Baby number 2 journey in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic

Finally! nagkaroon rin ng time to finish this blog post. Having kids is not a joke, nakakaubos ng pasensya at energy pero at the same time rewarding. Araw-araw laging may natututunan na bago. Anyway, on this blog, I will be sharing our Baby number 2 journey in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding out:

Irregular period ako kaya kahit madelay ay hindi ako masyadong nabobother until nakaranas ako ng pagduduwal ng ilang araw tsaka madalas akong irritable at laging nasusungitan yung kapatid ko. Akala ko hormonal lang or PMS pero at the same time kinukutuban na ako kaya naisipan ko na rin na mag pregnancy test then boom! Positive with flying colors.

Having a baby during pandemic was not on our plan but sometimes blessings come when you least expect it kaya postponed muna ang ibang life goals for now and focus on raising this new angel.

The journey

Totoo nga yung sinasabi nila, no pregnancy is the same. Kung chill lang ako sa panganay ko, ito namang second baby ko eh sobrang lala ng morning sickness ko.

Aside sa pregnacy symptoms, I also had to deal with my super clingy toddler kasi she's still breastfeeding and no signs of weaning pa. Ang hirap rin mag wean lalo na naka work from home kami so lagi siya naka dikit sakin.

We were praying for a boy and hindi kami binigo, we'll be having a boy. Nakaka excite na nakakakaba sa totoo lang.

Gusto ko sana mag try VBAC(Vaginal Birth After C-section) pero my OB recommended me to have another C-section para daw iwas rin sa so much exposure and for us to plan ahead since punuan ang hospitals samin.

On my 9th month I am always tired, I also experience heartburn and back pain, dumating pa sa point na hindi ako makalakad kasi may naipit na nerve sa likod ko. Yung buong pregnancy journey ko is not a walk in the park kasi dami kong naramdaman baka dala na rin ng edad haha. 

Since I am getting another C-section my OB asked me if I have a preferred date. Initially, July 4 yung target date namin pero baka mauna ako mag labor so we moved it earlier which is June 24th kaso ginahol naman kami sa oras (dahil need pa mag pa ultrasound uli at RT-PCR test) kaya we chose June 25,2021.

Here's the breakdown of what happened 2 days before giving birth (Ni break down ko lang yung mga ganap).

June 23, 2021 - 8:00 AM Swab day. Luckily, covered ni Philhealth yung procedure kaya hindi ko na need mag shell out for it.

June 24, 2021 - 9:00 am The test came out NEGATIVE (Thank GOD! Nakakapraning kahit alam ko naman na less chance na maging Positive pero iba pa rin yung feeling).

D DAY!
June 25, 2021 - 6:00 AM I called the hospital to ask for an available room. Punuan yung hospital dito sa Quezon province kaya we were advised na on the day itself na lang tumawag to check for room availability. Nung tumawag ako sakto meron daw mag didischage ng 7:00 AM.

8:00 AM Arrived at hospital, diretso ako ER for triaging, checking of vitals signs and interview then after that we were escorted to our room.

9:30 AM Waiting for my OB while they monitor my vital signs. By the way naka fasting na pala ako kaya medyo gutom na.

12:00 NN I was advised that I am scheduled for CS at 3:00 PM
Sobrang gutom since last meal ko was 11pm the other day.

Then around 3:00 PM, they transported me to the OR.

3:30 PM Nasa OR na ako and they put me under general anesthesia na. Medyo na late rin kasi yung OB ko kaya napush yung time. Nakakatawa lang pala kasi kung kelan naman numb na yung lower body ko tsaka naman kumati likod ko 🤣

Past 4:00 PM When the operation started.

Hello Baby!
4:40 PM Baby out
He was crying tapos biglang tumigil nung nilapit sa mukha ko siguro naamoy niya scent ko.

I am fully awake the whole operation pero may times rin na nag zozone out ako.
My times na rinig na rinig ko heart beat ko at pakiramdam ko sasabog sa lakas ng tibok.
I was chilling and feeling nauseous as well.

Nagstay muna ako ng sandali sa recovery room until makita nila na nagagalaw ko na ng kaunti yung toes ko then tsaka ako hinatid sa room (hindi ko na alam if anong oras yun) kasi borlogs nako nun e hehehe

Nung nakabalik ako sa room unti unti na nawala effect ng anesthesia at nag start na rin kumirot yung puson ko. Parang labor pain siya, ang sabi ng nurse due to the gamot sa swero. The first 12hrs felt like hell. Hindi ko mahanap tamang posisyon para mawala ang sakit kahit may pain reliever masakit pa rin. Para akong nag labor pero after the delivery.

Hindi pa namin nakasama agad si baby dahil nirefer pa siya sa EENT dahil nakitaan siya ng tongue tie.

