For the past months, I’ve been travelling locally with my HB.  The trips would usually take 3-4 days away from the kids (woohoo, honeymoon! hahaha).  This is the first time ever events that I left AD for more than 2 days and with JX too.  With JX, this is totally a different matter.  I had never left AD for more than a day when he was still a baby!  And look what I’ve been doing with JX.  I’ll share with you (in another post) how bad a mom I am to JX.

But no matter how far I am, I do not forget the kids especially JX because I get engorged!  I know, I know, it is not a nice word but that’s the term when one is nursing her baby so pardon me, my friends.  For non-nursing friends out there, engorge is a term when nursing moms do not get to feed or pump out the milk out of their breast for several hours, in short, my breasts get swollen or to be blunt, gets BIG (wowee! Only time when I get a nice looking plump booby!).  So what do I do?  I bring out my best friend out of its hiding place!
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I’m sorry, I have no photos to share with you.  I remembered this incident when Mi’an left a comment on my post about her experience at Breastfeeding room in Rustan’s Shangrila Mall.

Let me start….

I was going to have my pedicure in one of the salons at Market!Market! but I had to wait at least 30-45 minutes so I decided to express the milk out of my breast (I have to say it…pardon me.) to save time!  I do remember that Market!Market! has a breastfeeding room which I haven’t been to and so I asked the guard roving around the mall where it was.  They gave me directions that it was at the far end at the right.  And so, I walked and looked for a sign that would direct me but I don’t see one.  The guard forgot to tell me to turn right and walk farther more before you chance upon the room.

And so, I walked.  And there it was…the room.  The location was not easy to find nor an ideal place to locate it.  It was not alongside with the stores (not income generating, that’s why!).  It was hidden and no sign at all except for the sign by the Market!Market! entrance and somewhere else (basta not near the location!).  I was hesitant to go inside because there were men outside (as if they were drinking or was it siesta time?), at least 4-6 men (some were even wearing camouflage pants which added to my hesitation) surrounding the place and by the door to the breastfeeding room.  So, I was kinda peeping into the room whether it was still open to the public.  I think they are staff of the Market! Market! office but why are they outside the office at office hours?  They were kinda harassing me and was asking what is my business going to the room (They think I just want to sleep?) and those silly questions as if they know a lot about nursing!  I told them irritably, I would pump (period).  And they were still asking where is the kid and all (Hello?!).  At that time, I felt violated because they kept on asking me like they were ridiculing me and they were men!  Finally after a few minutes sensing that I was very irritated with them, they get it.  There was no kid and I will just be by myself (whee! hahaha).  Suddenly,one guy was calling someone inside the room!  Someone was actually sleeping there!  One of the staff, I guess. Eiwww!  What is he doing there?  I had no choice but to go there and do what I have to do…express my milk out of me…

I should’ve turn around and find another place to express my milk.  I should’ve gone to the pay lounge.  I think it would be more comfortable for me.  AND I should’ve complained to the Market!Market! office about the behavior of those people (maybe their people! most prob..)!  I was kinda scared because the place was at the corner of the mall and you have to go far along before you would be able to reach it so you would really have to SHOUT as in SHOUT!!!  It was like going to the restroom except that not much people are traversing the lobby.

From then on, I would not go there anymore…scary…Good thing, nothing happened to moi.

We were leaving…

…when I saw this symbol…I was surprised to even find it here…of all places! Good thinking, Governor Joel Reyes! And by the way, this airport became operation just the last week of August so you’ll find the Francisco Reyes International Airport very clean.

….by joining the MOMMY MARATHON!

They are on their 2nd year of supporting breastfeeding/ nursing advocates and what better way to join and be a part of this fun event!

WORD OF ADVICE:

• It might rain so be prepared! You must attend even it rains. Just bring an umbrella (bring your Hello Kitty or Genki umbrella if you have one!) and your raincoat or better yet, if you want to really enjoy…run wild in the rain! Also, you can sing too (I’m singing in the rain…), no one would really notice because they will be too busy finishing the run!

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I just want to share this event with you Moms (or Mom-to-be or even Dads!) out there. You may want to go. I’ve registered already and excited to attend this event. The last time I went to such was during AD’s first few months of living on this planet of ours. I have been wanting to attend more of these but with our hectic schedule, my first was my last time.

May 17, 2008, Saturday

10am - 8pm, Rockwell Tent

www.expomom.com

What to expect in this event?

• An interactive exhibit of the best products and services for moms and kids
• Special sale of favorite mom and kid-targeted retailers!
• Special section featuring mompreneur-run businesses
• All day talks and activities for every member of the family

To register, email the following info at register@expomom.com

• Name
• Email address
• Contact Number

When I was pregnant with JX, it was obvious that I would also nurse JX.  I’m just happy that I already know the basics of breastfeeding so no worries.  I just have to review the numbers (minutes, days and months)  with regards to storage of breastmilk but other than that, I’m good to go!

The top 3 reasons why I tried (and loved!) breastfeeding AD were these:

1. Healthy for the baby;
2. Savings! (Oh yeah!);
3. Back to pre-pregnancy figure w/o effort! (for vanity purposes!).

What I didn’t realize was that the PROs of breastfeeding were more than I can ask for!  There are so many benefits that the baby and the mother can gain that’s why I encourage my friends to breastfeed their babies as long as they could.  And these information is what I share with them and now, to you..

Benefits for the BABY:

1. Nutrition
   • Human breast milk is the ULTIMATE health food for human infants.
   • Breastfed children like vegetables better than formula-fed infants when they’re first introduced to them, probably because they become familiar with the varied tastes and smells that come through the milk of their vegetable-eating mothers.  Thus, encouraging diverse and healthy diet when babies will be more receptive to new foods.
     • I have to agree with this one…AD eats almost anything!  He adores eating vegetables! He’ll even sing , “Ang gulay ng buhay.  Ang gulay ng buhay, sa sinabawang gulay!”
2. Health
   • Breastfed babies make fewer visits to the doctors’ office/ hospitals especially for diarrhea and othe gastrointestinal disorders, rashes and respiratory infections.
     • CORRECT!
   • Human milk feeding DECREASES the incidence and/or severity of diarrhea, lower respiratory infection, otitis media, bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, botulism, UTI and necrotizing enterocolitis.
   • And a possible protective effect of human feeding against sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lymphoma, allergic diseases, and toher chronic digestive diseases.
   • There is also evidence to show that breastfeeding may increase child’s bone mineral density, and that it also protects against such lower respiratory diseases as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma during middle childhood.

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