On December 3, 2014 at exactly 2:39pm, Juan Jaime Kismet L. Orzales was born.  He weighed 3430 grams at the time of birth with a length of 48cm.  He was born via Cesarian Section Delivery done by Dra. Camille Ann Abaya at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.  The whole experience was worth documenting.

The Arrival at the Hospital and Admission

I was asked to go to the hospital at around 7-8 am that day as they have to do some tests and prepare me for the operation.  So we arrived there at around 8am and went directly to the OB Gyn Complex.  The nurses there asked us to go to the admissions first and they will just go to my room when it’s time for me to do the tests.

So we went to the admissions and I was officially admitted.  We waited for the nurses to fetch me in my room.  When I was brought to the OB Gyn Complex for the stress test, they put on some sensors that monitored the heart beat of the baby.  It was done until it was time for me to go to the delivery room.  We waited there for a couple of hours.  Skin test was done.

This is it!

At exactly 2pm (my schedule), the nurse brought me to the operating room and they started to prep me for the operation.  I was given an IV drip and general anesthesia at my spine.  After few minutes, my legs started to become numb.

Then my OB started her work.  I remember her asking someone “ok na yung ganitong kalaki no?” Haha.  Just imagine me, staring somewhere just to entertain myself.  I was staring left and right and on the lamp.  Then after few minutes, she instructed the nurses to call my husband.  So I know baby was about to be pulled out.  Dann entered the room in suit and the anesthesiologist asked for the camera (our tablet) and started to take pictures.  Dann went to my side and said “ayan na si baby” 🙂 Then I felt a heavy pressure on my chest area as Dra pulled baby from my tummy.  Half way through (according to Dann), JJ started to cry.  I was relieved.

 

When I heard JJ’s first cry, the first I asked was, “boy talaga?” haha. Just to ensure that we really have a baby boy.

We had our Unang Yakap.  JJ was placed on my chest to initiate breastfeeding but of course he didn’t immediately latched as he was still wondering what was happening.   Minutes ago, he was calmly and peacefully sleeping inside me then he was forced to face the world. Hehe.

When I saw him, I said, “wow, may buhok na!” I had trouble breathing when he was placed on my chest.  I guess he’s that heavy.

JJ was prepped and I was being stitched when I felt the effect of anesthesia.  I was trembling as I waited for them to finish my suture.  After few minutes, the nurses transferred me and baby to the recovery room where we stayed for 3 hours.  Baby was cooperative; he did not cry that much. Then we were transferred to our room to meet Nanay and Tatay 🙂

Our Breastfeeding Journey begins

Our breastfeeding journey began with our Unang Yakap experience, although he did not latch at first.  I was instructed to breastfeed every 2-3 hours to stimulate my milk production.  I religiously followed the schedule and luckily, I knew I had milk on the second day.

So everything went fine.  Nanay and Tatay visited us every day.  But I had engorged breasts on the second day.  The lactation nurse helped me with it by teaching me how to hand express.  So I was discharged with engorged breasts that I had to continue removing the milk at home.

Pre-eclampsia strikes again!

On the second day after I was discharged, we were back because of pre-eclampsia.  I thought I was already spared because I gave birth and was discharged with normal blood pressure.  But the day after discharge, my BP went up to 140/100.  Since then, my BP was monitored frequently.  I thought it was just because of the pain meds that I was not taking.  I was told that when there’s no pain, no need for me to take my pain meds.  So I did that.

I took pain meds again but my BP was uncontrollable already.  The next day, it shoot up to 170/110 and that’s when I texted my OB again.  As I was waiting for her reply, I took a short nap because my head was already aching and my vision changed.  It was like there was a waterfalls at the side of my eyes.  When I woke up, I felt better but my OB instructed me to go to the hospital immediately.

I started to pack baby’s things first because I had to take him.  Then I told Dann that we need to go back to the hospital.  So our things were packed again and we drove off to the hospital for the second time.  We headed to the ER first but OB told us to go straight to OB Gyne Complex where I was admitted.

My OB told me that I will be given three doses of magnesium sulfate, which according to her would not be very comfortable.  I was given first through the IV then the second and third doses on my butt cheeks.  It was very painful! The nurse who administered the doses repeatedly apologized because she knew it was that painful.  The pain did not go away immediately.  It was there until I went back home.

