth - Take responsibility on your birthing choices.
Talk to your OB and discuss with him/her your birth plan and breastfeeding plan so they can consider rooming in your baby after giving birth.

According to Lamaze International, Mothers who room-in with their newborns produce more milk. Mothers who hold their newborns skin-to-skin also produce more milk.

And the most exciting part,

4. Build your breastfeeding nest

Must haves: nursing bras, nursing wear, nursing pads for leaking milk.

 
Optional: nursing pillows, breast pump, breast pump accessories, nursing mother's tea/food supplement and parenting paraphernalia like sling, carriers, co-sleepers and wrap.

Nursing pillow

Avent breast pump and accessories

 

My husband Rudy and I managed to prepare and equip ourselves for our son Rylee yet I just breastfed him for 18 days (My 18 days experience as a Nursing Mom).

I may stop breastfeeding at this moment but up to now I'm still adding knowledge about breastfeeding. I'm actively reading and participating every breastfeeding campaign. I love reading q&a discussion on my N@W e-group and other forums because I'm learning from their personal experiences. Someday soon I might use it :)

After our breastfeeding session

And lastly to be successful in breastfeeding, you must ENJOY and CHERISH the bonding moment with your most precious little one.










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You may also read other entries for this month :)

DaintyMom's Creating a Pro-Breastfeeding Culture in the Family (Facebook and Twitter: @Dainty_Mom)
Wifely Steps' On Breastfeeding: Say It, Claim It, Get Support! (Facebook and Twitter: @macaronigirl)
Truly Rich Mom's How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding (Facebook and Twitter: @tinasrodriguez)
EthanMama's My Best Breastfeeding Support System - My Husband (Twitter: @ethanmama)
Raising Baby Lia's A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies
Jen CC Tan's I'm Breastfeeding, and That's That! (Facebook and Twitter: @next9baby)
Project Blog by Kate's Talk and Make it Happen (Facebook and Twitter: @kate_demetrio)
My Mommy Kwentos' How I Recruited my Top Breastfeeding Buddies (Facebook)
Apples  & Dumplings Communicating and First Time Breastfeeders (Twitter: @apple_dumplings)
I'm a Newbie Wife's How I Taught My Family to Breastfeed
TouringKitty's Communication Through Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Touringkitty)
Mec as Mom's Pre-Natal Pediatric Consultations Are Necessary
Escie's World's Ready, Get Set, Go! for Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Escielicious)
Nanaystrip's BreasTALK : Text, Retweet, Share your Knowledge and Experiences (Twitter: @bunsonimaestro)
Superwomom's A-S-Ks (on breastfeeding questions, help, support)
Go Help Yourself's “6 persuasion tips for breastfeeding moms and advocates”
Legally Mom's Breastfeeding Talk Between Me and My Formula Fed Daughter (Facebook and Twitter: @legallymomPH
Handy Mommy's Couple's Communication and Decision: Key to Successful Breastfeeding
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom's Effective Communication Bucket List (Facebook and Twitter: @mamababylove)

Goodbye Chip

Brave little fighter

 Hero "Chip" Abrera

June 19, 2011-August 11, 2011

Please offer a minute of prayer. 

You fought a great battle little brave fighter.

I'm so proud of you. You will be miss. I love you.

Christmas in August

Nawies are having an exciting project and we call it "Project Fairy Godmother". The objective is to try to make one nawie wish come true. What I really like most is that you can be a fairy godmother and a Cinderella at the same time. :)  It means you can also make a wish :)

I'm so excited. I can feel the Christmas spirit in the air. God is so good :)

Kudos to Ms. Benz Co-Rana for her brilliant idea. May God bless you a hundred fold.

Let's chip in for Chip

Let's chip in for Chip | Help 1-month old baby Hero Chip get the heart operation he needs to save his life.

I woke up very early today (9:30 am) since I came home around 6am from my night job. Since I can't sleep, i just browse my FB and came across with si KV's post about this "fighter". As you all know my son Rylee passed away because of heart issue and after reading Chip's story I was really amazed with this little fighter.  He's not only fighting for his life but also for his family. I can bet that his mom have a great faith above :)

So to know much more about Chip, check out his site.

