GIGA Insect Repellant Spray

I have long been looking for the best insect repellant spray for my 2-year old son, good thing, I passed-by a stall in Festival Mall and was offered by the sales lady this Giga Spray.

What I like about Giga:
 
1. It is all-natural. The best thing I like about it is that it is Deet-free because I have  
    heard a lot about the bad effects of Deet to our health.
2. It is water-based. It can be sprayed on clothes, bed sheets, anywhere, without leaving  
    a stain.
3. It smells good. My son loves the smell. When it was first applied on his skin, he said 
    "Bango."
4. It is very affordable. I bought it for only P175.00.


Tried Insect Repellants:
 
1. I was advised by my son's pedia a branded mosquito repellant made in US, but it's too  
    pricey, it can only be bought in Rustan's. It costs P1,100.00. I did not buy it, instead, I   
    tried another branded (baby/kid's brand) mosquito repellant, which is half the price of 
    what my son's pedia recommended.However, my son had allergic reaction to it.tiny 
    white bumps appeared on his skin immediately after application.
2. I tried another one, it's lotion-type. The smell is not too strong but it's hard to have the 
    lotion come out of the bottle, I have to squeeze and squeeze till my fingers ache. 
    Ooops, the bottle was just newly-bought.
3. I tried the sticker. This I'm not sure if effective since I only put at the back of my son. 
    For me, the one directly applied on his skin is more effective.
4. I have tried an oil-based bug repellant. It is so smelly that even me get dizzy... no  
    doubt the mosquitoes will fly away, hehe! It is definitely effective. However,  
    since it is oil-based, it feels warm on the skin, which my son doesn't like.
5. While I was still in-search for the best insect repellant for my son, my mom tried 
    applying my nephew's insect repellant to my son. It contains Deet that's why I 
    disapproved the use of it.

I also bought one for me...the Citronella Body Spray. I like it cause the smell is not too strong unlike any other citronella products in the market.

My Breastfeeding Experience

I wasn't able to share this experience after I gave birth until Mommy Jazz of SmartParenting chatted with me and asked me about "How breastfeeding helps in losing weight" At the same time, I want to share to all  mothers out there the joy of feeding your babies with your own milk.

I attended seminars wherein I have learned that breast milk is so essential to baby's health.  Before giving birth, my husband bought me an Avent Philips Manual Pump because we both agreed that I will breastfeed my baby as long as I could because I was breastfed by my mom for only two days when I was a baby.

In the hospital, I even hired two lactation consultants to teach me how to breastfeed my baby properly, but then, it was really hard for me and my baby to feed him directly from my breasts. So, I just expressed my milk which for me is better because I felt that I was able to get more milk that way. On his first week, he drank 2oz of milk, but I was able to pump 4oz of milk, so I had extra milk to reserve. I was blessed with a lot of milk, not needing to take any supplement to increase my milk supply but I still tried taking "Malunggay Capsule" thinking it might help more to increase my milk production. I was able to express 9-11 oz of milk every 4hours. NO wonder, from 3.2 kg, my son became 5kgs 4 weeks after.

My Hypersensitive Son...

Skin Rash. For a first-time mom like me, it's shocking, panicking, and terrifying to see my son's face and body covered with red rashes.
It started with just a small dot which looked like an insect/mosquito bite, then after sun exposure and went in an airconditioned establishment, to my surprise, it grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger as day passed by.
He was prescribed with antihistamine - 'Allerkid', but nothing happened , so we had to rush him to the nearest hospital few days later when the rash almost covered both of his cheeks because I was afraid it might affect his breathing; then, he was given steroid. On the first take of Prednisone10, the spots started to fade.
"Hives", that's what my son's pedia told me. Cause? We did not know. Food? I guess not, because his food allergies easily subsides after taking an antihistamine. Most probably the hot weather because I have noticed that when he is exposed to sunlight, the rash becomes more red, and those fading rashes seem to be coming back to life, gosh!

Back to work...

I just got a job. Oh yes, it's hard, been having separation anxiety attack at times.
Been seeing myself teary-eyed as I hear my baby cries or call "Mama/Mommy" whenever I leave him in the care of his wowo and wowa. I can't help  not to look back; been wanting to run back to him and hug him for the nth time before I go to work, but it will just worsen the pain. But I have to...I want to...go to work.

