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!

(more…)

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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Blog Update:  Photos loaded.

My experience?  Well, I was able to visit the nursing room the day after it was inaugurated (January 31, 2008) but it was just now that I got to update this post.  So, I’m pretty sure lots of you moms out there has been there and saw it.  Anyway, to those who haven’t been there, check out the photos that has been incorporated in this post.

A horsey horsey (for sale!) but I would think your kid can ride on this.  I suddenly thought of my AD.  I can bring AD and JX here where AD can play around while I nurse JX but that would be a handful I bet (hopefully AD wouldn’t see the toys area outside)!  And we should be there all by ourselves because of the chaotic scene.

Stuffed toys for decorations and of course, for sale.  You can buy it from (where else?) Rustan’s!

Feel free to use these amenities…Courtesy of Enfant.

Suggestion: There would be a Rustan’s personnel who would take charge of playing the music and turning on videos related to nursing.  I just suggested this since I saw a player and tv inside the room but otherwise, it’s okay not to have those entertainment because you can hear outside hustle and bustle of customers.

Wishful thinking:  Applicable to moms who would “de-load” their milk: A wash area where they can wash their brestpumps after transferring the milk to the container.

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The days of breastfeeding inside the restroom of Rustan’s Makati while shopping with your baby is OVER!  woohoo!  I wish they have built it sooner when I was breastfeeding AD because I frequently go to Glorietta to do some shopping and errands.  At that time, I do remember that SM had already built one in Megamall beacause I’ve used it once but it was far away from us to even consider strolling there frequently.  So whenever I am at Glorietta with AD, I had to time my shopping and errands based on AD’s feeding time.  It is inside Rustan’s lounge area (I love their lounge area!) where I nurse AD.  Why there of all places?  Simply because I had no other choice. It was the best nursing place that I (or you!) can think, not even the restroom where you pay P10 for each entry can match this one.  There was a comfortable sofa to sit on, it had a large space area that separates the lounge area from the cubicle and a pipe in music to soothe the nerve of the ladies staying there.  Alas, I had become a regular visitor in the lounge area.  The only thing that bothered me every time I go in the lounge area to nurse AD was the people, The ladies would give me a look as if asking me, “what is she doing with her kid?”  Take note that I have a nursing bib that I use to cover AD but still, I get these stares which makes me uncomfortable thus, somehow affects the supply of my milk (haha, what an excuse! But it is true!).  That was always the scenario with AD and I. 
 
I’m glad that I saw JCT chat status message just in time…Please visit the inauguration of the breastfeeding room at Rustan’s on January 30, 3pm.  What?  About time huh!  And so I checked my schedule and such a coincidence that I can be there to attend at that time so I decided to let JCT know that I’ll see her there.  It was just too bad that I was a little late (from doing errands)  and the programme was already starting…Ms Abbie Yabot (Lactation consultant and La Leche League member) has started her breastfeeding seminar 101.  Not to mention that I have to leave immediately after 15 minutes of arriving because I had to pick up AD already.  But I was glad that I came because finally, I got to meet Yummy Mommy Monica (Indigo) and baby Santi and of course, JCT (Mom Exchange) with her preschooler son, Kevin and her elegant mom (wow! what a support!).  I was wanting to chat with Ms Abbie because I wanted to attend her saturday breastfeeding sessions but never got to due to conflict of schedules.
I can’t wait to visit (to shop in Rustan’s!) and nurse JX there because I know that I’ll have a brand new experience with JX inside Rustan’s breastfeeding room. 

Talk about hitting one stone with two birds!  I hear that there is a crib (wow! can’t try it myself can’t I?) ,

the couch is soooo comfortable (they are!  They’re even 2!  How fun it would be if it would be full of nursing moms!) that you might sleep while nursing your baby, the carpet is soft that you’ll be afraid to step on it (not really!). 

I even joked JCT if they have a breast pump there just in case the mom forgot to bring her pump or maybe forgot the time (while shopping because I do!  You know how shopping is addictingly fun and women’s therapy…tsk..tsk..) and it was already the baby’s nursing time.
 
Also, I’m really looking forward to meet nursing moms there too!

I salute Rustan’s for supporting breastfeeding moms!  I do hope Ayala would follow SM and Rustan’s.  
 
For your information:  Breastfeeding room is now at your service.  Located at the 3rd Floor Baby section of Rustan’s Makati.
 
This is brought to you by Rustan’s…Where Shopping Is a Pleasure.

P.S.  Will post new updates/ photos when I get to visit the breastfeeding room.