Next day June 26, 2021
Na room in na finally si Kai, nakapag pa dede na rin ako sa kanya.

Nakausap na rin namin yung EENT and confirmed tongue tie nga. Ang ginawa is ginupit lang then okay na uli since hindi naman malala yung case ni baby at mas nirerecommend nila na ayusin na kesa intayin pa tumanda yung bata. We're thankful at na detect agad.

I started on a soft diet muna since hindi pa ako nakakadumi. Ang hirap kumilos kasi masakit yung tahi tapos need ko pa buhatin si baby dahil breastfeeding kami.

10:00 PM Catheter out at medyo feverish, dala na rin siguro ng pagod?

June 27, 2021
Still no bowel movement tapos puyat. Halos pagising gising ako kasi si Kai ayaw dumede ng nakahiga kami kaya nakaupo ako magpadede.

Nagkaroon rin sya ng early signs ng paninilaw kaya binigyan kami ng blue light crib para dun siya mag stay most of the time. 

Pag dating ng Pedia sabi hindi na daw madilaw pero continue pa rin ilagay sa crib until umuwi kami.

June 28, 2021
Still no bowel movement pa rin, na trauma ata yung katawan ko from my previous experience.
Kasi sobrang constipated ako sa panganay ko after ko ma CS. Kahit laklakin ko yung tubig tsaka papaya, pinya at kung ano pang high fiber fruits walang effect. Kasumpa sumpa yung experience. HAHA

After lunch, they decided na lagyan ako ng suppository kasi wala pa rin akong urge eh and  able to poop sorry TMI haha.

Finally were home

First night was a disaster my toddler won't give up breastfeeding so I had to sleep on separate room kasi gusto niya agawan yung bago.

Its amazing na as soon as nag feed silang 2 naramdaman ko agad yung milk production ko nag kick in kasi usually ilang araw pa bago magflow yung milk.

Maybe pag healed na externally yung would ko no issue na sa tandem feeding

To end this post, everyone is still adjusting

Inflatable island | Floating Playground In Subic‎

Woooah! Ang hirap magsulat lalo na kung matagal nakapag pahinga. Ilang taon na nga ba since the last time I wrote about travel? siguro mga dalawang taon na rin!

Super hayok na hayok na kaming magkakaibigan mag beach kaya naisipan naming magplan ng mini beach getaway. To be honest, ang dami naming pinagpilian na lugar pero itong Inflatable island yung nanalo HAHA

Surviving the first year of my Motherhood journey

It's been a year since I gave birth. Ang bilis ng panahon, everything seems like it was only yesterday. Wow english haha!

I've always wanted to write and share how I've been for the past months pero I don't think I had the courage to publish my struggles and maybe takot rin ako na ma judge by the world back then, kasi alam naman natin na when it comes to parenting kahit iba't iba tayo ng style eh marami pa ring magbibigay ng kanilang unsolicited advise pero I think I am braver now kaya ito naisulat ko lahat.

Fortune Island Batangas - March 2018

Wassap mumshies!! I am so back with flying colors HAHA
I know super late na nitong post na to kasi buntis pa ako during this trip and now 8 months na yung aking munting prinsesa. AYYY! hindi 9 months na pala kasi akala ko matatapos ko tong blog post na to bago ako mag 9 months post partum pero tignan mo naman inabot nanaman ako ng katamaran ko. Salamat at sinapian ako ng sipag kaya nakapag sulat uli ako. Anyway bago pa ako lipasan ng sipag I will proceed na.

March 23, 2018
Galing kami sa Silang Cavite and arrived to Brgy. Wawa around 10:00 AM.
Pag pasok palang namin sa area halos harangin na kami ng mga tao trying to offer us their boat going to Fortune island. 

We are group of 11 at natawaran namin ng PHP 4200 yung boat (not sure if napamura ba kami or napamahal kasi I did not prepare during our trip. Go with the flow lang ako)

By the way, hi-way ito pala yung rate nila on the island:
PHP 300 Day trip
PHP 400 Overnight
We paid for 10 pax only (Oha! discounted yung isa LOL)

Parking fee:PHP 100 Day trip
PHP 200 Dvernight
I think safe naman yung parking nila kasi pag balik namin complete pa naman yung mga gamit HAHA

Fortune island is a private property kaya kailangan talagang mabayad ng fees.
At first medyo hesitant yung boatman kasi I was pregnant that time. Parang takot sila na isakay ako pero sabi ko never fear, I am here charot. Nagexplain ako na I am still fit to travel and by 10:30 AM nasa boat na kami.
Malakas yung alon kahit maaraw pero buti nalang malaking boat yung nakuha namin. I think kasya ang 15-20 passengers dun. 