I realized that I have to grow also as a person. Said my baby's pedia, "Mommy, let go of your baby. Let him learn to depend on others and not on you alone. He might grow weak."Yes, she's right, so I did heed her advice. I don't want my baby to grow-up depending on me only. I want him to grow-up strong and independent and realize that there are other people around him who could help him and not only me. The adjustment period wasn't easy but I know it will all be worth it.

My baby turns 1...

Oh, time flies so fast! Been noticing changes in my baby, indications that he is indeed a toddler.

1. I no longer need to rock him to sleep. Thank God, because he's almost 12 kilos at the age of 1, too heavy for me to carry said my doctor. Good thing he can now sleep on his own, but I should be beside him because he likes to hold my hand as he sleeps. So sweet! I still sing to him a song before he sleep, it's 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star', but now, he sings/hums with me until he fall asleep.

2. He is no longer allergic to chocolates. Yes, at last, he can now digest chocolates, hehe! No more skin rash whenever he eats food with chocolate content, he can now also drink Chuckie. Still, no to nuts, egg, and lemon square cupcake. And ooops, I've learned a new food allergen...Potchi candy, why oh why?

3. He is near to walking. He loves walking, though he still could not do it on his own, with the help of a walking sling, he keeps on walking. But he's been able to make few steps, however, the problem is, he doesn't want to be held or assisted whenever he walks, as if he's an expert, and he doesn't care, he turns around if he wants to, he picks up something like an independent boy...but he just thought he can, at times he still lose his balance and here I am, the over-protective mom won't let him slip-off the floor that's why they said my little boy walks fearlessly because he'd never experience to fall on the ground.

Watching you grow...

Well, I could say that I am really already a mother... Whenever I have idle time as I watch my baby sleep, I get emotional, I get to think of poems, and letters that my baby would surely be able to read someday. I was teary-eyed, no I wasn't, in fact, I was already crying when I composed this. I was crying because I was so grateful for the gift of life at my sight, for the opportunity to be able to take care of my son 24/7, and for the fear that this little boy I used to cradle at night might soon grow-up and I may not have this same chance to watch him as he sleep, to kiss him goodnight, and hug him so tight...

"It's heartmelting to see you who were once a cell inside my womb grow up right before my eyes. I would not want to wink so I would not miss every single moment of your life. From head control to rolling over to crawling to sitting to standing to walking. From reaching to grasping to mouthing to teething. From smiling to laughing and giggling. From cooing to gurgling to talking. I feel so proud as a mother as I watch you reach each milestone. I'm so glad I was able to witness your first smile, first laugh, first word, first grip, first step, and first fall. Those were the moments that cannot be captured by the lens of the camera.

Time flies so fast, soon you will grow up very very fast, but there's one thing I always pray - that God's protection be with you every minute and every second of the day. Son, no matter how grown man you may be, I will always remember the times when I used to hold you in my arms, when you used to sleep on my chest, when you tightly hug me in the dark, when you smile at me as you wake up from an afternoon nap, when you cry so loud as you see me walk away, and the way you say 'mama' whenever you want me to carry you. I will surely miss those moments, and I thank God I was able to experience those as not every mother was privileged to.

I love you little boy! I will always do! I will take all the stones thrown at you and all the arrows bound to hit you. But I know at times you have to get hurt, you have to feel the pain so you would be strong and wise...so you would know what life is, and you would understand who God is. I just want you to know that mommy will always be here for you, mommy will always love you! I love you so much my sweet little angel! :)"

The Superwoman

After giving birth, a lot of changes happened in my life, I've learned a lot of things especially because I am a full-time mom and didn't hire a nany to look after my baby, simply because I want to enjoy motherhood.

1. Ambidextrous - I am a right-handed person but now I am very good in using both of my hands in doing anything, whether it be eating, texting, picking up something, etc.
2. Multi-tasker - I'm used to multitasking, in school, at work...I was good at it, but after my baby has arrived, I became an expert, yeah!
3. Military person - I need to do things quickly whenever my baby is asleep. I take a bath in just one minute, hahaha! I don't really time it, but I do it in a flash that's why at times I see myself grasping for breath, oh why always in a rush!
4. Runner - In relation to being a military person I suppose. I keep on running around the house, to the kitchen, to the bathroom, to the bedroom, and to my baby especially whenever he cries. Oh yes, forget about the incision.
5. Gymnast - Flexibility comes with motherhood, yes it's true. While carrying my baby, I pick up somehing using my feet, my toes, especially when it's placed too far. Moms, am I right?
6. Alarm Clock - When my baby was a newborn, he should be fed every two hours as per my lactation consultant's advice. And yes, my baby cries exactly every two hours, why, because he's drinking breast milk, and unlike formula milk, breast milk is easily digested inside my baby's tummy.
7. Singer - I don't sing, as in! Well, it's because I know I have nothing to brag about when it comes to singing, but with my baby, I don't care if I sing out of tune but I have to sing to calm him when he cries or to bring him to sleep, and yes, my voice soothes him, lucky me!

