If there’s anything that I’ve learned after breastfeeding four kids, it is this: the experience with every child is different. Unlike other first-time mommies, I didn’t have any problems with nursing Erika, my eldest. Plus, I had lots of milk! Felix was a fussy baby. I actually had a harder time breastfeeding him than Erika. I thought that by the third try, things would come easy. Not really. Sam was lazy and so nursing him was frustrating. Kyle was a godsend. He was a happy baby

with a very pleasant demeanor. This issue is chockfull of such stories as well as cues and

clues to make breastfeeding the wonderful experience that it truly is.

What’s your breastfeeding story? We’d love to hear from you!

Nowadays, when I ask my pregnant friends if they plan to breastfeed, I almost always get a resounding, determination-filled “yes!” Getting such a positive reply means so much to me, because having been an active breastfeeding advocate ever since, I know it was not always this way. When I first became a mom almost a decade and a half ago, bottles, teats, and a can of formulawere part of a new mom’s shopping list. There was

practically no support for nursing moms in hospitals, and after birth. Now, thanks to breastfeeding

campaigns, passionate advocates, and awareness about this best form of nourishment and bonding, we are slowly changing the way breastfeeding is perceived in this country.

We still have a long way to go. With only 34 percent of Filipino moms breastfeeding their babies*, the task before us seems daunting. Nonetheless, I am very optimistic.

This issue is dedicated to all breastfeeding moms and my fellow advocate-moms, who, by the way, I hope to see and meet at our upcoming 5th Mommy Milkshake Run!** Happy World Breastfeeding Month to all!

*Source: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/philippines_statistics.html**Mommy Milkshake: A Fun Run for Breastfeeding, August 14, Bonifacio Global City

Note From The Editor

Publisher’s Memo

CONTACT USFor inquiries, call 470.9925 or 0918.930.0313 or email, urbanmom.magazine@gmail.com

Urban Mom is a lifestyle freezine for young, modern moms. Material appearing here may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission from the publisher and without proper credit. Urban Mom is published by MommyMundo, a division of Creative Juice Communications, Inc.www,mommymundo.com

Thank you and congratulations, Anna, for being our chosen letter sender! You win a gift from Havaianas!

Dear Urban Mom,

It’s my first time to read your magazine and I am loving it! Even your ads are very helpful and informative for a first time mom like me. Like what Chesca Garcia-Kramer shared on her story, I will constantly reinvent myself too. It feels good to realize that it is possible to become a successful mompreneur while at the same time enjoying modern motherhood. Thanks Urban Mom!—Anna Mohrell Pelegrino

WRITE US! WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!The chosen letter sender will receive a supply

of Cycles Mild Detergent

INBOX

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJing Lejano

MARKETINGMicky DarantinaoTiffany de Guzman

Nicole OrlinaDiane Nikolai Lopez

LAYOUTAnna Gutierrez

PUBLISHERSGary M. Villanueva

Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva

UrbanMom

Janice Villanueva

Jing Lejano

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2011 | VOL 3 NO. 4

ADMINISTRATIVEAngela De LunaArnel BanaresCristy Aguda

CREATIVE CONSULTANTJaymie Crisostomo-Pizarro

PHOTOGRAPHYJohn Mateos Ongof ImagineNation

“Actual prize may vary from photo”

I live in a building, a small one, an old one, which my family has owned for roughly 30 years now. This means I’ve lived here since the end of grade school, all through college, grad school, law school, and another 11 years after that. However, my father has died, my mom and siblings have emigrated and here I am with four floors of concrete. I am not alone in my little concrete tower. My husband Javi, seven-year-old son Marcus, and our new additions to the family, the twins Guada and Lucas, occupy the third and fourth floors. We also have our toy poodle Max, our German Shepherd Samson, and three yayas. I can talk about each room and each floor, all filled with memories of people who once lived and worked here but the fourth floor—all 200 or so square meters of it—is the garden floor, the gym, the party space, and once upon a time our bedroom when we were renovating the third floor. We have sliding doors and windows that invite the outside in so I can see the city I live in as plainly as I can hear the traffic below and inhale the smoke and soot of New Year’s Eve fireworks from Antipolo, Quezon City, Pasig, and Marikina.

The building faces west so that the side facing the road is bathed in intense heat in the afternoons but treated to

The View from the Fourth FloorBy Andrea Pasion-Flores

glorious sunsets. From this side, I have an eye-level view of the Eastwood City skyline, pockets of trees, and factory roofs. Behind the building, I have a panoramic view of the mountains of Antipolo.

