Category Archives: Dindin as a Baby

Remembering My Mama Moment at the Breastfeeding Station

Posted on May 4, 2011 | 216 Comments

I had a difficult time from the moment I felt false labor midway to my 35th week until I finally delivered Dindin via C-Section on the 37th week. I had endured so much trauma and was on so much sedatives that while other CS mothers were required to get up and see their babies at the nursing station after 6 hours after delivery, I was allowed to sleep for 24 hours straight. But since I gave birth around 10pm, I did not wake up at the same time the following night but instead slept in for another 10 hours or so to wake up around 8am the third day.

So in short, I have not seen Dindin for about 34 hours since she came into this world. And I was not even aware when she came out. I never heard her cries. I was sedated. I could not even remember my well-wishers 2 days after Dindin’s delivery.

That is why when I was allowed to get up, I asked my husband to take me to the breastfeeding station–dextrose, catheter, and all. When I got there, I requested for my baby, so the nurse got her for me. When she handed Dindin to me, I was having difficulty because of the tubes attached to me. And I was still in so much pain. But when I saw the tiny chinita baby wrapped in white cloth diaper, I cried so hard with tears of joy and thanksgiving to the Lord for bringing her into this world. So the nurse said that maybe I should wait first before I can already feel the urge to pee so that my catheter can be removed and then I can just come back again.

But because she saw me crying, she was sympathetic and held Dindin near me so that I can kiss her. The nurse also tried to reassure me that I can just come back anytime when my catheter is already removed. Sigh…the first time that I held my daughter in my arms and it was not even a minute!

So when I went back to my ward, I focused on feeling the urge to pee. Then I told the nurse that yes, I have that urge and that they can already remove my catheter. I am not sure if this was real or I was just imagining this situation because in my mind, I just wanted to see my baby. I thought, Dindin needed me. She needed to be breastfed, to be held in Mama’s arms, and to hear Mama’s voice to say that everything is alright. That was my moving point. The catheter was removed while I was standing up because I was already restless. I endured the pain but when it was removed, I almost fainted because the pain almost took my breath away.

Well, these are things that a mom would do for her child. :-D

This is in answer to the question posted by Momma Finally: What is your most memorable moment as a mother?

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Dindin’s Vaccines

Posted on September 23, 2010 | 1 Comment

Immunization, or vaccination, is defined as “a way to trigger your immune system and prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.” — according to medhelp.org

We believe in immunization because of the dangerous world around us. They can be costly but we cannot really ensure that our kids are at optimum health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are times when their body’s defenses go down unexpectedly (of course, we don’t plan them!) and then there are pathogens around so they get infected easily. If there are concerns about the use of mercury in vaccines to stabilize the microorganisms, I am glad that there are combination vaccines so that the exposure to mercury is much more reduced. Still according to medhelp.org:

“A small amount of mercury (called thimerosal) is a common preservative in multi-dose vaccines. Despite concerns, thimerosal-containing vaccines have NOT been shown to cause autism or ADHD. Nevertheless, if you have concerns about mercury, all of the routine vaccines are also available without added thimerosal.”

Anyway, as much as we can afford, Dindin has been vaccinated since a day after birth. Here is her immunization record and the prices of her immunization.

Hepatitis B vaccine (at birth) -March 13, 2009 (included in the hospital bill)

BCG-Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (or Bacille Calmette-Guérin) (1 week old) – March 17, 2009 (included in the hospital bill)

Hexavac 6 in 1 (DPT-diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus, Hepatitis B, Polio, HiB-Haemophilus influenzae type B – 2 months, 4 months, 6 months) – May 9, 2009; July 9, 2009; and September 10, 2009… Hexavac has three doses only instead of having to go to the doctor for each and every single shot.  (p3,500 per shot x 3 = P10,500)

Measles (9months) – December 28, 2009 (P650)

Varicella (15 months)  – April 6, 2010 (There is already and MMRV combo vaccine but it came out after Dindin got her Varicella shot already) – (P2,200)

MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) (16 months)- September 2, 2010 (This was delayed because Dindin got sick. Immunizations could not be administered if the child is sick).  (P1,100)

Our pediatrician says that we can opt to have the Oral Rotavirus and IPD vaccine as well. IPD covers Pneumonia and Otitis Media. But all are very expensive. Having these would set us back somewhere around P15,000. I think that is already too much. We are just building up her immunity. I believe in the other vaccines because the diseases they cause are really debilitating. But as for the other vaccines, we can try to maintain clean surroundings and give her clean food.

Her next schedule is next month.

Hepatitis A – October 2, 2010 (P1,500)

After next month, she will have a Hepatitis A booster shot after 6 months. Then it will be typhoid. I am not sure if we will continue with other vaccines. If ever there will be a dengue vaccine, then maybe we will give her that, too.

So her total expenses for immunizations until next month would be – P15,950.00

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Crying Over “No Milk”

Posted on May 30, 2010 | Leave a comment
Yeah, I know, the adage says, “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”

But I have nothing to spill over, no breast milk for that matter. So crying over spilled milk is not the issue here.

Okay, I am exaggerating. I do produce milk, or at least some of it…just part of my baby’s feeding requirements.

Today, I just got so tired. I have been crying in the past from the pain of breast pumping, swollen nipples, and the frustration. But today, I felt so bad. I felt like a bad mother for not being able to produce enough breast milk for my baby. And to think that my mother breastfed my brother and I for several years.

What made it more painful was the fact that my baby is pushing away her bottle and would rather latch on me. She wants to be breast fed, but after awhile, no more milk would come out. It is soooo frustrating to see your child wanting to feed on your milk and you are not able to give more.

I have tried everything. While I was painfully recovering from Caesarian Section, I endured the pain to go to the nursery twice a day in order to get my breasts stimulated to produce breast milk. While I was already discharged from the hospital and the baby remained, I came everyday just to let her latch. Sometimes, we would pass by a bumpy patch on the road and my wound would really ache so much that I would almost faint sometimes. But I endured the long drive to the hospital every single day.

I ate vegetables, drank soup by the bowls, drank Anmum Lacta for lactating mothers, ate fruits, took vitamins, took malunggay capsules (I now take 6 per day and it makes me go to bathroom every so often), etc, etc. The only thing I have not done probably is to drink beer (they say beer also increases milk production but most babies don’t like the milk).

Last night, Dindin vomitted most of what she had since the afternoon, which was mostly formula. I felt sad. It was one of the times that she took 4 oz in 5 hours and yet she threw up everything.

People are telling me that my baby has lost weight. What can I do? She refuses to eat other varieties, and I can only give so much.

It just so frustrating because ever since I got pregnant, I already decided to breastfeed. And I have time to breastfeed because I work at home. But the problem is milk production.

My baby is almost 3 months now.

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