The Benefits of Breastfeeding and Getting a Lactation Consultant

When Euan was born, I did try to breastfeed, only to fail a few weeks later because I was discouraged with my milk supply. For almost a month of pumping and trying to latch my premature little boy, the most amount of milk I got from my useless 38C breasts is a disappointing 2oz. So for four years (until now), Euan drinks formula milk - an item in our grocery list that we could have avoided if only I continued breastfeeding.

So when I got pregnant with our second child Euri, my husband made me promise to give breastfeeding a second chance. I was more than eager to give it another try as budget is extremely tight, so it is only right to avoid additional expenses such as milk. Also, aside from saving a lot of money from buying expensive formula milk, breast milk has a lot of benefits for both mother and child.

Painting by Gioia Albano

Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. - www.webmd.com

Fruit Crepe Recipe

It's been exactly ten days since I gave birth to our little angel, Euri. The sacrifices of limited sweets, carbs and weekly getaways are all worth it. To celebrate our little angel's tenth day (and the end of my gestational diabetes), I cooked my favorite peach-mango crepe!

A photo of my peach crepe from last year... (Jan. 17, 2014)

Since I'm feeling generous today (as if crepe recipes aren't in any websites yet), here is my easy crepe recipe.

Giving Birth at Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital

Euri Dirwen, 23 April 2015 @ 8:29am, 9.9lbs

I finally gave birth to a bouncy 9.9lbs baby girl Thursday, the 23rd of April at 8:29am. The hospital stay was okay as it was much better than I expected, though the pain of giving birth the second time around was not as tolerable as the first.

We arrived at the hospital Wednesday afternoon (April 22), so I can be admitted and have my scheduled CS operation by 8:00am the following day. By some weird kind of luck, ALL private rooms were fully booked, all wards were occupied and the only rooms available were two suite rooms which were thrice the price of the private rooms, and 2 remaining beds in the last available semi-private room. Out of practicality, we chose the semi-private room, hoping that there will be an available private room the next day.

Diaper Bag Choices

For months, I've been bugging my husband to "allow" me to buy a new diaper bag. The stingy husband refuses to buy a new one since the one that we have for four years is still okay apart from the rusty handle rings.

I am talking about the Carter's diaper bag we bought last 2011 that literally traveled with us everywhere. It's been to a lot of beaches, malls, out of towns, etc. This soldier is a "war veteran" already!

Carter's Everyday Tote Diaper Bag

The Carter's Everyday Tote diaper bag is very spacious. It has two front pockets, two side pockets and 1 back pocket where you can put the changing pad. The interior has pockets and lots of storage space, also included is a small transparent bag where you can put baby's small things.

The Carter's diaper bag is cheap compared to other branded bags and is easy to clean too. The only problem we had with this is it's heavy, but since it's very durable, it felt like the value of the bag is more than what we've paid for. :-)

Now, since baby Euri's arrival is just a few days away, and we unfortunately can not find the ever reliable four year old diaper bag, my husband FINALLY agreed to buy a new one to replace it. I've searched the internet tirelessly for a new diaper bag that looks fashionable, lightweight, spacious and of course, reasonably priced.

Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital vs Capitol Medical Center

At last, I am scheduled to give birth via C-section on the 23rd of April at Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital.  It took us months, to finally decide on the hospital. I was torn between Capitol Medical Center and JDMH, but chose the latter only yesterday.

For those of you who don't know, Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital is a " Level IV General Hospital" located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. It used to be a maternity hospital, so it is small and still has very few doctors. Though customer feedback is high at 90% (according to their website), there are a few negative things I noticed in this hospital, including overall hygiene.

Photo Credit: from Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital

Choosing the Perfect Stroller

Goodbaby High Impact Stroller

Buying a stroller is one of the most difficult part of my nursery shopping. With so many strollers to choose from, it is harder to decide on the right wheels for the baby. I consider the stroller as an investment as it is one of the most important gear my husband and I will purchase for our little one. Our first born spent a relatively long time in a stroller, traveling from one place to another, using the stroller as a napping place and as a high chair etc, so it is important for us to choose the safest and most comfortable one that fits our budget.

So for fellow moms who are currently looking for the perfect stroller, here are the important things to assess before paying for your baby's four (or three) wheels:

• Capacity: The very first question I ask the salesman when buying a stroller: "What's the capacity?" We need to consider what age, weight and height the stroller can handle.
• Recline: Infants can't hold their head up or can not support their neck yet, so it is important that your stroller seat can fully recline. Also, even if the baby is a little older, they may want to fully recline their seat so that they can sleep or drink milk comfortably.
• Canopy: Most strollers have a canopy, but for me a stroller with full canopy is awesome, as it can shield the baby from light and other elements, and also work as a quick cover from sudden drizzle.
• Storage Basket: It is the basket just below the seat. For someone who travel and shops a lot, the bigger the storage basket, the better.
• Car Seat: Can the stroller accommodate or attach an infant car seat? It's a nice feature that allows you to move your baby from your car to the stroller, without having to remove (and wake) the baby from the car seat.
• Easy to Fold: This is a vital feature for parents who love to move quick and are prone to travel.

The important features of a reliable stroller. This one is the Capella Adonis series.

Easy Ice Scramble Recipe

Ice scramble is my favorite Filipino street food in the dessert category. It is the perfect and undeniably one of the cheapest desserts to beat the summer heat. The pink, sweet marshmallow-y goodness of this flavored crushed ice is a taste of heaven.

A few years ago, ice scrambled took the market by storm. I mean, you can see several stalls serving ice scrambles in big shopping malls! It's literally a dream come true, especially for me who needed to wait tirelessly for "manong" to pass by the front of our house so I can buy a cup of this thirst quencher. But then like any fad, the ice scramble stall business died. There were less stalls in malls, until there was none. :-(

Ice Scramble image from Pinterest

So to celebrate my birthday, I am treating myself to a homemade ice scramble! The recipe is very simple: