tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78550468721857375552024-03-05T01:41:30.163-08:00Mommy SolutionsRaising a child is a tough job, let alone raising one without a nanny. Thank God there are mommy solutions!Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-57950188199137977772013-03-10T00:10:00.002-08:002013-04-06T21:10:41.290-07:00<br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you for visiting my site! We have moved to a bigger and better address. <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1129645325g" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /> </strong></h3>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All my blog entries, articles, pictures and videos are now in this new site: </strong></h3>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mommywithnonanny.com/">www.mommywithnonanny.com</a> </strong></h3>
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Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-81451310360638930122012-09-20T07:07:00.004-07:002012-09-21T07:26:23.865-07:00Smart Parenting Advice this September <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Got a nice surprise this week when I opened the September issue of Smart Parenting Magazine and read my advice to new moms on page 46. Mishca's name is there, too--her first in a magazine. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This is long version of the advice that I offered: </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"I was scared to carry my newborn. I also didn't
get a yaya. One of the things that really helped me is the SaYa Carrier
which was created by my college batchmate Buding Aquino-Dee. It's a
cloth-type carrier that is super flexible. You can wear your baby in
many ways. Plus, it's not bulky like some of the carriers available in
the market. Baby is kiss-height so you can cuddle him/her anytime,
snug-fit so you don't worry about the baby falling to the ground. It
helped me carry her out of the hospital and into the car. And then
helped me move around with her without fear. As she grew heavier, I
appreciated that it supported my back so I could carry her wtihout
strain. She's 13 months now and is still very happy to be in it.
Yesterday we were at the mall and she was breastfeeding in it as we
strolled (Yes, it also serves as a breastfeeding cover). She fell asleep
in it afterwards" </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Thanks to my former editor and friend Jaclyn Lutanco-Chua for the feature. It's been 14 years since my first article came out in Summit Media's Good Housekeeping Magazine but I still get a thrill seeing my name in print. :) Thanks, Jac! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Incidentally, we have opened a new online store called Kid StarMaker. We are offering personalized books, music and cartoons for kids. We are really excited about this because we have seen first hand how these products brings joy to children.Hope you can check it out at <a href="http://www.kidstarmaker.com/">www.kidstarmaker.com</a>! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Click <a href="http://mommysolutions.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-received-fb-message-from-jac-one-of.html" target="_blank">here</a> for my review of the SaYa carrier! Thanks! </b></span>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-20255468748802117192012-09-13T18:51:00.003-07:002012-09-13T18:59:03.603-07:00Warning: Cell Phones May Trigger ADHD and Other Behavior Problems By Dr. Mercola <span style="color: blue;"><b>Call me a panicky mom but one of the things I did after I learned that I was pregnant was to turn off my cellphone and toss it in the cabinet. Yes, I did lose contact with "the world" but I felt my unborn child deserved the best care and I didn't want to take chances. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>When I was born there were no cellphones or wifi. Now my daughter is inundated by radio signals everywhere she goes. In fact, she was born in a hospital with wifi. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Now that she is a year old, I'm glad I left my cellphone in the closet. Last July, I read this alarming study that confirmed the dangers of cellphone and wireless devices. </b></span><br />
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<b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.mercola.com/">www.mercola.com</a></span></b><br />
<h1>
<span style="font-size: large;">Studies Involving Human Children Show Increased Behavioral Problems With In Utero Cell Phone Exposure</span></h1>
<blockquote>
In 2008, researchers analyzed data from nearly 13,000 children and
found that exposure to cell phones while in the womb, and also as
children, was linked to more behavioral difficulties.<sup style="font-size: 10px;"><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/04/cellphone-radiation-may-cause-adhd.aspx?e_cid=20120704_DNL_artNew_1#_edn1" name="_ednref3">iii </a></sup>Pregnant
women using handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise
the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with
conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age
-- and the risk became even greater if the children also used the phones
themselves before age 7.<br />
The 2008 study revealed that mothers who used mobile phones were 54
percent more likely to have children with behavioral problems. When the
children also later used the phones themselves by age 7, they were:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>80 percent more likely to suffer from difficulties with behavior </li>
<li>25 percent more at risk from emotional problems </li>
<li>34 percent more likely to suffer from difficulties relating to their peers </li>
<li>35 percent more likely to be hyperactive </li>
<li>49 percent more prone to problems with conduct </li>
</ul>
Then, in 2010, the researchers looked at a larger group of children
-- nearly 29,000 -- and also considered additional variables that could
be swaying the results, and the association was found once again.<sup style="font-size: 10px;"><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/04/cellphone-radiation-may-cause-adhd.aspx?e_cid=20120704_DNL_artNew_1#_edn1" name="_ednref4">iv </a></sup>In
that study, children whose mothers used cell phones while pregnant were
40 percent more likely to have behavioral problems and this rose to 50
percent when the children also used cell phones themselves. The
researchers even accounted for family history of behavioral problems,
inattention of the mother, breastfeeding and time spent with the child
-- and the association still remained. </blockquote>
<h2>
Top Steps for Safer Cell Phone Use</h2>
<blockquote>
You can help to minimize your exposure to electromagnetic radiation
from cell phones and other wireless devices by heeding the following
advice:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Children Should Always Avoid Using Cell Phones</b>:
Barring a life-threatening emergency, children should not use a cell
phone, or a wireless device of any type. Children's brains are far more
vulnerable to cell phone radiation than adults, because of their thinner
skull bones. </li>
<li><b>Reduce Your Cell Phone Use</b>: Turn your cell
phone off more often. Reserve it for emergencies or important matters.
