While You're Breastfeeding or Pumping

If you've been breastfeeding for a while, it sometimes gets boring if you're just watching your baby nurse. This proves to be true for WAHM like me, who nurses their babies directly everyday. It's a different situation for Working Moms though. When you're nursing, it doesn't mean that you can't do anything else. Woman are known for their skill in multitasking, huh!

Here's a list of the things that I enjoy doing while nursing. Please don't get shocked if some items are a bit odd:

Sleeping. This is just about my favorite. This is one of the advantages of nursing your baby. Mommy gets to sleep! How great is that?

Watch Baby Sleep. This goes before sleeping because I get sleepy when I watch Jack Jack sleep. I know I mentioned that this sometimes bores me. I said "sometimes" so most of the time, it just amuses me that sometimes, I don't want to put him down even if he's already asleep and content.

Eat. Nursing your baby will definitely double (or sometime triple) your appetite so don't starve yourself. Eat and drink when you are hungry or thirsty.

Pump while nursing or nurse while pumping. This will help you increase your milk supply and also increase your stored milk for when times you need to leave baby or when you need to go back to work. This will start to be a challenge on the fifth month where all the curiousity starts.

Watch TV. I really enjoy doing this because there's not much moving involved except when you need to change the channel.

Read a book or listen to an audio book. For real books, this is a bit challenging when changing the page but it's possible.

Sing. No, I don't sing like how I sing in the shower (you get the picture?!). I sing baby songs or nursery songs or whatever you call those slow songs.

Surf the net/Chat. One of my favorites but it's really difficult to use only one hand for the keyboard.

Play games on my phone/Text. This has gotten me through the first weeks of Jack Jack.

Make a To Do/Grocery List. As long as I'm holding my phone, this one's a great help for me to remember things I need to do or buy.

Daydream. Don't you?

Talk on the phone. Great way to keep in touch with families and friends!

Travel/Walk Around. I can walk with baby nursing. It's also possible in a moving vehicle.

Do you think I'd get a ticket for driving while nursing? Haven't tried it though.

Perhaps:

Bowling?!

Or Yoga?!

Before Formatting Your Laptop/Desktop Computer

I recently formatted my laptop and I wanted to make sure that I was ready by making a list of all the things I need to do before formatting. But still, I forgot to do something else. Now, I want to make a list of them all to make sure that next time, it won't happen again.

1. BACKUP!!! How many times do I have to reiterate this? (Sorry. I think my former job has something to do with the attitude here.) I'm not angry, I just want to make sure that this item would get into you (or me) and will never be forgotten. I didn't forget about backing up. In fact, I would usually backup files from the My Documents folder because that's where most of my files are located.

2. List applications to be installed. Go to your Add or Remove Programs window. This can be accessed through the Control Panel window. Then list all the applications that you need to install. Skip the applications you haven't used for more than 6 months. If you haven't used it that long, there's a bigger chance you will never use it again.

3. Installers and drivers. Locate where you keep all your installers and drivers. This includes installers for applications, operating system, printer, scanner, etc.

4. Links. If you frequently surf the net, chances are, you've got your favorite links bookmarked on your browser. Include this item to backup. For Internet Explorer, your Favorites folder is in the following path:

{Windows Directory}:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Favorites

The bookmarked pages are stored differently from browser to browser. Refer to your browser's Help file for assistance.

I forgot to backup the last item so, "Yay me!" Now, I'm missing some of my favorite sites to visit.

I think I got everything covered now. I'll just look this list up the next time I'm formatting which I hope is not anytime soon.

If I forgot to include something, please let me know. We'll update this post.

Breastfeeding Resources

Basically, the best way to really be able to breastfeed successfully is to learn as much as you can in breastfeeding. Sure, you can hire a lactation counselor in your area and you better make sure she's available 24/7. Otherwise, you will need to rely on yourself. Thus, the importance of learning the basics.

There are usually available resources in your local bookstore. I was lucky enough to get a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition (La Leche League International Book).



If you are internet savvy, then you've got a handful of information available to you. You can join an online support group for breastfeeding to meet with other nursing mothers. You might also be able to find a group near your area from searching online. My favorite breastfeeding sites are as follows:

Kellymom: Breastfeeding and Parenting
Breastfeeding Moms Unite!
Breastfeeding.com - Everything for the New Mom
Mother-2-Mother

I know that's a lot of stuff to go through so if you have any questions and you can't find the answer anywhere, just let me know. Maybe I can tell you the answer or maybe we'll both look for it. (wink! wink!)

I do not know what I would do without these resources. I'm thinking I could've mot been able to fulfill my breastfeeding dream.

Please do not forget to vote on the poll: "How long are you planning on breastfeeding your baby?". It's located in the sidebar.

Starting Solids

I started giving Jack Jack solids at around 7 or 8 months. I wasn’t in any hurry. I knew my milk would be enough. Besides, I cannot find (from research) a good reason for me to start feeling him solids early. Actually, around 7 to 8 months was the time I saw his readiness for solids.

So, yeah! Being my stubborn self, my Mom and I used to debate on what to give and what not to give. She was talking from experience and I was talking from the latest research.

Jack Jack would practically open his mouth for anything that you offer him. Potato, squash, banana, carrot, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli and most especially, avocado.

Anyways, after a while, he would refuse everything but cereals. And lately, I would need to get him to laugh or play with me before he opens his mouth. If he does open his mouth for a bite, he would taste it for a while then push it out with his tongue. So much for all the work that’s been done! Anyways, after a few more bites and playing around, he would swallow the food without pushing anything out.

At least now he’s eating it. I’m pretty much adjusting his cereals intake. I mix it with other fruits or vegetables just so he would think it is just cereals and gradually adjusting it to be more food than cereals until he can eat the food without cereals.

Another problem I’m trying to solve is his ability to screen the food that is put in his mouth. If the mashed food is anything bigger than the usual size, he would push it out. It seems like he’s got a built-in strainer in his mouth. I try to mash the food to as small as it can be. Or sometimes if I get lucky, he swallows it anyways.

He now has 4 upper and 4 lower teeth for biting. I’m thinking it could be his reflex that makes him push out bigger pieces of food since he can’t chew it yet. However, how come he likes munching on biscuits?

From an article I read before (sorry, I can’t remember where), it says that at his age, he wants to feed himself. This is probably why he’s got this much appetite on biscuits. So, I tried to place the spoon on his hand with the food and he put it in his mouth. Yay! I’m not sure if I am ready for some really messy Jack Jack but I guess I am willing to try.

I’m still looking for other ways to encourage him to eat more “people food”. I am also trying to feed him solids at least an hour after our nursing sessions just to ensure he isn’t so full from it.

If you have any suggestions for me (I hope), violent reactions, comments, I’m very interested to hear it.

Super thanks to my Mom for her patience with me and Jack Jack and Crizzny for lots of inputs on feeding.

Breastfeeding Tips

I missed blogging about breastfeeding. Since a friend has just given birth and 4 more are on the way, I'm dedicating this post to them. If you have a problem with nudity, don't bother watching the videos.



- If you wish to unlatch, you can either use your smallest finger to push his jaw down to break the suction or cover his nose with one finger. Do not pull the baby as this will result to sore nipples.

- Cleaning your nipples once a day or taking a bath should be enough. Cleaning your nipples more than this would dry it resulting to sore nipples. Nipples has its natural oils that moisturizes the nipple area. Thus, cleaning will strip this oils away.



- If you're building a milk supply before you go back to work, you can also pump your other breast while the baby is nursing. Your let down would be much faster since the baby is suckling on your other breast.

- Relax or look at your baby's picture or video while pumping away from baby. This will help you with the let-down.

The additional tips above are from personal and friend's experiences that I never get to read online or on books. For more information on breastfeeding, visit the kellymom website.

UPDATE: There's now 5 on the way!!! Congratulations!

Baby Mop

Baby Mop from Chris Milk on Vimeo
I think housework could be a lot easier with this.