A love letter from a mother...

Dear son,

Baby, I love you so much! I'm sorry because I can't promise not to spoil you, I can't promise not to freak out when you get hurt, I can't promise not to panic when you're sick, I can't promise not to fight back when you're bullied, and I can't promise not to cry when you cry. I am your mother, I carried you inside my womb, I heard your first coos and witnessed your first giggles and laughs. Now, I can't wait to see you roll-over and crawl. And when you have finally learned how to walk, I promise to walk with you hand in hand till my hair turns gray.

Lots of sacrifices have been done, lots of prayers were uttered, lots of tears were consumed just to have you in my life. I know I can't be the perfect mom but I'll do everything just to be the best for you so when you grow up you'll be proud to shout to the world that I am your mother. I am thankful and blessed to be your mom. I will forever thank God for the wonderful miracle He's bestowed upon us...you! I am indeed very happy that I am your mother! I love you baby boy!

Love,
Mom

(written May 8, 2011 - My Mother's Day sentiment)

My Childbirth Experience

Last Pre-Natal Check-Up

Had my last pre-natal check-up and Biometry/Biophysical ultrasound last January 5, and guess what? My OB advised me for a caesarian section OUTRIGHT! Why? As per the ultrasound result, my baby’s estimated weight is 4113 grams (Warlof) already. I was so shocked. I knew it might not be 100 % accurate but I wouldn’t risk my baby’s life just because I want to give birth via NSD. I followed my doctor’s advice. My husband and I made our decision – I will give birth via caesarian section on January 8, 2011 (Saturday).

Baby’s Arrival

Finally, the long wait is over… my precious baby has arrived at 8:02am on January 8, 2011. When I saw my baby, when I heard him cry, and when I finally held him, I forgot all the pain I have experienced from pregnancy to childbirth; I even forgot that I had an incision. The Feeling? It was overwhelming, I could not contain myself.

The recovery?

Very fast! I underwent surgery three years ago due to endometriosis so I already knew how it feels to undergo the knife, and it took me some time to recover. It took me months for me to be able to walk briskly, bend my knees to pick something up, sleep on my side, carry something, and do the things I normally do as a healthy person. But this time, I was so amazed on how fast I have recovered.  Inside the birthing room I was so awake that I kept on talking to the nurses and kept on tilting my head from left to right to observe what’s being done on me. I was not so like this three years ago during my surgery. I gave birth at 8:02am, was sent to recovery room at 9:00am, I was still so awake, as in. At 9:30am, I was already asking the nurse what time is it and what time they will send me back to my room. Every 30 minutes I kept on asking every nurse who passes by near me about the time. Finally, at 11:30am, I was roomed-in. My baby was then roomed-in with me at 12:30nn.

We're ready to go...

I'm already on my 37^th week which means that my baby is already in his full-term, yipee! I am oh so excited but also nervous at the same time. I don’t know how it feels to be in labor. Since I am a first time mom, I am new to this kind of experience, everything is my first.

I have already prepared my baby’s things. My baby hasn’t arrived yet but he already received early gifts. We’re so blessed to have family and friends who are always there to give support and love.

Onesies, receving blanket, bibs, washcloths, mattress, etc.

Philips Avent baby bottles, breast pump, food container, etc.

Baby's health care kit, teether, toys, etc.

Huggies diapers - small, medium, and large sizes

Shoes given by baby's cousin and ninang

Baby's books, educational materials, and toys

Disney jacket, Mossimo shirt, and Ralph Lauren sweater

My Big Baby

I went for a pre-natal check-up today and also had a Biometry/Biophysical Ultrasound at PGH. I was surprised to know that I was just 36 weeks pregnant but my baby’s fetal length is already of 38^th week. He already weighs 6.6 – 7.2 pounds. Oh my gosh! In this case, my doctor advised me to limit my food intake - only one cup of rice three times a day, and to eat only fruits in between meals. Since it’s Christmas season, I have no choice but to abstain from eating sweets, no leche flan, buko salad, cassava cake, etc.

We are going to try to deliver normally but if I cannot prevent my baby’s growth inside my tummy, my doctor told me that I might undergo a caesarian section. What can I do if he’s really big? His father is big, so I guess it’s in his genes. Well, for now, all that matter to me is to deliver my baby safely in whatever way it may be.

Mom's Checklist

I’m already on my 32^nd week, so we’re waiting for only more or less 5 weeks for our baby’s arrival. We have already bought some baby stuffs but we still need to buy some more such as receiving blanket, bibs, rubber bath mat, etc. Those marked items are the things we already have for our baby, so I guess, only few more things we need and we're good to go. Actually, in the below list, not all of it should be bought, only those that are really necessary. Abdominal binders are discouraged by pediatricians nowadays because it can interrupt the baby's proper breathing. I have learned from one of the seminars I attended that for newborn babies, baby powder is not allowed because it can cause asthma. Unlike in the US, having a car seat for the baby is not mandatory here in the Philippines.

This checklist from www.babycompany.com.ph is very helpful for first-time parents like us.

Changes in my Life

When I got pregnant, a lot of things have changed. There were things that I used to do when I wasn’t pregnant that I had to stop doing now. There were things I had to sacrifice because I want everything to be okay for my baby.

1. Goodbye to my favorite chips!

 I have to cut back on eating salty foods, so goodbye Pringles, Cheetos, Lays, and PikNik.  But I am oh so craving for salty foods, whew! An old friend of mine from Uzbekistan told me that if I crave for salty foods when I am pregnant that means that my baby is a boy. I superstitious beliefs are “only in the Philippines” but I guess people from different parts of the world have their own myths.

2. Sweet becomes sour, sour becomes bitter…

My taste buds have changed. I used to finish chocolate bars weighing 400grams in just one-sitting, but now, I don’t know, I just don’t want to eat chocolates anymore. Most of all, I don’t like the color of chocolates that’s why I don’t eat it. Chocolate-lover turned chocolate-hater? There are foods that I used to eat when I wasn’t pregnant that I could no longer eat, not for any other reasons but it’s just that I simply don’t like it…LOL, weird!

 3. Nose of a wolf.

Ewww! My sense of smell seems to be very sensitive nowadays. I hate the smell of cooking oil. Even from afar, I can smell whatever I can smell, and I hate it. I so like the smell of peanuts being sold on the streets. I feel like a dog sniffing around finding where this or that smell is coming from.

 4. Hello pimples!

I remember having one pimple on my forehead once in a blue moon only when I was still a teenager (between 15-17 years old); but now that I am already 28 years old, oh my gosh, I really panicked the moment I saw not just one but more than three pimples on my forehead. I feel so helpless that I could not treat it because as per babycenter.com, differin gel (adapalene) is not allowed for pregnant woman. Well, it’s okay, I hope that after nine months it will all be gone!

5. It’s getting hot in here.

I want to take a bath three times a day because it’s so hot in here! Aside from the fact that in Dubai our house is air-conditioned all over and here in the Philippines it’s not, it just feels so hot, really hot. My body temperature has changed. During the first trimester, I was enjoying the feeling that my underarms weren’t sweating, but immediately at the beginning of the second trimester, gosh, do I have a faucet in my armpits? I don’t know what happened.

MY BABY AND ME Seminar

My husband and I attended the Seminar “My Baby and Me” last Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Shangri-La. It was very informative. I have learned a lot especially in Breastfeeding topic spoken by Dr. Anthony Calibo (Pediatrician).

What’s more exciting was that the sponsors were very generous. Unfortunately, I did not win the raffle. But I got freebies from Avent: food container, 4oz feeding bottle, 1 sachet of nipple cream, and 1 sachet of shower bath gel. Ooops, and because I was so attentive to the speaker, I won a Breastfeeding manual since I was able to answer his question, nice!

My (not so good) IN MY WOMB Experience :-(

I had a 3D4D ultrasound at In My Womb in their Makati Branch last October 30, 2010 (Saturday).I availed their Ruby Package for Php 4,000.00.

my smiling baby

suplado si baby

I set an appointment with Dra. Sheila Illescas early September to make sure that I will be their first patient because I have read in the forums that even though you have scheduled for an appointment in advance, when you come there, it will still be on a ‘first come first serve’ basis.

We arrived there at 2:00pm and advised the staff to just contact us once the doctor has contacted them because according to her, Dra. Sheila usually texts them on what time she will arrive. So, we first strolled around the mall until we received a text message at around 3:30pm saying that the doctor cannot come because her patient was hypertensive and she cannot leave her so just re-schedule her appointment on Tuesday, that’s all. We came all the way from Imus, Cavite just to learn that the procedure cannot be done, so we rushed to the clinic to ask if they have any other doctors. To our surprise, there was another doctor sitting in the clinic who can do the procedure. I was a little upset because we were not informed by the staff who texted us. But I just let it pass.