As long as your cell phone is on, it emits radiation intermittently,
even when you are not actually making a call. If you're pregnant,
avoiding or reducing your cell phone use is especially important. </li>
<li><b>Use a Land Line at Home and at Work</b>: Although
more and more people are switching to using cell phones as their
exclusive phone contact, it is a dangerous trend and you can choose to
opt out of the madness. SKYPE offers a portable number via your computer
that can plug into any Ethernet port while traveling. </li>
<li><b>Reduce or Eliminate Your Use of Other Wireless Devices</b>:
You would be wise to cut down your use of these devices. Just as with
cell phones, it is important to ask yourself whether or not you really
need to use them as often as you do. And most importantly, do not even
consider having any electronic or wireless devices in the bedroom, as
the electric, magnetic and microwave fields can significantly interfere
with the quality of your sleep. </li>
If you must use a portable home phone, use the older kind that
operates at 900 MHz. They are not safer during calls, but at least many
of them do not broadcast constantly even when no call is being made.
There is a new Siemens Eco DECT phone on the market, where if only one
handset is activated, it can be set to only radiate during a call as
opposed to 24/7. However, since many people have multiple portable phone
handsets this is not, as of yet, a practical solution. And, unless one
knows to deactivate the radiation through putting the phone into Eco
Mode Plus mode, it will still be continually emitting microwaves.<br />
Note the only way to truly be sure if there is an exposure from
your cordless phone is to measure with an electrosmog meter, and it must
be one that goes up to the frequency of your portable phone (so old
meters won't help much). As many portable phones are 5.8 Gigahertz, we
recommend you look for RF meters that go up to 8 Gigahertz, the highest
range now available in a meter suitable for consumers.<br />
Alternatively you can be very careful with the base station
placement as that causes the bulk of the problem since it transmits
signals 24/7, even when you aren't talking. So if you can keep the base
station at least three rooms away from where you spend most of your
time, and especially your bedroom, they may not be as damaging to your
health. Another option is to just simply turn the portable phone off,
only using it when you specifically need the convenience of moving about
while on a call.<br />
Ideally it would be helpful to turn off your base station every
night before you go to bed. You can find RF meters as well as
remediation supplies at <a href="http://www.emfsafetystore.com/">www.emfsafetystore.com</a>.
But you can pretty much be sure your portable phone is a problem if the
technology is DECT, or digitally enhanced cordless technology, unless
you are using the new Siemens Eco DECT phone, with only one handset
active, and the phone set to only radiate during conversations through
the Eco Mode Plus feature.<br />
<li><b>Use Your Cell Phone Only Where Reception is Good</b>:
The weaker the reception, the more power your phone must use to
transmit, and the more power it uses, the more radiation it emits, and
the deeper the dangerous radio waves penetrate into your body. Ideally,
you should only use your phone with full bars and good reception. </li>
<li><b>Also Seek to Avoid Carrying Your Phone on Your Body</b>
as that merely maximizes any potential exposure. Ideally put it in your
purse or carrying bag. Placing a cell phone in a shirt pocket over the
heart is asking for trouble, as is placing it in a man's pocket if he
seeks to preserve his fertility and sexual function. </li>
<li><b>Don't Assume One Cell Phone is Safer Than Another</b>: There's no such thing as a <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/05/Top-Safe-Cell-Phones-That-Arent-Safe.aspx">"safe" cell phone</a>. </li>
<li><b>Keep Your Cell Phone Away From Your Body When it is On</b>:
The most dangerous place to be, in terms of radiation exposure, is
within about six inches of the emitting antenna. You do not want any
part of your body within that area. Most people are surprised that cell
phone manuals themselves specifically state to not place the phone
against your body! </li>
<li><b>Respect Others Who are More Sensitive</b>: Some
people who have become sensitive can feel the effects of others' cell
phones in the same room, even when it is on but not being used. If you
are in a meeting, on public transportation, in a courtroom or other
public places, such as a doctor's office, keep your cell phone turned
off out of consideration for the 'second hand radiation' effects. This
would especially apply to places where reflections would be high, such
as in a metal elevator, train car or automobile. Children are also more
vulnerable, so please avoid using your cell phone near children.</li>
If you are using the Pong case, which redirects the cell phone
radiation away from the head and successfully lowers the SAR effect,
realize that in redirecting the radiation away from your head this may
be intensifying the radiation in another direction, perhaps toward the
person next to you, or, if in your pocket, increasing radiation
intensity toward your body. Caution is always advised in dealing with
any radiation-emitting device. We recommend cell phones be kept 'Off'
except for emergencies.<br />
<li><b>Use Safer Headset Technology</b>: Wired headsets
will certainly allow you to keep the cell phone farther away from your
body. However, if a wired headset is not well-shielded -- and most of
them are not -- the wire itself acts as an antenna attracting ambient
radio waves and transmitting radiation directly to your brain.</li>
Make sure that the wire used to transmit the signal to your ear
is shielded. The best kind of headset to use is a combination shielded
wire and air-tube headset. These operate like a stethoscope,
transmitting the information to your head as an actual sound wave;
although there are wires that still must be shielded, there is no wire
that goes all the way up to your head. </ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To read the full article, pls. click <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/04/cellphone-radiation-may-cause-adhd.aspx?e_cid=20120704_DNL_artNew_1" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></span><br />
<br />Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-18292352308670931402012-07-10T01:28:00.002-07:002012-07-10T01:32:34.772-07:00Childbirth Preparation Class<div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Question: Where do you bring your wife when it's time to give birth? If your answer is the hospital's EMERGENCY ROOM, then you need this! </div>
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Childbirth class=fun, fun, fun! That's how it was for us. It was a no-brainer to attend one since this is our first child and we want to be fully prepared for what lies ahead. We wanted know as much as we can about pregnancy, childbirth and infant care.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning Relaxation Techniques at Childbirth Preparation Class Along w/ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Other Expectant Couples</span></div>