Please help us this child. 

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Hi. Meet Hero “Chip” Abrera.

He was born on June 19, 2011. He shares the same birthday as the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal (hence the name). He’s barely a month old, but hopefully, someday, he’ll grow up to live up to his name.

A very promising start. Hero “Chip”, however, has a congenital heart condition. He has ventricular septal defect, or VSD. He has, literally, a hole in his heart. Specifically, a hole in the muscular wall (septum) that divides the left and right lower chambers (ventricles) of his heart.

This means that his heart gets overloaded due to the abnormal flow of blood. This puts a lot of strain on his infant heart, which pounds abnormally hard on his chest. It strains his lungs as well, which causes him to labor for breath.

If left untreated, his VSD can cause permanent damage to his lungs, or make his heart fail all of a sudden. Hero’s heart needs to be mended as soon as possible to prevent any further damage. But the cost of a heart surgery — PhP500,000++ or more than half a million (roughly USD $11,700) not counting the hospitalization and medicine expenses — is way too high for his young, twenty-something parents to shoulder.
Update: Chip’s official diagnosis is “large sub-pulmonic VSD .6 and an interrupted aortic arch”. Procedure to be done is open heart total repair surgery for little Chip. It is the interrupted aortic arch that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
To complicate matters, he was also born with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic disorder that makes him sensitive to certain food, drugs and other substances. These can include drugs that are used to cope with VSD and his mother’s breastmilk. He needs to be under a special diet. (If you notice that he has yellow skin and eyes, that’s jaundice resulting from this disorder.)
Hero “Chip” is being sustained by medications and care by competent medical staff in the Philippine Heart Center, but the surgery needs to be performed as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.

Hero “Chip” needs your help. Be Hero’s hero, and chip in for his heart surgery.

Can’t donate funds? Here are other ways you can help:

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Rylee's 3rd month birthday celebration

Rylee just turned 3months yesterday and I believe he's celebrating it with a blast in heaven together with all the angels. Since we can't be there to party, my husband and I together with our family decided to have a monthly celebration for our beloved little one :)

our little altar for Angel Rylee

Rylee's balloon from Daddy :)

with his yummy birthday cake

Happy Birthday Rylee pot-pot

with his lovable Mom and Dad

Mama La and Tita Ninang Sha

Rylee got some company [Tito JR, Tito Chan, Tito Edgar, Dad and Tito Royce]

1st time to celebrate my birthday in Singapore

My 18 days experience as a Nursing Mom

"Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (July).  For this month, we join the National Nutrition Council - Department of Health in celebrating Nutrition Month with the theme "Isulong ang Breastfeeding - Tama, Sapat at EKsklusibo!" Participants will share their experiences in promoting breastfeeding or their tips on how breastfeeding should be promoted.  Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants."

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I've been reading many blogs regarding nawie mommies sharing their experiences in breastfeeding and joining the DOH campaign. While reading their stories it came to my mind why not share my 18days journey with my Rylee.

During my pregnancy, Rudy and I made an agreement that I will do my very best to breastfeed our son. So i equip myself on reading post from our nawie group. I even sent some personal queries to other mommies and they kindly response to it. I read and research online. I made Rudy promise that if I feel on giving up he should not allow me and he should be firm with it (even if I'll cry to death). Even the hospital we chose supports breastfeeding. The first item that we bought for our son was an Avent Electric single pump.

Came April 27, 2011. The best day of my life. God gave me a beautiful gift, my Rylee. The first time I experienced to breastfed Rylee. I thought it was easy since he sucked very well during our first time, maybe because I'm on anesthesia that time :)

Rylee and Mommy's first meeting.