Boy or Girl?

Everybody’s excited to know the gender of our baby, how much more are we? Everyone’s been telling us that our baby’s a girl because I am pretty while pregnant. I thank them for the compliment, but deep within me I can feel that they were all wrong. Maybe that’s what they call ‘mother’s instinct.’

I had a 3D4D ultrasound at In My Womb in Makati last October 30, and the first thing we saw on the screen was the genitals of our baby…IT’S A BOY! When we got home, my husband and I have been discussing who between the two of us really wanted a baby boy; I told him that it was him since he is the guy and wants his baby to carry his name but he’s been telling me that it was me because when we got married, we’ve already started buying some baby stuffs and I was the one doing all the picking of things, and to my shock, those that we have bought were all for a baby boy. Well I guess that’s what we call ‘faith’.

As a mother, now I understand more, it doesn’t really matter if it’s going to be a boy or a girl, what matters is that my baby will come out safely, healthy, and normal, nothing more to ask. I still thank God for this little angel inside me!

Inside a Mother's Heart...

I started to feel my baby’s movement inside my womb at 16 weeks; it just felt like a worm inside tickling me. But now, on my 25^th week, gosh, my baby kicks hard that sometimes it feels as if he’s playing volleyball inside that every time he throws the ball, it hits my tummy. It doesn’t hurt yet, but for the past three days, been having sleepless nights because he is now awake at around 2:00 am that I need to get up and eat to pacify him.

Every morning, I listen to classical music of Mozart because they said it can stimulate my baby’s brain as early as now. Then, I read Bible stories to my baby, and since he can already hear my voice, he keeps on moving until I finish reading. I keep track of my body weight and waistline size to see how my baby is growing, and feels so happy whenever there’s an increase in pounds and inches. But of course, I have to watch what I eat; it should be a healthy gain for me, so I just keep on eating fruits, yoghurt, rice, and cutback on sweets.

As a soon-to-be-mom, worries and fears hit me sometimes. Will my baby come out healthy and normal? Can I deliver him normally or do I need to undergo caesarian section? I can’t help not to think of those until the final moment but at the same time I just put my trust on God who has control everything. During this time that I know I can’t do anything, I believe that only God can do something.

Faith vs Superstition

My husband and I really wanted to have a baby. So, while we were still in Dubai, we had already bought baby stuffs (Philips Avent baby bottles, Graco stroller, baby clothes and shoes, and some other baby accessories) in preparation for having a baby. There were some people telling us not to buy stuffs ahead of time because it might pre-empt the event.  We respect the “pamahiin” that we Filipinos have but then, we held on to our faith that God will surely bless us with a precious child someday.

My husband bought me a book entitled “The Pregnancy Journal” by Christine Harris (A day-to-day guide to a healthy and happy pregnancy). Take note, I was not even pregnant yet at that time. He really searched over all the bookstores there, and once found, he had it reserved and bought it immediately. Another book he bought is entitled “Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy”, which is nowhere to be found here in the Philippines but is really very informative.

By faith we fought, we dreamed…and it all paid off. Thank God!

Simply Maternal

My husband and I attended the two series Simply Maternal Seminar conducted by Asian Hospital and Medical Center last August 21 and 28, 2010. Well, I have learned a lot about pre-natal care and newborn baby care. Good thing there are hospitals such as AHMC that are conducting seminars that are beneficial to pregnant women and first time moms like me.

The admission was free and they were also giving away freebies: Enfamama Milk, Avent container and breast pads, Pigeon wipes and breast pad, and J&J wipes, cologne, and oil. They also gave free snacks.

Me? Pregnant?

When I have learned that I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. Couldn’t express in words how I felt. This is it! We’ve patiently waited and prayed for it; finally, God blessed us in His perfect time. Having a very complicated medical history made this pregnancy really a miracle for me and my husband. I undergone surgery three years ago (September 2007) due to Endometriosis, then on December 2008, when I came back home for a check-up, I was said to have Polycystic ovaries. I had to take non-stop hormonal pills for six consecutive months as medication, so I thought it would take a long while before I conceive considering I have a retroverted uterus. Six months after I stopped taking the medicine, I finally got pregnant…thanks be to God!

Had a pregnancy test on May 13, 2010