Welcome our New Baby in Between!

Welcome our new baby - Baby Raphael Paulo! Born last September 25, 2009, 2:50PM, via NSD, 5.06 lbs. He's only at 36 weeks, a month early from his supposedly birth date. Thank God we survived the placenta previa complication! And thanks to all for your prayers and support!

Breast Feeding vs. Baby Formula Feeding

The other day, my husband and I were talking about how I'll go about feeding our new baby once he comes out a month from now. I told him that I'll do mixed feeding, meaning I'll breastfeed and bottle feed at the same time. The reason: so it won't be difficult on my part to let baby get used to baby formula feeding once I returned to work. Just practical, I guess. But Daddy said, if he'd be the one to decide, he'd let me do breastfeeding alone because it's not only more nutritious for baby but it will allow us to enjoy more savings too.

I do agree with Daddy. Actually in the United States, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed because breast milk is not only the healthiest option but it is also free, allowing parents to save up to $2,000 for baby formula costs. However, there are some who choose to go on formula feeding rather than breast feeding for whatever reason. So, what the WIC does is that it introduced a new food package to encourage breastfeeding. Now, if a mom chooses the breastfeeeding package, she will no longer receive any infant formula. And if she chooses mixed feeding or total formula feeding, she will receive 13% less formula as compared to what was given last year. With these options, a mom will think otherwise about choosing formula feeding over breastfeeding because she will now have to pay more for buying regular formula on her own.

That's a great idea they got there at WIC. Of course, more mothers will be encouraged to do breastfeeding because less support is now given for infant formula. You know, if I'm not working, I'd be more than willing to do exclusive breastfeeding too. But then again, a few months after giving birth, I need to get back to work, which only means that baby has to settle on formula feeding while I'm away. Anyway, I'm looking at buying a less expesive formula so it won't be too hard on the budget. I tried this baby formula savings calculator to compare the cost of the brand I used to get for the baby in between and the Parent's Choice brand. Guess what? I could save with the latter as much as $56.94 per month. So, now I know what to get for my newbord, there's no doubt about that.

Pregnancy 33 Weeks: An Update

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I made the last update. And I know, you're all eager to know what's going on with me and my baby. We're still doing very much okay, so far we've already reached 33 weeks - a month or 4 weeks more to go before baby reaches full-term. I'm really praying hard that I'll reach up to 37 weeks. I'm no longer afraid of the thought that I'll go through cesarean delivery due to this placenta previa complication. As long as my baby is full-term, I'll take the sacrifice of the long recovery that goes with CS delivery.

So, what's with me and baby on 33rd week? Baby is still moving a lot while me here is moving very little. Waaahh! I'm still on bedrest. Imagine, I've been like this for over a month now. And believe me, it's no fun at all. Supposedly, since I'm on my 8th month, I should be nesting by now, the term they used when preggy women feel that sudden burst of energy to do things a month prior to delivery. If only I'm not restricted to do strenous activities, I could have been doing a lot of general cleaning right now. But I'm stuck in bed, so the only thing that makes me busy now is farming - that's right over there at Farmville, an FB application!

Oh, only a month for baby and me to go! On September 15, I'm off to my final ultrasound to determine whether the placenta is still there covering my cervix or if it migrated to clear the way for baby. I'm not very hopeful though, because last Sunday, I had another episode of bleeding, on which the bowl just turned red after I peed. Anyway, whatever the result is, I'm more than ready.