The fourth floor is where my boys and I have breakfast. Guada and Lucas, not yet two months, are constantly having breakfast in bed but they will enjoy the view soon enough. The fourth floor, in case it’s not yet obvious, gives me an unobstructed view of the sky all within reach of a cup of coffee and conversations with visiting friends and family.

Marcus grew up counting airplanes—all emanating from some point on the left when we face west (from the vicinity of the three NAIAs no doubt). They zip by so regularly he no longer says, “Look, Mom, an airplane.” It’s more like, “Look, Mom, Philippine Airlines.” Once, he rescued an injured bird that dropped from the awning into a plant only for it to die the day after. My husband once ambitiously decided he wanted a bonsai collection and Filipino antiques, so that’s what we have in the fourth floor. The fourth floor, space made comfortable for a husband, a seven-year-old, two babies, a poodle, and a German Sheperd is, from where I sit, a view I can live with.

My Favorite Place NEST

Staying in Nursing at home

Nursing in public

The first few months of your baby’s life is precious, made more intimate by the marvelous experience that is breastfeeding. Nothing else is as important, it seems, as cradling your beloved in your arms, nourishing him into well-being.

This experience can be more special if you elude some of the inconveniences

usually associated with breastfeeding.

For starters, choose a nice setting for the many days and nights that

you’ll be breastfeeding your baby. Pick out nice and cozy spots around

the house where you can breastfeed comfortably. You needn’t always do it in

your room or the nursery.Find out the best position that works

best for you and your baby. Are you better off lying down or sitting up? Get yourself properly geared up as well. There are nursing pillows that embrace mommy’s tummy and nursing bras that gently prop up your breasts.

More importantly, never ever forget yourself. Taking care of an infant is a 24/7 job, but if you don’t take care of yourself first, you’ll soon suffer from some sort of burnout. Eat properly. Drink lots of water. Sleep when you can. And psyche yourself for those long breastfeeding sessions. Have a book handy or play some games on your favorite gadget. If you encounter problems, ask for help immediately. Your family and friends would be more than happy to lend you a hand.

Filipinos love going to the mall, and more so the urban mom who can finish off her to-do list just by going around a mall’s various service centers. Fortunately, our malls have become breastfeeding-friendly, providing moms with nursing stations so that they may feed their babes in a serene environment.

SM Supermalls has 24 Breastfeeding Stations across their malls nationwide. Ayala Malls has its Family Corner, a lounge where mom can breastfeed while her husband reads the papers and kids play with their toys. There’s a Family Corner at Glorietta and Alabang Town Center. Rustan’s Makati has an elegantly decorated Nursing Station that actually looks like a showroom. It even provides baby products for you and your baby to use.

Definitely, breastfeeding in public has become a fuss-free endeavor with the help of these establishments. But before you venture outside, here are two things to keep in mind:

• Dress appropriately. There are now ingeniously designed nursing wear that allows you to feed your baby without showing an inch of skin. No nursing wear? Grab a shawl to make for an easy cover-up.

• Anticipate your baby’s needs. Don’t wait till the last minute to scoot over the nursing station. By that time, your baby maybe bawling his head off in hunger. Be conscious of his feeding time, always.

Going Out

PLAYTIME

LEXI SCHULZE’S NO NONSENSE APPROACH

TO MOTHERHOOD IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM.

SpiritedWillfulness

STORY BY JING LEJANOPHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MATEOS ONG

OF IMAGINE NATIONNENA COSMETICS BY MAKEUP ARTIST RUEL PAPA

CLOTHES FROM MOMMY MATTERS

t’s almost twelve in the afternoon. Lexi Schulze and her

hubby Javi Berenguer Testa along with their daughters Alba and Bruna are sitting under a giant of a tree. True, the tree provides more than ample shade, but it’s almost noon. You’d think Lexi would complain, and rightly so because she has a six-month-old daughter to think of, but she doesn’t. Ever the professional, she smiles, asks her six-year-old daughter Alba to sit with her, and gamely poses with her husband. This is just another day in Lexi Schulze’s blissfully jam-packed life.

That Lexi is beautiful is an understatement. She is, after all, a member of the legendary Revilla clan—the very same family whose beautiful women—and of course, handsome men—have fascinated generations of Filipinos. But what makes Lexi so beautiful is not just her exquisite features, but her spirited willfulness. She’s the type of woman who’ll make her own destiny, and how!