I also had a 24-hour urine protein test.  I had to catch all my pee using the bed pan.  It was uncomfortable at first but I got used to it after so many catches.  I was thankful that I did not poop that time. 🙂

 

My BP was monitored every hour.  After more than 24 hours, I was transferred to a regular room (the same room where we stayed when I gave birth) while waiting for my doctor’s orders.  I was advised that there was a chance of discharge.  My OB just asked for one last blood test before deciding.  Thank God the test went ok so I was discharged.

It was funny that the nurse who discharged me before was the same nurse who discharged me again.  She said, “Ma’am, second time na to, sana wala ng kasunod ah.” 🙂

How I solved my engorged breasts and cracked nipples

The start of my breastfeeding journey was not that good.  Well, I guess every breastfeeding mom experienced the challenges of feeding the baby.

I searched in BFP page how I can resolve my clogged ducts and engorged breasts.  I did everything that I read.  I changed position from cradle to football hold as taught by the lactation nurse.  I did hot compress before feeding my baby and I pressed the mass whenever baby was latched on my breast.  I also massaged the area (it was painful!) to break the trapped milk.  It was a painful experience that I had to endure for many days.  It was resolved after three days (I had engorged breasts during my second admission at St. Luke’s).

Clogged duct was caused by wrong latch that was why I had to change my position.  But when the ducts were cleared, I had painful nipples and it came to a point that I already had a wound.  Every time baby latched, I bit my lip because it was so painful.  Words are not enough to describe the pain.

I read that in order to solve the wound, I need to put breastmilk onto the affected area and had it air dried.  I was not wearing bra the whole time and my shirts were very loose (Dann’s shirts).  I had the cracks for days also but eventually, everything went back to a laid-back breastfeeding experience.

So far, so good 🙂

We continued our breastfeeding journey.  As expected, he had an extended jaundice.  His pedia in St. Luke’s said that his color was not alarming so I just needed to feed him.  After a month, his yellowish color went away and his eyes became white.

Though he is a lean baby until now that he is three months, he is hitting his milestones on time.  I will post a separate entry for his milestones.  He is underweight but we are trying to make him gain more weight.  Good thing I can post questions on Breastfeeding Pinays (BFP) regarding my issues on his weight.  We are still learning.  I am still trying to learn the things I needed to learn in order for him to gain weight (or just be healthy).

I am lucky to have a supportive environment on our breastfeeding journey.  It makes everything a lot easier.  I have a supportive husband and family, friends, and an online network where I can feel that I belong there.

Pumping momma at work

I had a hard time building my stash before my maternity leave ended.  There was a time I was able to pump only 0.5 to 1 oz per session.  I asked my fellow breastfeeding mommas how they did it.  Honey suggested to block feed, meaning to feed only on one breast and pump on the other at the same time.  So every time JJ latches, I pump the other one (even in the wee hours).  So I was able to build my stash before I went back to work.

I started taking home 9oz per day then it increased to 9.5oz.  The next weeks became 10oz then 11oz and now I can take home 12oz – 13oz per day.  Sometimes I pray to God for another letdown so that I will hit my target output and God is so good that He gives another letdown whenever I ask. 🙂

 

I have two pumps, one Medela Harmony manual pump and one Spectra M3 double electric pump.  These are my buddies to continue giving my JJ the best milk ever! 🙂

Ending notes

Breastfeeding entails a lot of determination and dedication.  It takes a lot of love and knowledge to be successful.  I am not saying that mothers who do not breastfeed do not love their babies as much as those who are breastfeeding.  Some mothers are misadvised because the pedia is not updated with the latest in breastfeeding.  Some are medically incapable (this is rare).  I do not judge those mothers who give formula milk to their kids.  But I want them to understand that with every breastfeeding problem, there is a solution.

Breastfeeding mothers encounter a lot of challenges and pain during their journey but those who are really determined do not resort to giving formula milk because they know the challenges are just temporary and breastmilk is still the only milk that gives the best nutrition to babies.  I love my JJ and I want to give him the nutrition that he deserves.