My Pumping Gears

Thanks to following paraphernalia, I am able to give the best milk for my little AJ. I am very much budget-conscious so I included here my personal recommendations and helpful tips as well.

BREAST PUMP

If you are working, I strongly suggest buying yourself a double-electric breast pump. This will save you a lot of time and you will find that it is easy to maintain working and pumping at the same time because you only need to be out for around 15 to 30 minutes. Skip on the manual pump or the single-electric pump as this will either be very tiring or will be very time consuming. In the end, you will only choose to stop pumping at all because you’re having a hard-time on it already. If you are conscious about the cost of the double-electric pump, just make a cost-analysis versus the amount of money you will spend on formula. I hope I can write a sample analysis in the future.

Additionally, you should be careful on picking on the brand of the pump since this pump will be your life-line on your working days. You need a pump that is durable and very reliable. And consider the price as well.

There are many types of breast pump out in the market. They are pretty high-priced if you buy at the malls (read: up to 32,000pesos for a pump! OMG!!) Lots of it you can buy or order online to save up some money. When I researched about pumps early 2009, I was choosing between Lansinoh and Medela. Medela was the number 1 brand when it comes to breast pumps but being a cheapskate that I am, I was too skimp on spending almost Php 20,000 for a breast pump. Then I found about Lansinoh. Lansinoh has great reviews locally and abroad so it was my final choice. Later on, I will write, and brag about my Lansinoh.

COOLER BAG

The Cooler Bag a.k.a. Insulated bag is needed to keep your pumped breastmilk cold while at work so it will not spoil immediately. Cooler bags prices range from around Php 300 up to as much Php 3,000 or even more.

There are two things to consider before getting your self a cooler bag:

1. Do you have access to a nearby refrigerator while at work?

- If you answered yes, then you just need your cooler bag while you transport your breastmilk from the workplace to your home refrigerator. Proceed to Item No. 2.

- If you answered no, then I suggest you buy those special cooler bags that can keep your breastmilk cold for up to 12 hours. One trusted brand is Fridge To Go which starts at around Php 1,500 and up.

2. How long is your travel time from work to home?

- If your travel time is more than an 90 minutes, then it is good to invest on a Fridge To Go as well. It is a good investment anyway especially if you plan to breastfeed for 6 months or more. Another plus is that even after breastfeeding you can still use the cooler bag as a lunch box.

In my case, I have an easy access to a fridge at work, and our house is not that far away. Being the cheapskate that I am, I just improvised my own cooler bag and accessories.

I just bought a Lock & Lock cooler bag from SM priced at around Php 499.95. This is perfect for my Lansinoh since it has two compartments. On the top compartment, I put my nursing cover, extra breastmilk bags, the pump itself and the tubing.

On the lower compartment, this is cooler part. Here, I put my flange assembly and my storage bottles together with my ice packs.

ICE PACK/BLUE ICE

So what is the use of the Ice Pack? This is to serve as cooling element inside you cooler bag again in order to keep your breastmilk cold. There are many options available in the market. You can buy some blue ice from the department store (around Php 200). But personally, I find these blue ice packs very heavy. So I settled for an ice pack as substitute. And they are cheaper too! Hot and cold packs are available from Php99 and up depending on the brand. I have 2 ice packs inside my bag. One is at the bottom while the other one beside the bottles with pumped milk.

STORAGE BOTTLES

I use the Breastflow Bottles from The First Years for my baby. The starter kit includes a bottle cover which makes the bottle a perfect storage bottle as well.

BREASTMILK BAGS

For my frozen breastmilk, I use Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags which are available online. They are affordable and durable. I was also able to use Nanny BM Storage bags as well which is around Php 250 for 25 bags at SM. Although I still find lansinoh BM bag easier to use.

ZIPPER BAGS (Gallon Size and Quart Size)

The zipper bag comes very handy when you are breastfeeding and working. Th is where I put my flange assembly when not in use while at work. Since pumped breastmilk can be kept inside the refrigerator for a few days. Why not for the pump parts? Others are cleaning their pump parts every after use. But as for me, this is not very possible since i am working so we just do the cleaning at night time time when I am at home. Others might not agree to this but I am okay with it and my little AJ is fine with my milk.

Going back, I just put the ziploc bag inside my "ref tote" together with my pumped milk and put them inside the fridge.