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On my fifth month, I asked our OB GYNE if she could recommend one to us. She gave us a pink flyer for Childbirth Preparation class. We were also told that Michael has to finish this course for him to be able to enter both the labor and delivery rooms. He needed to get certification as my Lamaze coach.</div>
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The 6-week class was headed by Rome Kanapi who is practically an institution in her field. Rome made the classes lively, informative and relationship-enhancing. What's more: her classes are filled with games, freebies and prizes from major maternity and childcare brands. Michael and I won a complete dental kit for baby and organic laundry detergent, aside from getting copies and copies of the latest childcare magazines. </div>
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How much the classes cost: P4,500/ couple for a 6-week course </div>
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What we learned: </div>
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*Proper nutrition for pregnant moms </div>
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*Relaxation techniques and exercises to ease pregnancy and labor aches and pain </div>
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*What to do, what to bring, how to prepare you and your spouse for labor and childbirth</div>
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*The different cases that lead to Caesarian birth </div>
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*Complications in pregnancy and childbirth and how to avoid them</div>
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*The stages of childbirth and what to do and expect </div>
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*Breathing and pushing techniques </div>
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*How to prepare the all-important Birth Plan </div>
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*How to care for a newborn </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Being taught how to change a nappy by Rome Kanapi</span></div>
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I'll be forever grateful to Rome for teaching--</div>
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<li><b>How to control my weight and curb pregnancy cravings.</b> During my second trimester, I was warned by my OB Gyne that I was eating too much and was thus gaining too much weight. Rome taught me that I need to eat just 2 slices of wheat bread per meal and no more than 1 piece of banana and a slice of ripe mango per day. My first reaction was--WUHATT? I obviously was downing more than that! But I listened to her advice and as a result had normal glucose levels throughout the pregnancy. </li>
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<li><b>How to prepare a Birth Plan,</b> This made the whole birthing experience so much better because we were taught how to communicate our needs and wants to the doctor and hospital staff. I made a few copies of the birth plan and gave it to the attending physicians and nurses and it saved us from having to repeat ourselves over and over as to the details of the pregnancy and our medical requests. </li>
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<li><b>How to have a better chance for a normal delivery the second time around.</b> Rome taught the class that in case we moms need to undergo an emergency c-section, we should ask our doctors to do a transverse incision (horizontal cut) to increase the possibility of having a normal birth for our succeeding kids. A transverse cut is said to result to lesser complications. It is also safer for women with this kind of incision to give birth naturally because there is a lesser chance of uterine rupture during labor. We were able communicate this to my OB GYNE weeks before labor. She was not too agreeable to it because it takes time to do this. She said it might not work during an emergency, but when it was time, she was able to heed our wishes. For someone who is hoping and praying for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarian), the message from Rome was heaven-sent. </li>
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Rome also solidified my resolve to breastfeed. She offered practical tips like what type of breast pump to get, when to get it or if it would be better to just borrow from a friend. There were tips about milk storage, how to breastfeed for the first time and the proper nursing attire to wear to make breastfeeding less complicated. I really appreciated the information because I was the first child in my family to become pregnant and breastfeeding is an alien concept to us. </div>
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Michael and I looked forward to every class. It made the pregnancy more memorable. And when it was time to go to the delivery room, we were ready. For us, the class by Rome is simply priceless! </div>
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For more information about Rome's childbirth preparation classes, visit:<a href="http://www.childbirthteacher.com/" target="_blank"> http://www.childbirthteacher.com</a></div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-69422727535244747752012-06-30T07:15:00.000-07:002012-09-21T07:36:13.970-07:00I Love My SaYa!<div id="MessagingContentBorderShingle">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I received an FB message from Jac Lutanco-Chua, one of my favorite editors from Summit Publishing. She is writing a Smart Parenting article entitled "How to be Happy New Parents." She wrote: "What tricks/tactics did you employ to make the various challenges that you faced—i.e breastfeeding, getting baby to sleep, finding time for yourself, looking for the right yaya, etc.—easier to deal with?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> There are just so many things to share, but top of mind, this is what I came up with: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a first-time mom, I was scared to carry my newborn. I also didn't get a yaya. One of the things that really helped me is the SaYa Carrier which was invented by my college batchmate Buding Aquino-Dee. It's a cloth-type carrier that is super flexible. You can wear your baby in many ways. Plus, it's not bulky like some of the carriers available in the market. Baby is kiss-height so you can cuddle him/her anytime, snug-fit so you don't worry about the baby falling to the ground. It helped me carry her out of the hospital and into the car. And then helped me move around with her without fear. As she grew heavier, I appreciated that it supported my back so I could carry her wtihout strain. She's 13 months now and is still very happy to be in it. Yesterday we were at the mall and she was breastfeeding in it as we strolled (Yes, it also serves as a breastfeeding cover). She fell asleep in it afterwards. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mishca enjoying being in her SaYa at 7 months!