Conquering Constipation

During Lia's first seven months of life, we never had any issues in her bowel habits.  She would poop without difficulty even if sometimes, she would skip a day or two without soiling her nappy with #2. However, after I stopped expressing breast milk and we started giving her 100% formula every day, we started encountering challenges in her bowel movement. :(  Our battle against constipation has begun.

How does one know a baby is constipated?  According to Baby Center, these are some of the usual signs:

1. Crying and discomfort, irritability or pain before doing a poo.
2. Dry, hard, pellet-like poo that she has trouble passing.
3. Fewer than three bowel movements a week.
4. Foul-smelling wind and poo.
5. Loss of appetite.
6. A hard belly.

In Lia's case, signs #1, #2, #3, and #6 are spot on. She would grimace and grunt and sometimes, there's even blood. :( It's always very difficult for me seeing her strain to poop, she would even cry. We tried a lot of things with the guidance of her pedia: we encouraged her to drink more water, we gave her laxatives and even suppositories (which she hated a lot), and we tried a number of milk brands to find out which would be hiyang with her tummy.  I researched and researched and researched and nothing worked. This went on for several months and it bothered us greatly. :(  Even our choice of solid food for her became very limited, as any wrong type of food may aggravate her constipation. 

Two weeks ago, we went back to her pedia to discuss the issue once again, and this time, a new milk brand came up, one we haven't heard before. It's Hipp Organic. Doc Nik said she heard it's good with constipation because the formulation is closer to that of breast milk.  The brand isn't popular but we went for it.  Anything that may help our baby.

You know what I think about it? It's heaven sent!!! Lia has been taking it for a week and since she started, she would poop 'beautifully' everyday. (I never imagined myself describing poop as beautiful, ever!!! Hehe.) She also seems to like the taste.  With Promil Gold, she would only consume 30 ounces everyday on the average, but with Hipp, she's drinking up to 44! So far, I'm really loving Hipp! 

Let me tell you more about Hipp based on what I've researched so far:

HiPP Organic, as the name suggests, is an organic milk brand from Germany. According to its USA website, HiPP "contains important prebiotics and omegas, but doesn’t contain any of the questionable additives of other brands, and no brown rice syrup like the US Organic formulas. HiPP uses the finest organic ingredients in milk, which means no chemical pesticides and no GM ingredients. The company has been researching breastmilk for over 50 years, so you can rely on their formula including the ingredients your baby needs to grow strong and healthy (like iron, vitamins A, C and D and PRÆBIOTIK® oligosaccharides (GOS)."

HiPP is not yet popular in the Philippines because it was only introduced here towards the end of 2013 (if not early 2014), and it's far from being the top-of-mind brand among pediatricians yet. But to moms who struggle against constipation in their babies, I super swear by it! Of course, every kid is different, and one thing that works on one baby may not work for the other. But still, it's worth a try, especially if you've tried several other ways to no avail like I did. As for the price, it's a little bit more expensive than other brands. Promil Gold's 1.8kg costs around PhP2,100, while Hipp's 900g is already PhP1,340 which makes it PhP2,680 if only it had a 1.8kg SKU. HiPP is sold in all Mercury Drug outlets but not in SM.

Hooray for HiPP! :) By the way, this is NOT a sponsored post. I am just overjoyed to conquer Lia's constipation that I couldn't help but share. ;)

Cheers,

"Mama"

Ever since I carried a baby in my womb, I think I have become a hundred times more emotional.  I guess that's one thing about being a mommy, you get in touch with your feelings more. Just recently, I saw a video that made me cry.  It's a film by Anmum called "Mama." 

I love how it mirrors what many Filipino mothers go through during pregnancy.  And the song! I am in love with the song and the voice of the baby! Super duper cute! :)

During the time when I was pregnant with Lia, I watched other Anmum films which made me shed very emo tears, the English ones.  Naka-relate ako nang sobra!