our very first breastfeeding session

As the anesthesia subsides, "painful" reality sunk in. It was painful as i remembered it when I nursed him in the recovery room but I promise myself that I will never give-up and I will do my best to give him the very best that I can offer. The first 24 hours was indeed challenging. I need to nurse him every 2 hours, there are times that I cannot understand why he keeps on crying and it tears me that my mom keeps on telling me that he's hungry and my milk supply was not enough, that we should give him formula. I keep on telling or yelling at her that I will not give him formula and the hospital will not allow it. True enough the hospital nurses, my OB and Rylee's pedia explained the policy to my mom and taught me how to nurse properly. My OB explained that even I'm just giving a drop of milk to Rylee it was enough for him. Still my mom insist on giving formula and the resident pedia gave us a prescription to buy a box of S-26 and Wilkins water and we introduce cup feeding while waiting for my milk to come out. I felt i was betrayed by my own mom and loser at the same time and she explained that when I was a baby I was formula fed although it was mixed since she also breastfed me for about 3 months.  But after a heart-to-heart talk with my mom and explained my side why I really wanted to do it she understand and supported my/our decision on breastfeeding.

So we cupfed and breastfed Rylee at the same time. Every 2 hours i need to nurse him for 30mins then after that the nurse will give him 20ml S26 formula milk, he's so cute and he's a natural for using cup. The hospital didn't want to introduce the bottle to avoid nipple confusion.

cup-feeding session of Rylee at SLMC

It was easy being at the hospital since we can get all the professional help we needed. After 4 days at the hospital the real journey began... Rudy and I decided to stop giving formula milk to Rylee but instead to continue breastfeeding him, my sister Yna who's a nurse by profession gave us advise on how i can properly fed my son. It wasn't easy specially when i experienced breast engorgement. That's the time that I wanted to give up. I was crying since my milk doesn't want to come out. Rylee was wailing and I felt tortured since I can't give him milk. I told Rudy to give Rylee a cup of formula milk but he insisted that I should pursue on breastfeeding him. I was crying and begging him to help Rylee to stop him from wailing and crying coz i'm hurting while seeing him that way. My sister Yna took Rylee away and gave him to my Mother-in-law. Rudy and Yna started to massage me and let me calm down. after that they gave me a breast massage and viola the first drop of milk came out. Tears of happiness were flowing in my eyes. My husband was also happy and took Rylee immediately from my MIL so I can feed him. My son sucked and I felt he was happy and comfortable.  To help my milk supply I started taking malunggay capsules (3caps per meal), drinking lots of water (specially during feeding time) and eating healthy food. After Rylee finished his session I will pumped both of my breast to properly drained all excess milk. Then I noticed that my milk was increasing as days goes by. 

Last milk I pumped for my Rylee [May 15, 2011 at 1:12pm]. I managed to send this picture to his Dad to tell him that I have enough milk supply for his son.

It was indeed a great and priceless 18days breastfeeding journey that Rylee and I had shared because on his 19day he passed away [The battle of my 19days old son, Rylee ]

I may not be a breastfeeding mom right now but I'm encouraging every pregnant mom and moms to try and experience this wonderful journey. It wasn't easy though  butwith proper help, support and guidance from family and friends you can do it. Most of the breastfeeding moms I met were very kind in sharing their experiences and information. Internet is also a best tool in researching and preparing oneself for breastfeeding.  I thank God that he gave me the chance to provide "food" to my son and to have a special bonding moment that I will treasure forever. I have priceless memories that no one can take away from me and every time I read mommies about their breastfeeding story, I remember my Rylee. I remember our times together. Our wonderful journey.

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Mec - http://www.mecasmom.com/2011/07/taking-breastfeeding-further.html
Jenny Ong - http://fabnaima.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-on-breastfeeding-promotion-plus.html
Benz - http://mimmabenz.com/2011/07/20/milk-mama-diaries-3/
Erlaine - http://mommyerl.blogspot.com/2011/07/breastfeeding-promoting-it-even-if-i.html
Pittipat - http://imperfectlycreated.blogspot.com/2011/07/on-promoting-breastfeeding.html

Other entries that I got from sis Mec
Formula feeder from the US - http://fearlessformulafeeder.blogspot.com/2011/07/breastfeeding-promotion-tips-from.html (very illuminating the comments as well)

Doctor Mom from UK - http://goodenoughmummy.typepad.com/good_enough_mum/2011/07/breastfeeding-promotion.html