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My mom was both amazed and amused! She saw how her grandchild happily fed as she were walking in SM. And we did so discreetly without anyone noticing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really love my SaYa. I think it's one of the best things I ever bought for myself and my baby. It gave me a sense of freedom in that I had more confidence in bringing my baby every where. Since I can carry her basically hands-free, it gave me the opportunity to do other things as I am taking care of my </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I wish I can give this as a gift to every new mom! Even to every daddy and nanny! In fact, my husband and I bought a second pair of SaYa for him to wear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mishca, her SaYa and I have gone a lot of places: to the malls, to church, to the market, to the beach, to airports and airplanes, to almost every where it isn't illegal to bring a baby. Wherever we go, we get a lot of approving stares and smiles. I also get asked a lot by moms where they can buy it. I sometimes think I should become a SaYa distributor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some people frown at using baby carriers because they say it can make the baby bow-legged. I checked this with my pediatrician when during Mishca's early months. She told me it isn't true. Also since SaYa is made of soft cloth, unlike those bulky imported carriers, it won't constrict the baby's legs or hamper development. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To help you decide if the SaYa is right for you and your baby, do read the blogs of these wise moms: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cats gives a detailed Q&A about the two kinds of SaYa. There's also a list of online stores where you can buy it. <a href="http://krazekitch.blogspot.com/2011/03/everything-na-ma-saya.htm">http://krazekitch.blogspot.com/2011/03/everything-na-ma-saya.htm</a></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eliza shares teaches how to wear the SaYa <a href="http://painterswife.com/2010/07/09/the-saya-carrier-a-review-and-personal-how-to/">http://painterswife.com/2010/07/09/the-saya-carrier-a-review-and-personal-how-to/</a></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, the SaYa inventor herself, Buding Dee shows you how to wear the Yakap position with her then 20-month-old daughter <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9737C0lFbzo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9737C0lFbzo</a></span></li>
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Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-28989193746979545932012-02-03T18:47:00.000-08:002012-02-03T18:49:38.979-08:00How The State of Your Pregnancy Affects Baby's Future Health<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">"<i>Pinaglihi 'ata yan sa sama ng loob</i> (His mother must have always been in a foul mood when she was pregnant), " we always hear people say of someone with a sour disposition. Don't dismiss that joke just yet. Scientists are now discovering that a baby's 9-months in the womb has a direct bearing on his mental and physical health come adulthood.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was 2-months pregnant when my mom and I saw this Time Magazine issue about the science of fetal origins. I'm glad I read this when Mishca was still in my womb. Let this article by Anne Murphy Paul (dated October 4, 2010) inspire you to take better care of yourself and your baby even before your date with the stork. :) </span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here's an excerpt: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Cancer. Heart disease. Obesity. Depression. Scientists can now trace adult health to the nine months before birth by ANNE MURPHY PAUL</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">What makes us the way we are? Why are some people predisposed to be anxious, overweight or asthmatic? How is it that some of us are prone to heart attacks, diabetes or high blood pressure?There's a list of conventional answers to these questions. We are the way we are because it's in our genes: the DNA we inherited at conception. We turn out the way we do because of our childhood experiences: how we were treated and what we took in, especially during those crucial first three years. Or our health and well-being stem from the lifestyle choices we make as adults: what kind of diet we consume, how much exercise we get.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">But there's another powerful source of influence you may not have considered: your life as a fetus. The kind and quantity of nutrition you received in the womb; the pollutants, drugs and infections you were exposed to during gestation; your mother's health, stress level and state of mind while she was pregnant with you — all these factors shaped you as a baby and a child and continue to affect you to this day.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2021065-3,00.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">HOW THE FIRST NINE MONTHS SHAPE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">(Click the link above to read the full article)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
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</div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-31323581158165937252012-01-31T06:43:00.000-08:002012-01-31T07:10:22.733-08:00Pregnancy Workout, Anyone?<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I worked out from the day I discovered I was pregnant up to the time I was in labor. It made me feel great and helped me deal with the common aches and pains associated with pregnancy. With my OB GYNE's permission, I looked for a prenatal work-out that was safe and effective. As I didn't have the time to go to the gym and prenatal classes are hard to find, I knew my best bet would be a workout video. I made my search in the DVD shops around the Metro but couldn't find one.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">My husband suggested YouTube. Brilliant idea! It was through YouTube that I got acquainted with Doctor Cathy, a chiropractor and fitness professional who designed her own prenatal work-out. A beautiful mom of two toddlers, she videotaped herself working out while pregnant with her youngest. To make things easier for moms-to-be, her videos are segmented into manageable 5-10 minutes sessions. There's warm-up, cardio, stretching, strength training and various exercises targeting different areas of the body.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/8mLd-3T_hIc/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8mLd-3T_hIc&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8mLd-3T_hIc&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Doctor Cathy's Relaxing Full Body Stretch: </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is the video that helped removed my back pain.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I noticed that I had the hardest time doing the exercises during the first trimester. My body was still adjusting to the baby and there were days I found myself huffing and puffing and getting dizzy whilst warming up. As I knew it was a delicate time, I gave myself permission to stop and rest until my body was ready. Ironically felt strongest during the last trimester, even if I had gained 36 lbs. I did almost all of the exercises every day until it was time for the baby to come out. I was amazed that I could do the modified push-ups and tricep dips even with a bulging tummy. I was motivated to have an easy delivery. I also read that mommies who exercised during pregnancy had babies with higher IQ. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Did the exercises make me have an easy delivery? </span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b> <b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Well, I still had to go through 24 hours of labor that led to a C-section, even when I did squats and walked around the hospital while laboring. The doctor said I had labor arrest due to fetal position. Still, working out helped me bounce back faster from the surgery. Both my OB GYNE and pediatrician were amazed that I was able to sit up and move the day after surgery. So thanks, Dr. Cathy! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">You can check out Doctor Cathy website at </span></b><span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="http://www.educatedpregnancy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.educatedpregnancy.com</a>.</b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> She is now offering more extensive prenatal exercise classes for a fee through her website, but a lot of her work-out videos are still free. And there's also a program prepared for postpartum moms, which I am currently trying out. As a precaution, make sure you consult your OB GYNE before doing any of the routines. I led an active lifestyle and I didn't have any pregnancy complications that's why my OB GYNE gave me the go signal to exercise until the last trimester. </span></b><br />
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</span></b></div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-17217740985596555952012-01-16T11:14:00.000-08:002012-01-24T18:15:11.778-08:00Things That Make Pregnancy Easier<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It all began when I started huffing and puffing in the shower. That never happened before! A few days later I tried googling pregnancy symptoms. I hadn't even finished typing the word "first" when "first signs of pregnancy"appeared on the Google search bar. I knew we were on to something when still a few days later, I was reading the Bible and came to the story of Hannah who prayed to have a child and was given the prophet Samuel. I felt that God was saying I was pregnant. And we discovered that I really was--on our first try at that! </b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We were overjoyed. But along with joy came the discomforts: queasiness, heightened smell, back aches, mood swings and constant hunger. I was queasy morning, noon and night during the 1st few weeks. I remember cooking a big pot of </span></b><i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">sinigang na baka</span></b></i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> only to throw it away because I couldn't take the smell of onions. And it was supposed to be my favorite dish. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here's a list of the stuff that made life better for me: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>1.</b></span> <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Sky Flakes crackers</span></b>--<b> <span style="color: #0b5394;">I discovered that if I eat before getting out of bed, I actually don't feel as queasy in the morning. Somehow having a full stomach keeps morning sickness away. It helps that Sky Flakes is odorless and almost flavorless. The first time queasiness hit me, I was alone in our apartment living room in Vancouver and it was about 10 degrees outside. It's a good thing there's a Filipino store two blocks away from where we lived. Still I had to bundle up to go outside. And it was not an easy feat to walk in that kind of weather when you are dizzy and gagging. It seemed like the longest 10 minute walk of my life. It was such a relief to reach the warm store and find boxes upon boxes of Sky Flakes! I spent about 11 dollars for this treasured find, but it was well worth it. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">2</span></b>. <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tamarind candy</span></b>-- <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I didn't know I could be this sensitive to different smells and scents. I I am lucky I didn't find my husband offensive, but a lot of things and food stuff made me feel nauseated. I found that eating tamarind candy or champoy helps keeps my tummy stable. In fact, I never did once have a spewing spree.You get what I mean. . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">3. </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Hard-boiled egg</span></b>-- <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Although it made me want to gag sometimes, the heightened smell did wonders for my appetite, which kept me hungry all the time. Waking up in the unholiest of hours because of hunger became the norm in all my nine months! Egg never failed to satisfy. It's easy to prepare and easy to down. Plus it doesn't spoil easily. My husband, the egg connoisseur, says it takes 6 minutes to have the perfect hard-boiled egg. Less than that, you get something syrupy, which may still be harboring harmful bacteria. Cooking past the 6 minute mark may give the yoke a greenish tint which means it is overcooked. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">4.</span></b> <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">The book What To Expect When You Are Expecting</span></b>-- <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">It was my go-to book for the whole 9 months. My mom doesn't remember the details of her pregnancies. It must be the anesthesia. It helps to have a book that answers most, if not all of the questions that pop up in a first time mom's head, which often happens in the middle of night! So it pays to keep this at your bedside table. And they have a section for first time dads, too. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">5.</span></b> <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">DHA capsules</span></b>--<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>This is one of the best advice I got from the book. DHA not only boosts babies' brain development, pregnant moms who regularly take this nutrient stave off depression and mood swings. My husband can attest that I had a relatively happy disposition the whole nine months (READ: less catty remarks despite the discomfort) thanks to God and this wonderful fatty acid. I got mine from </b><a href="http://www.healthyoptions.com.ph/home" target="_blank"><b>Healthy Options</b></a><b>. I also took their prenatal vitamins. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>6. </b></span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pregnancy Aerobic Exercises</span></b>-- <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Being an active person, I couldn't just sit and watch my belly grow. I had to continue exercising. Some people warned me against it but some research and a check with my OB GYNE confirmed that exercise is not only okay during a low-risk pregnancy, it is a must. Exercise keeps the aches and pains away, and as a bonus, it also makes your baby smarter. Research has shown that babies of pregnant exercisers generally scored higher on IQ tests by the time they are 5 years old. Somehow the increased oxygen intake helps in fetal brain development. More on my exercise routine in a later post. . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">7.</span></b><b><span style="color: #990000;"> Body pillow</span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">-- I saw this in the movie The Back-Up Plan. An aunt generously gave me a pair. They became indispensable as my tummy grew and sleeping on my back became next to impossible. My OB GYNE told me that sleeping on the left side is best because it delivers more oxygen to the baby. Lying on the right is said to increase the pressure of the uterus on the heart, making it impede uterine blood flow. It was hard to follow that advice without these two huge pillows and my huggable husband supporting my back. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">8. </span></b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Daily talks with Jesus</b></span>-- <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">My mom suffered from morning sickness morning, noon and night from the 1st until the 9th month during all her pregnancies. She said she couldn't eat. I kidded her that we all might have had higher IQs if she ate more. Pregnancy was punishing for her. This had made me ask God to please, please not make me inherit that from my mom. I made this prayer long before I met my husband. And God granted my wish! As I have mentioned above, I never had really had morning sickness. The queasiness went away after a few weeks. I could eat as much as I want and not have heartburn! My mom was actually alarmed that my appetite was that strong. (She was quite worried when she asked the maid why I had a voracious appetite. Our help assured her I was fine and it was natural.). It was the total opposite of what she had experienced. Even though I had my pregnancy at the ripe age of 36, my OB GYNE assured me that I was healthy and could basically do everything I want. It was a blessing and I credit it to God who not only answered my long-time prayer of having an easy pregnancy, but also saw me through the exhilarating but sometimes challenging journey to parenthood. Everyday I whispered a prayer of thanks for letting me experience this miracle. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I hope this list helps you, too! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Do add to this list by writing on the comments section so that we can help more moms! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Subscribe to </span></b><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MommySolutions" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">MOMMY SOLUTIONS by clicking this</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">.</span></b></div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-8242886509938524212011-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:002012-01-16T11:20:39.776-08:00Lessons from My Infant Daughter<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">She was conceived just 3 weeks after we prayed for a child. We named her Mishca Jadynn.Mishca means "who is like the Lord" while Jadynn is "God hears or God has heard." It also means "grateful." We like to put it this way: "Who is like the Lord? The God who hears. He has heard our prayer and we're grateful." </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We knew she has a wicked sense of humor when she made me labor on May 1, Labor Day in the Philippines. She came out twenty-four hours later, giving a hearty cry that escalated to a distinct vibrato wail as she was being cleaned up. “Mishca, don't cry. Daddy's here,” my husband Michael consoled her. She stopped crying momentarily and looked to the direction of that familiar voice who talked to her nightly when she was still in the womb.“Wow, she knows her dad, ” the attending nurse exclaimed.</span></b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Parents, as they say, are their children's first teachers. Children, however, I am glad to learn as a first-time mom, are great at reminding us adults how life should be lived. Mishca may still be an infant, but she </span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">has already brought so much joy to us and some important life lessons.</span></b></span></span></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZkoTFpkal9AouUFsgwoRUosFJYA-CkQlLikE-8UM9JNbS4axG0ytCFyX9vec0JkUlGRQ0fIUuHopTIQ7hxsTAjFGGGUxLq6kUJ_pFKkn7146JkXxVCRHdV7J0VtXyv1YB2vmZpyOxtc/s1600/IMG_8052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZkoTFpkal9AouUFsgwoRUosFJYA-CkQlLikE-8UM9JNbS4axG0ytCFyX9vec0JkUlGRQ0fIUuHopTIQ7hxsTAjFGGGUxLq6kUJ_pFKkn7146JkXxVCRHdV7J0VtXyv1YB2vmZpyOxtc/s400/IMG_8052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">SMILE. </span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> She started smiling on her second day. It was Nurse Irene who alerted us about this. My husband Michael was quick to grab his camera to capture that first social smile. The nurse told us later that our baby also smiled at a group of them while she was being transported from my hospital room to the neo-natal department for her photo-therapy. I took it with a grain of salt, since newborns are supposed to start smiling at one month old and are not supposed to see beyond 12 inches. IOnce we were home, however, we saw that Mishca didn't fit these stereotypes. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Every day since that first smile, Mishca would wake up grinning from ear to ear. It's something I have learned to anticipate every morning. Even if she hasn't have complete sleep, she'll give us a sweet toothless grin--the kind that makes her eyes crinkle into tiny Chinese slits. She tops that with a couple of excited kicks to show you how happy she is to see you. It's certainly a trait she didn't get from me—a night owl who is usually grouchy in the morning. It must be her way of thanking God for bringing her into this world. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I wonder how many of us greet the world with a smile every morning? I want to be like her. I want to always wake up grateful and passionate about life. I realize that smiling is a form of worship, too. And God must be smiling down on Mishca as she lifts her eyes up to heaven and beams. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">MOVE. </span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Stretching is one of Mishca's favorite activities. She spends a good five minutes lifting her arms and legs when she wakes up. She makes such a display of this that one day I decided to mimic her moves. And boy, did it feel great! In the busyness of daily life, I've forgotten the pure pleasure stretching can bring. Now I take time to stretch. It saves me spa money, and removes the aches and pains associated with nursing a baby. Our bodies are really meant for movement. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">My daughter just loves the heart and flower mobile that came with her play yard. The mobile with its simple “Rock-a-bye Baby” ditty never fails to elicit a smile from her, as her eyes track the revolving objects with delight. When she hit her first month, we noticed that she would kick her legs in time with the music. The moment the song stops, she would also stop moving her limbs until someone re-winds the mobile for her. And so we learned that this is how an infant stays fit even while staying in bed day and night. I don't know if Mishca got this habit because I was doing aerobics exercises from the first month until the day I went into labor. The exercise routine was supposed to help facilitate her birth. Now that life is back to normal and I'm busy taking care of her without a nanny, I have to remind myself to squeeze in some time for exercise so that I can catch with her when she starts running!</span></b></span></span></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">EAT WELL.</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> My 6.8-pound baby latched on to me the very moment she was placed on my chest. That was how we were introduced to each other. And she suckled with all her might! I was taught in childbirth class that newborn babes take several minutes to find the breast to take in their first food. Not so with Mishca, who instinctively found my nipples and was so eager to suck that I ended up with sore and bruised nipples the next day. I tried to express milk using an electric breast pump while at the hospital, but instead of milk, blood came out. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I stopped nursing for a few days, resorting to infant formula until I got well. We eventually did mix feeding, supplementing with formula as we waited for my milk supply to catch up. Her pediatrician and my OB GYNE were warning me of nipple confusion, common among infants who are introduced to the bottle before they have mastered breastfeeding. These infants eventually favor the bottle since it takes less effort to express milk from it. Although I was eager to breastfeed Mishca exclusively, the belief that I might not have enough milk to nourish my baby made me continue supplementing with infant formula. Mishca, however, never gave up on me. She kept nursing even if she didn't seem to be getting a lot of milk. She was so patient that it sometimes took us one and a half hours to feed. More so, if given the choice, she would choose my milk over the bottle. There were nights she would cry and reject the formula we offered. Only nursing she quieted her. We noticed that she's calmer and happier when fed with breast milk. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mishca may be too young to know this but she's already making the right food choices. Breast milk is said to have 100 or so nutrients that are not found in baby formula and cannot be synthesized in a laboratory. Its benefits are too many to count. It is said to curb childhood obesity, gives babies antibodies to fight germs and is an IQ booster. Milk manufacturers simply cannot copy God's natural provision for babies. The cow's milk we fed her during the first month was not only less nutritious, it gave her gas pain. It was excruciating to watch her cry because of tummy trouble. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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</span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Upon the pediatrician's advice, we shifted to a soy-based formula. True enough the gas pain was gone but this time she suffered from constipation lasting as long as 3 days. This gave me the determination to continue breastfeeding, expressing milk with a manual pump when my nipples were sore or bruised. When Mishca turned two months old, my milk was already more abundant. In a surprise out-of-town trip on my birthday, all we brought with us, aside from her clothes and diapers, was one bottle filled, not with formula, but with water. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We are now happily nursing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I feel no more pain, just the pure pleasure of being able to nourish and nurture my child. Having her sleep in my arms after feeding is a memory that I'll cherish for a long, long time. As a bonus, it took me less than 3 months to lose 34 lbs. I am now officially back to my pre-pregnancy weight. That was achieved without any vigorous exercise. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I have heard of moms whose babies stopped breastfeeding altogether after being introduced to the bottle. I'm grateful that my daughter stuck by me while I was dilly-dollying because of the pain and the wrong belief that my body was not capable of completely feeding my child. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The whole ordeal has made me realize that my decisions, big or small, directly impacts the future of the child. That sobered me up! It also made me promise to make healthy food choices every day. I need to be more careful about what I put into my mouth, knowing that everything I ingest goes into my baby. It takes just a moment to decide to down that junk food, instead of, say, the more nutritious salad. The momentary pleasure I get from giving in to a sinful craving is not worth the trade off for how will these compounding wrong decisions affect my body and hers in the long run? </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">TELL.</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Mishca communicates very well even without the benefit of speech. Early on, she'd tell us if she didn't like something. One thing she doesn't like is having her head covered while sleeping. We tried to put a bonnet on her to keep her warm, but she would remove it. She'd even shout a loud “Aaaaaah. . .” to communicate her displeasure. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">In the early days, we became worried when she'd cry immediately after wetting her diaper. Why sometimes she'd even start crying before she wets the diaper! Her dad and I have learned to run for cover whenever that happened. It made her consume more diapers during the first month. We asked her pediatrician if this was normal. Instead of saying that we have an overly sensitive baby, her doctor encouraged us. “It's a good thing. She won't ever get diaper rash. I'd failed to see it from that angle. True enough she has no need for nappy rash cream. Now Michael thanks her whenever she tells us she needs to be changed. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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</span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">When Mishca turned two months old, she learned to use coos to tell me that she needed to eat. She would look me in the eye and plead like a grown-up, using her voice to stress the urgency of her need. She coupled that with a pained expression on her face. It would become a long litany when I failed to read her cues. If I prolong her agony, that's the time she'd out a cry. The funny thing was I have to let her finish her “sentence” before latching her. She doesn't want to be interrupted when she's telling me something. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">In the wee hours, Mishca would stir in her cot to indicate that she needs to eat. When she was a newborn, I was so conscious of her every move that I was able to meet her needs right away. Now that she's bigger, sleep has become deeper for me and so my daughter taught herself how to physically rouse me from sleep. On her third month, she began to pat me on the side to wake me up. Sometimes if we're both fully conscious I am gifted with a sweet smile upon rising and offering milk. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">My daughter challenges me to be a better communicator. She has inspired me to be more vocal, to stop assuming that people know or can read my mind. Because of her, I want to be more truthful and transparent —in a positive way. How many times have I kept silent hoping to avoid offending someone only to make the situation worse? And how many times have I withheld words of appreciation from those who deserve it just because I felt embarrassed to express how I truly feel? </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mishca is growing up so fast. I find myself wanting to stop time sometimes. I'm very grateful have this special time with her. I'm savoring every moment of it, and like a good student, trying to learn as much as I can from this precocious little blessing.</span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Subscribe to </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MommySolutions" target="_blank">MOMMY SOLUTIONS by clicking this</a>.</span></strong></div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855046872185737555.post-12665887988805416252011-12-19T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:56:44.625-08:00My Quest for A Healthy Pregnancy<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It all started when we decided to have a baby. That very day I raided my toiletry cabinet and found that a lot of the beauty products I was using had this sentence in fine print: </b></span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Not Suitable for Pregnant Women</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A quick research made me discover that a lot of the ingredients in my lotions, whitening products, shampoo, deodorant, sunblock and even toothpaste are bad for the health. Some mimic the hormone estrogen and with repeated use can cause tumors and cancer. Some cause endocrinal and reproductive malfunction. More so, if you use these while you are pregnant, it can affect the development of your unborn child. And so, off to the trash with 3/4 of those products went.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some of my DREADED Ingredients:</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Phthalates--can cause tumors, infertility and birth defects</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Triclosan--endocrinal malfunction, infertility</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Parabens--allergenic and causes premature aging</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">BHT/BHA--can cause tumors and cancer</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)-- irritant</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I wanted to go all natural so I searched the net for alternatives. I did find plenty of organic substitutes such as honey as facial wash, lemon to whiten the skin and oats as a natural scrub, but I knew that with my lifestyle, I wouldn't be able to prepare these on a daily basis.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The next solution was to find imported organic products. Not only did they put a big dent on my pocket, but the shampoos I tried gave me frizzy hair. They were just not made for the tropics.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Then, a friend suggested the local brand </b></span><a href="http://www.leyende.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Leyende</span></b></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>, maker of organic soaps and lotions. I tried their cleverly named facial wash and lotion and instantly fell in love. My husband loved the scent too. Smells like pastry. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I was ecstatic to discover there were already quite a few local organic brands in the market. And their products can give those imported brands a run for their money. I found </b></span><a href="http://miletnbea.multiply.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Milea</span></b></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>'s mineral make-up on Multiply. They also carry a line of bath, beauty and baby products. Their Coffee Body Salt Scrub became my only coffee fix since I'm sensitive to caffeine. I also love </b></span><a href="http://www.ilogmaria.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></a><a href="http://www.ilogmaria.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Ilog Maria</span></b></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>'s hand-made soaps. And just between us, I use their Ilang-Ilang Massage Oil as perfume. It's the only fragrance I've found that doesn't irritate my skin and nose.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCtUMOelgN2ZhDi_rRxII-stQ8udhXySswlDxeCZWD0kU40aoRRAzKdgmiof97Wj25TQA92qK5jWcwUoagXKyNSQr5FHDeT8DrAU5zWlyhjo-135tIejKyrkfr0MzV-Bf8j2VWaREXB8/s1600/IMG_6451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCtUMOelgN2ZhDi_rRxII-stQ8udhXySswlDxeCZWD0kU40aoRRAzKdgmiof97Wj25TQA92qK5jWcwUoagXKyNSQr5FHDeT8DrAU5zWlyhjo-135tIejKyrkfr0MzV-Bf8j2VWaREXB8/s400/IMG_6451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>And then there's </b></span><a href="http://www.humaneartnature.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Human Nature</span></b></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>--my best find ever. Created by Meloto Sisters (daughters of Kawad Kalinga's Tony Meloto), Human Heart Nature offers an inexpensive line of beauty, skin care, bath and baby products with a cause. Every time you buy their products, a portion of the proceeds goes to support local farmers who harvest raw materials for their all-natural ingredients. I am addicted to their shampoo with creamfoam technology, their lip balm, hand sanitizer and handy pocket soap. My husband loves their cocoa butter, goat's milk and guava lotion (Yikes, I don't know if he'll want you to know this!) and their vitamin-infused day and night cream. I can go on and on about their world-class products because they have an ever expanding line and their product formulations just keep getting better.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>My baby daughter Mishca was groomed to be a Human Nature baby even before she came out of the womb. Not wanting to have any toxic chemical touch her skin, I brought HN's baby wash to the hospital and asked the nurses to use it for her first bath. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>All these products can be bought online. Make sure you order from their company's main website to be sure you get your orders. These are established brands that offer secure online shopping. As a busy mom, I really appreciate the time I save by buying online. Thank God for these healthy alternatives!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MommySolutions" target="_blank">MOMMY SOLUTIONS by clicking this</a>. </b></span></div>Jennifer Y. Caspe-Cocuacohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10417307509036986039noreply@blogger.com2