As for the brand, I use Reynolds for the quart size and Glad for the gallon size. The Ziploc brand is okay, it was the first one that I used but it’s pricier than the other two – around Php 150 for the gallon wherein Glad brand is only Php 120. I find the quality of Glad better than Ziploc and Reynolds.

BREASTFEEDING COVER

This is one is not really necessary depending on your circumstances. I have the Nursing Mom Nursing Cover and it was the best. What I like most about it is that it has a sturdy neckline where I can peep on my “inside” and the side pockets where I can put my breast pads. But I really haven’t used it for direct breastfeeding in public. I used it as my cover while pumping at work. There are times when I do not have a room reserved for me, I would just look for an empty cubicle and pump there while using my cover. Even on those lazy days when I just want to pump right on my table while surfing the net – I am only able to do this when the big boss is out.

So, for my next entry I will share my pumping gears in action.

Funny Breastfeeding Shirts

Just a collection of funny breastfeeding lines seen on a shirt or bumper stickers:

• Why buy the cow when you get mama's milk for free?
• Mothersucker.
• All night milk bar.
• Weapons of mass lactation.
• Choosy toddlers choose breastmilk.
• If nursing in public offends you, please feel free to put a blanket over your head!
• Silly Daddy, boobs are for babies!
• Blissed out on breastmilk.
• My honor student was breast-fed.
• Mommy's milk is better than any udder milk!

~From: blisstree.com

Top Tips in Successful Breastfeeding while Working

"How did you manage to breastfeed successfully while working?"

This is the question that i have always been asked every time people learn that I have breastfeeding my little AJ who is going 6 months in two weeks. (yey!) You see, nobody from my circle of friends, neighbors, and relatives ever did this. Working full-time and managing to continue breastfeeding. So imagine how proud I am because of this achievement. And with this blog, I will share to you

I tell you it is not very easy. So here are some personal tips on how you can breastfeed successfully even if you are working:

• Arm yourself with a lot of information about breastfeeding. Ignorance is the number one hindrance why most women do not succeed in breastfeeding. Well, I myself have been attacked by this "ignoramus istupidus" bug when I gave birth to my first-born. I only have little knowledge - that breastfeeding is the best for babies. Other than that, nada.. So I was only able to breastfeed my ate Ichi for less than a month. Things were a lot different on my second pregnancy. Well, I am much wiser (I hope) and Internet was my best friend. So during the course of my pregnancy I have researched already on the many benefits of breastfeeding which made me more revved up to breastfeed my son. I also read on what I need to know and what I need to have to breastfeed successfully. Visit http://kellymom.com/ for a very nice and helpful website about breastfeeding.

• Hoard all the perseverance that you can get. If there are any "bottled perseverance" for sale, then hoard a truck-full, or maybe some more. You need all the perseverance that you can get to strive this challenge. Breastfeeding is not so very easy especially for the first few months. But when you get to manage those first months, well, you will feel like you're a master on your own right. (like me.. LOL)

• Get a support person/group. It always best when there is somebody who will supply you the good words and the best motivation that you can get to continue on your breastfeeding goal. It maybe your husband, your mom or your friends. But it is better if your support person or group have been on the same boat as you are so that aside from giving motivations, they have answers to your dilemmas. I am proud to be part of this breastfeeding moms online community from Girltalk which is actually a big part of my 6-month breastfeeding and working success.

• Set a little goal at a time. This worked very well for me. It is always easy to hit a smaller goal vs. a big time goal. When I was pregnant, my goal was just to be able to breastfeed my son exclusively while I am on my maternity leave. When I returned back to work, I told myself that I will be pumping until my little AJ turns six months. Today, barely 2 weeks for my 6-month goal, I still couldn't think of weaning my little AJ from my breast. I am still happy (and sometimes ranting) about my pumping and breastfeeding. So for now, I extended my goal indefinitely. Maybe 3 more months, or maybe on my little AJ's first year... I don't know. We will see.

• Accept it, you may or you may not breastfeed exclusively. In my case, I was able to breastfeed my son exclusively for the first 1.5 months, and I am proud of that. As I was going back to work, I learned that I couldn't pump enough milk that would match the milk requirements of my little takaw err little AJ. I was pumping around 9 oz and yet he consumes 12oz. Even today at 5.3 months, I am able to pump 15 to 17oz but he drinks 18 to 21oz. So I accepted that I had to supplement with formula. At first, I was so keen on getting more milk for him but then I tend to get less. Yes, stress is one of the many factors that could affect your milk production. From then on, I told myself that I will not pressure myself to produce more milk. The fact that I am trying my very best to provide him breast milk is enough for me. Until now, my little AJ is taking around 80 to 85% breast milk on work days and 100% breast milk whenever I am home. Isn't it a great?!