“I am an advocate of women,” she says. We are at her dining table, talking about breastfeeding and how some women have become such hardliners when it comes to promot-ing it. While it is a given that breast milk is the best nourishment for ba-bies, whether a mother breastfeeds or not has become yet another barometer of whether she is a good mom or a bad mom. Lexi says, “I just feel that some women are so

judgmental. It’s a choice. Every mom should have a choice when it comes to breastfeeding.”

Lexi’s own breastfeeding story is one from the trenches. Before the shoot, she had just spent a couple of hours at the hospital because her breasts had clogged. She was in pain for hours. And the thing is, the same thing had happened to her quite recently; her breasts had to be massaged for the breast milk to be expressed. Clogged milk ducts, if not treated promptly and effectively, could lead to serious infections of the breasts.

After that last episode, Lexi decided to stop breastfeeding altogether. She had breastfed her baby Bruna for the past six months, but now the experience had become a painful one.

Lexi had wanted to breastfeed Bruna for a year, but at the end of the day, she felt that she had done her best.

Mothering, Lexi StyleHer no-apologies attitude is what makes her such a great mother. When she believes in the intrinsic rightness of something, it seems, there is no stopping her from doing it. In her family, she is known as a strict mom. When Lexi says it, she means it.

“Children would do well with a world of structure,” she says. This accounts to her commitment to teach her children good manners (“I go, ‘Alba,

you have to say hi to everybody.’”), her vow to regulate her six-year-old daughter’s sugar intake (“Of course, for other people, it’s nice, but then return to sender ‘yan, so paano na ‘yan?), and her adherence to routines when it comes to her children’s everyday schedule.

But lest you think that Lexi is such a stickler for routine, she knows and appreciates the value of variety and flexibility. She explains, “Although I love structure for my kids, I want my days to be different all the time. I’m blessed that my days are different. I have tapings Tuesdays. I do hosting, pinch-hitting. The regular is that I spend time with my kids.”

Lately, Lexi has rediscovered her love for the arts. “Being mom is my biggest role, but I also still need my identity… I have my painting classes. I started eight weeks ago. I really draw. I wanted to be a Disney cartoonist in grade school. I want to be an artist… You need these small pockets of time for yourself.” Hosting a television show, writing for publications, taking care of two daughters, nurturing her relationship with her husband, and managing a household: These are more than enough to fill any woman’s cup. And ever the sensible woman, Lexi admits she doesn’t get the balancing act right all the time.

She says, “Tell me someone who has gotten it perfect. I want to do a one-on-one with her.”

URBANMOTHER

I

“ “

Being mom is my biggest role, but I also still need my identity… I have my painting classes. I started eight weeks ago. I really draw. I wanted to be a Disney cartoonist in

grade school. I want to be an artist… You need these small pockets of time for yourself.

Breastfeeding need not cramp your style as these wouldn’t-have-guessed-they’re-for-nursing clothes show.

Here, some easy-to-do moves from Lactation

expert Lita Nery.

Mommy-licious!

Breast Care 101

Date Night!A relaxed-fitting above the knee dress with side pockets To nurse:

Use diagonal front panels

Work It!Close-fitting sleeveless dress of stretch fabric To nurse: Use peephole slit up front

Play with MeSuper-soft basic

crewneck shirt: Wear as is or fold up

the cap sleeves To nurse:

Use side panel openings

Lounge AroundWide leg knitted

pants with sleeveless tank

To nurse: Use front panel

openings

Afternoon DelightSleeveless

cotton top with embroidery details

To nurse: Lift blouse to

access nursing opening hidden

inside

• Check your breasts before and after each feeding. Massage them to prevent clogs, or keep them from getting worse.

• It’s best not to wash and soap your breasts all the time. It will deprive your breasts of its natural oils.

• Before feeding, wipe your breasts with a warm towel to prevent sore nipples.

• Breast milk actually acts as a moisturizer. Place some on your nipples to prevent them from getting sore.

• Replace your nursing pads regularly. Those made of cotton or fabric are preferred.