Haaay, motherhood.  The things it can do to your heart. Ang sarap sarap sarap maging nanay talaga. :)  Good job, Anmum Philippines! :)

Cheers,

Ten Months

Happy 10 months, baby girl! :)

If last month your first two teeth were only emerging, now you have four already!  After the two at the bottom, two came out on your upper gum: one on the middle (it's missing a partner) and another one on the far side. You always grit your baby teeth! Perhaps it's because the sound gritting makes and the feeling of having something inside your mouth are new to you. :)

Her first three teeth! :)  The fourth one is hiding.

Like mommy, you always sleep clutching something in your hand, either your lampin hankie or the blanket. When neither is within your reach, you grasp the corner of your pillow instead. :)

Your hankie (aside from your thumb-sucking) gives you comfort while sleeping :)

And speaking of sleeping, you almost always have sleepies ("muta" in Filipino) on your eyes in the morning!  These are not tiny sleepies, mind you. Malalaki!  Hehe. 

You have also been practicing standing and walking, baby. You have strong arms and legs, I won't be surprised if you'd start walking without support earlier than expected.  You just have to learn how to balance. :)  You are also very confident and bold! There are times when you stand up and suddenly let go of whatever it is you're holding on to!  You think you can be on your own already? :) You need a lot more practice, baby doll. 

You are amazed with people's hands and feet.  Whenever your lolo and lola show you how to do the age-old baby trick "close-open," you watch attentively and sometimes you can do it.  I've also seen you clap your hands several times already! :) You're just not consistent. :) Also, you are fascinated by mommy's colored toes.  You watch my toes closely every time you see them move on the bed, and most times, you try to "catch" them.  Of course I never let you because they're dirty. =P

Of all your milestones and developmental progress, there's this one fact that has always remained constant - your being a happy baby.  And your dad and I love that trait of you the most. :)  Of course you have episodes of bad mood and stranger anxieties, but most of the time, you are just bubbly and smiling and giggling.  You crack up at the silliest antics of your dad, you jump up and down just hearing me sing your favorite dance tunes. Your laughter is not just a simple chuckle.  It's loud and hard and with gigil.  Hehehe.

Now before I end, here's your 10th month diaper shot!  You see how different this is from all your diaper shots in the past?  Here you're not lying on your back because you're super duper malikot now! I tried to make you lie flat on the bed but you just kept on getting up! Eventually, I gave up and took this photo of you sitting and about to snatch my phone. Hehe. Laki ng tiyan mo baby! :)

We love you everyday, baby doll! :)


Cheers,

The Last of the Holidays

Today is a Sunday, and tomorrow, January 04, is officially the first workday of the year. I have been on vacation since the 23rd of December, you can just imagine how challenging it would be for me to get up tomorrow and bring myself back to the grind.  The past several days with hubby and our little baby doll has been very delightful, and leaving her again with the yaya while we spend hours at the office is the most difficult of all. For days, I've been doing a sad countdown in my head, until this morning.

Our family went to Mass, and as I prayed, I thanked God for all the blessings in our life.  My long list included my work, which I am going back to tomorrow.  I realized, why would I dread something which I have always been grateful for?  My job and the people I work with are beyond amazing, I can't imagine myself working some place else at this point in my life.  I should feel lucky because not everyone has a job to go back to after the holidays, many may even be praying that the vacation be over so they could resume hunting for one.  So yes, I am lucky.  I am blessed.  

As I spend the last of the holidays today, this is the prayer of my heart.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the long vacation You gave us that allowed us to rest and spend happy moments with our little family.  As we go back to work tomorrow, may You keep this happiness in our hearts.  Help us remember that like the gift of family, our job, too, is a gift from You and that we should cherish it and appreciate it.  Whenever we would feel stressed or pressured, give us strength and patience. When we get overwhelmed, give us courage and wisdom.  When we feel the urge to complain, remind us that You are our Big Boss and no one else.  Help us trust that You will always be by our side as we complete every single task, big or small, this new year will bring.  

All praises and glory and honor to You, Lord.

Amen.

Cheers,