And the most important tip of all, if you are a cheapskate like me:

• GET YOURSELF AN EXPENSIVE BREASTPUMP! I am a self-confessed kuripot and my dear hubby is the master of all kuripots! LOL! So imagine his reaction when I told him that I will buy a 9,000pesos worth of breastpump! Yes, i heard all the negative words.. "It's a waste of money..." "What if you don't have any milk?" etc. I gave him the cost analysis but still he was not 100% supportive. I understand his reactions since this is a new thing to him and to all of us. But you see I was very determined and I just told him to just wait and see until we reap the benefits of this investment. I had my way and I asked my officemate to buy for me a Lansinoh in the US plus some breastfeeding accessories. After I gave birth, I was determined to breastfeed. There is always this reminder in my mind that I should not fail or else, lagot ako kay hubby. And now, I can say that if not for my lansinoh, then I will not be able to succeed breastfeeding and working during the course of my little AJ's 6 months. Right now, I am contemplating on buying a more expensive breast pump in order that I continue to breastfeed up to 2 years! Haha!

My Breastfeeding Rants

~Under Construction~

This post will be a collection of my rants about breastfeeding and pumping adventure. Yes, since Day 1 I have been complaining about it. However, if I compain to my hubby or anybody else in the house, they will just tell me to stop breastfeeding. But you, I don't want to. I am convinced that amidst the many troubles, it doesn't equate to the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding. So, here I am, ranting in my blog. At least here, I can nag for as long as I want...

AT HOME:

• Why is it that when I pump, the door bell rings???

AT WORK:

• It's 10AM, pumping time again. When will this ever end?
• My breasts are rock-hard already. When will this meeting end?

Something About Me

Here’s something about me. I always tell this to my friends:

I am a mom of 3: my hubby aka DH or “dear hubby”, ate ichi aka “burichi” and little AJ aka “bubot” The panganay is my dear hubby, who happens to be the most demanding of them all. LOL.

My DH is senior to me by 20+ years. Yes, you read it right 20+ years. I always tell my friends our story could pass for a movie script entitled “3Generations: the Past, the present and the future.” DH is the past, I am the present and our kids: the future. Hehe.

Anyway, this is my little AJ:

This is my Ate Ichi:


Thanks for reading!

Practical Nursing?

No, it’s not one of those type of nursing courses offered by St. Augustine’s School of Nursing. Hehe. It’s all about breastfeeding, working and being practical at the same time. I’m a cheapskate mom. I spend our hard-earned money wisely. DH influenced me into this. He is a certified “kuripot” into some things except food. LOL.

For working moms to be able to succeed breastfeeding, you need to invest in some “good” stuff. Breast pumps are number one investments and this could really hurt your budget. Of course, comparing it to the money you save vs. buying formula weekly is another story. Let me share you my own gears and tips into “practical nursing.”

5-8-12 into Breastfeeding

Almost just like my favorite Brian McKnight song, “It’s been 5 months, 8 days, 12-hours” since I have started breastfeeding my “little AJ.” I have never thought that I will go this far into breastfeeding - especially that I am working full-time.

Even our pedia is amazed. Because my BF adventures with my first-born “Ate Ichi” was just for about a month. And I told her I was so naïve then (at age 23) that I don’t have all the information to succeed breastfeeding my first child. This time it’s different. Aside from the fact that I am years older (and a bit wiser I guess), I was happy to be part of this community where all my breastfeeding information and support came from. But I will talk about this community later on.

Last night, I had a conversation with my dear hubby (DH) about up to when I intend to continue to BF our little one. I answered him “I don’t know. We will see…” DH was surprised. Well, because two months ago, I was telling him I couldn’t wait for my little AJ to turn 6 months so that I could stop pumping milk already. I still remember ranting about how difficult it is for me to continue breastfeeding while working. I was back to work for a month then.

Now, it is barely three weeks until my little AJ’s 6^th month and my plans had completely changed. For now, I intend to continue breastfeeding and pumping for as long as I can. And to support this goal, I though of setting up this diary about my breastfeeding adventures. I’ll be posting some information about the many wonderfuls of breastfeeding. And I hope in some way or another I will be able to share my insights and stories to other breastfeeding and working moms out there. So, welcome to my breastfeeding blog!