Hanapin niyo nalang kung asan ako diyan HAHA

11:30 AM Arrived at Fortune Island.
Medyo pinahirapan bumaba kasi hindi makalapit yung boat sa beach dahil sa lakas nang hampas ng alon. Kala ko nga uwian na eh.

Ang ginawa ng boatman namin is sinakay kami sa isang mini box na pinahiram ng isang banka then itutulak nung guide para makalapit kami sa isla. 

Preparing for transport CHAROT HAAHAH

Medyo challenging pero masaya.

 Huwag po kayong malito - hindi isla yung ilong ko

Then pag baba namin need pa umakyat para mapuntahan namin yung very famous pillars na dinadayo sa island na to. 

Daliri ko po yan, hindi ilong

So iyon na nga po start na ng photoshoot at nag relaks relaks sa sand.

Photos from my cous Jaymee

At around 2:00 PM Pack up na kasi gutom na at wala namang masyadong nakikita e.

I liked the pillars pero medyo disappointed ako kasi nga hindi ko naenjoy yung beach. Gusto ko rin sana mag snorkel pero hindi ko nagawa kasi kinakabahan yung mga tanders dahil nga buntis ako. Ang dumi rin nung island parang yagit, siguro wala lang kami sa timing and kahit ganun yung experience I will still go back. Yes, I am giving the place a chance.

Boatmen offered us a  side trip to white sand beach kasi nga ramdam nila na disappointed kami. They just asked for PHP 500 for the gas. Hindi siya ganun kaganda at hindi rin siya white sand (at parang malansa yung amoy ng tubig) pero okay na rin para kumain.

Our lunch? 3 pieces squid and 1 whole tuna for PHP 1000 then we paid for the cottage na tumataginting na PHP 500 but wait! there's more, shocked kami na may bayad pang  PHP 100 per head pero sabi namin sa boat nalang kami kakain kaya ayun pumayag na PHP 500 nalang ibayad namin. Grabe no? hold up tong trip na to! HAHA

Tara kain!

Tips:
Mas mura if diretso boatman na kausapin niyo kasi yung mali namin is meron kaming middle man. 
Huwag kayong papa budol sa mga nagaalok agad diretso kayo sa Fortune Island hotel at dun nalang kayo mag inquire about the trip.

Pasensiya na at hindi ganun ka informative tong blog ko. I just want to share our trip and I hope huwag kayong madiscourage na bisitahin yung place. You should see it yourself kasi iba iba naman tayo ng pananaw sa buhay. blah blah blah.

Okay. Salamat sa pagbabasa.

Nagmamahal,
Ate Charotera! LOL
Lovezzzz yah guise!

PS: Huwag niyo po palang kalimutan mag subscribe sa aking youtube channel! 
Mwah mwah tsup tsup! :*

Preserving Mother and daughter bond

Thanks Kylie Padilla because of you I was inspired to preserve symbol of my breastfeeding journey through keepsakes.

Making the decision is easy but looking for a good responsive crafter is not a piece of cake until one of my friend recommended Sharingmomentsbyjenn. 

The quality of her collection is good for its price mas mura siya compared to other keepsakes maker in the market.

They are based in Singapore but they can ship internationally. Luckily, they have special crafting here in the Philippines so I guess meant to be?. 

I immediately contacted her via Facebook page and received a response the next day, filled out the order form with my preferred design which is mermaid fin sana kaso it's not yet available kaya I chose to the unicorn design then sent my milk the next day (I gave my frozen colostrum) and my baby's hair via LBC. Sayang nga naitapon yung umbilical stump niya huhu. Sa totoo lang tuwing naiisip ko yung pusod niya sumasama loob ko kasi nanghihinayan ako HAHA pero move on move on na.

Side story, on the way na ako to LBC when I realized hindi ko dala yung ipapadala ko, bumalik pa tuloy ako sa bahay buti nalang malapit lang kami. Mommy brain?

Excited na ko!! 

August 6, I was notified by Mommy Jenn regarding the shipment of my keepsake and I finally saw mine online.My heart is happy!

There was a delay on the courier's delivery and atat n atat na ako. Few days gone by wala pa rin yung package and when I checked the tracking bumalik pala sa sender. I immediately contacted Mommy Jenn, you know what I like about this shop is very responsive sila sa clients nila and professional. Kahit super excited na ako sa order ko eh pinilit kong habaan ang pesensya ko kasi dadating rin naman yun.

The following day the package arrived. 

Unboxing na

Super ganda niya, sa totoo lang these photos can't give justice on what it looks like sa personal.

Oh diba? ang ganda niya. Madami silang designs to choose from just send a message on her social media accounts for inquiries.

Facebook
Instagram

Maybe some may say dagdag gastos lang pero for me breastfeeding is something that I am proud of because I am not only able to nurture my child but also I am blessed to be able to share it to other babies na kailangan ito.

Now, I am super ready to wear this with pride whenever, wherever.