looove this movie though

 1) It is never like the movies. I’ve always  imagined that when I’m due I would yell to dear hubby the line “My Water Broke” (with matching cussing) and then we’ll go to the hospital give birth blah blah cue music. My previous post was about my birthing story and enduring contractions for one whole day. I started my contractions at 7 in the morning and gave birth at 12:45 a.m. I asked to be sedated three times. ARAY.

manila broke the world record for breastfeeding

2) The Booby Show. Breastfeeding moms have always been shown with soft lights, mom quietly smiling, baby happily feeding. Uuuh no. The first time I entered our hospital’s breastfeeding room, I smelled milk but after that I saw breasteses and boobelyas hanging out everywhere. As in, mommies pumping, feeding, burping babies, laughing and talking — all with boobs exposed, parang wala lang. It also seemed that they were all friends already and I was intruding on a private party. I smiled at them and I was trying to be very conscious at not staring at their chests, went to an empty chair and waited for David. When I went to the nursery, David was already fed so we just hung out, parang EB, hi hello, how are you?. But darn those boobs were distracting and the sound of the industrial strength Medela milk machine…EEERR IIIRR EEER URRR…scary.

3) I became Cryola/Emo girl. I didn’t cry during our wedding (only during the reception speech and I only had a few sniffles) but those pregnancy hormones really gang up on you when you least expect it. I was crying in my hospital room, I was crying in the hotel lobby while waiting for my baby, I was crying in our room at our house while staring at my son who was quietly sleeping. My husband, my mom and my titas saw me crying all the time. I scared myself with all that crying and I actually thought I had post-partum blues. A tita told me “labanan mo” and I did. I didn’t want my crying to get in the way of enjoying my baby’s firsts and in my learning process. Shout out to my hubby too who was the model of patience during this trying time.

4) What’s the Outside World Like?.  I realized soon after giving birth that I may as well bid adios to any personal time now. We were so deprived of the outiside world that the first time my husband and I went to a mall after I gave birth, my husband got sooo excited. As in. Abot tenga ang ngiti as if we were on a date. We went out to buy newborn clothes (the ones we had then were still big for our baby) and plastic trays to organize David’s things. We hoarded a lot of stuff in a matter of 3 hours.  I was anxious to go home but the husband wasn’t ready to go home yet. Do you know where we went?

EVER GOTESCO COMMONWEALTH! sarap tumambay dyan...not

5) Bad Hair Day Everyday. When I was pregnant, I don’t think any of my hair fell out. As a result, I had really thick and really shiny hair but these same hormones have also made my hair fall out and be as limp as overcooked spaghetti noodles. Looking at the bright side, it’s as if I got my hair relaxed. I’m not familiar with the hair on my head anymore. We need to get to know each other, go out on a date, treat it to a nice hair spa or maybe a nice color, but I need time and well…see #4.

my hair held together by paper clips, hey at least one of 'em is pink!

6) Blah Blah Baby Blah Blah Baby. When I got pregnant, I promised myself that I wouldn’t turn into those women who can only talk about their babies or kids. I am interested in knowing about their babies but not all the time, there are showbiz chikas and new shoes to talk about too ya know. Well, guess what, I am one of them now. However, I’ve learned that people are actually interested about my baby but I’ve kept the constant babbling with other mom friends. With my single friends, I’ve kept it at a minimum and I only share when asked.

7) Invest in a good eyecream. Given that I get at least 6 hours of sleep a day, my eyes have developed a set of sagging bags that could rival my mom’s Samsonite luggage set. But my mom’s set is red, mas chika, mine is black, sometimes it turns to gray. Either way, the look is versatile, I can be a racoon or a zombie give or take an extra hour of sleep. I am currently using a roll-on for the eyes that is currently endorsed by the daughter of our nation’s megastar. I’m not sure if its working as I still don’t look like the daughter.

Babies smell soooo good! Not everytime sister (or brother). Your little angel cooing at you can set off a fart bomb like a full grown adult. The first time my son passed noxious gas, my husband and I can’t believe it. I thought my son ate something bad. I soon realized it was a warning of a bigger bomb which leads us to…

9) Doing the Doodie Diaper Duty. Between me and my hubby, I do it. The hubby has done it a couple of times but it’s mostly me. The hubby does it with a can of lysol at the ready. For me,  I just grin and bear it. It’s literally a dirty job but the mom’s gotta do it.

our room's milk and diaper station

 10) Nothing says I Love You like…Uy! Ang Payat Mo Na!!” I gained 50 lbs during my pregnancy. I gave myself license to eat anything and everything. When I was ordered by my OB to take a week off from work to rest, I felt so sorry for myself that I ate a big KFC meal to calm me down.  Alas, it came at a price. During my maternity leave, the stationery bike became my 2nd best friend (the first was my breast pump). Then I cut off rice, then ordered a herbalife starter pack (didn’t like the shake but looooved the herbal tea). I still have a mushy middle but I can wear my skinny jeans now without creating a really big muffin top .

Here’s a tip, the second best thing you could say to a mom after HANG CUTE NG BEBE MO! Is, wow, ang payat mo na agad! Emphasis on the AGAD. Haha

me at 28 weeks

Oh well the journey continues Fellow moms, what have you learned so far?

image sources: 1, 2, 3