“All clothes from Mommy Matters. Visit www.shopmommymatters.com”

BEAUTYANDBODY

Best advice receivedDon’t bring bottles to the hospital. The temptation to give a bottle during the early days is highest because mommy and baby are still learning to latch. Instead bring a list of phone numbers of friends who have successfully breastfed and breastfeeding professionals. Best advice given Think happy thoughts! As my husband puts it, breastfeeding is 99 percent mind work and one percent body work. But if a mom feels doubtful about her milk supply or if she has negative feelings, the breast milk, no matter how bountiful, wouldn’t flow out. If mom feels anything negative, all she has to do is close her eyes, take a few deep breaths, think happy thoughts, and the milk will flow freely.--Abbie Yabot, mom of four, La Leche League leader and Breastfeeding Club founder

Best advice received Our body is amazing! Visualize your breasts as a factory as opposed to a dam, warehouse, or storage facility. We can and do produce milk on demand. So long as the baby needs it, we will keep producing it. This empowered me and gave me the confidence to understand the whole concept of supply and demand.

Best advice givenThe goal of breastfeeding is sufficiency, such a beautiful thing. As much as there is the concern of not producing enough milk, overproduction needs to be managed as well. There are many women concerned with making milk that is more than what her baby needs and sometimes, this false expectation is a barrier to breastfeeding success.--Buding Dee, mom of threeL.A.T.C.H. president and co-founder

Best advice receivedDrink when your baby drinks and sleep when your baby sleeps. Master the art of breastfeeding lying down; this breastfeeding position is definitely a lifesaver!

Best advice givenIn the first few days of your baby’s life, you will not see your milk even if you squeeze your breasts. If your baby poops and pees regularly (at least 3 bowel movements per day and at least 5 urine outputs a day once your baby is 5 days old), has active alert periods, and breastfeeds frequently, he’s doing fine. —Pat Kho, mom of two, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant

Best advice receivedDon’t stress over it and don’t be pressured. Hot compress works! Best advice givenBreastfeeding works differently for each mom. Don’t feel bad if you can’t breastfeed. It doesn’t make you less of a mom and it doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. Don’t allow others to judge you if you can’t breastfeed.—Bubbles Salvador, mom of one

We asked urban moms:“What’s the best breastfeeding advice you’ve received and given?”

URBANMOMQ&A

Breastfeeding Secrets

Nursing aids to help make breastfeeding easier.

Embraceable Me!The Love Loop acts as tummy cover

for pregnant mamas, nursing cover for nursing

moms, and scarf or shawl for all you pretty mommies!

www.shopmommymatters.com

Totally for Mommy Techy Total Baby is a downloadable app for your Iphone, Ipod Touch, and Ipad that keeps a digital record of nursing sessions, diaper changes,

doctor visits, development milestones, and a whole lot more.

Store AwayReusable, stackable, and

shatterproof, the Medela 80ml Breast Milk Storage

Containers lets you store and freeze your

breast milk with ease. medelamoms@gmail.com

FAVEFINDS

Give Mama Some Love!

Beads of Distraction Sturdy safe, and stylish, Mommy Necklaces distract breastfeeding baby’s attention and wandering hands while nursing.www.fabnaima.multiply.com.

Full SupportThat’s what you’ll get with You! Lingerie Bra. It has a soft cotton lining to help prevent chafing of delicate skin, molded cups to hide breast pads, and a four-hook back closure. www.fabnaima.multiply.com

Yummy Mommy Treats

Made by a nursing mom and tested by other

mommies, these baked goodies help nursing moms increase their

milk supply. http://mommytreats.

multiply.com.

Organic Tracker The lead-free Organic Mama Nursing Bracelet helps a nursing mom keep track of

the last feeding and which breast baby nursed on. www.fabnaima. multiply.com

By Candice Cu-Yaw

You Are Your Brand!Rone Guerrero, the mompreneur behind online shop Mothering Earthlings, gave a few tips and tricks on how women can brand themselves as full-time mompreneurs in her talk, Brand Me. Mompreneurs and mom bloggers attended the event.

Babywearers Meet Up!Babywearing mommies and their hubbies recently gathered at the Starbucks outlet of MC Home Depot in Bonifacio Global City. It was a fun event with mommies sharing their babywearing experiences. (Photo courtesy of painterswife.com).

Raise EntrepreneursTeacher Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin, founder and directress of the Multiple Intelligence International School, shared her concepts and insights on how parents and educators can help children develop an entrepreneurial mind in her book, 8 Simple Secrets to Raising Entrepreneurs.

Expo Mom Goes to CebuExpo Mom, the highly successful bazaar for and by moms, went to Cebu this year. Mommy Mundo sponsors, vendor partners, and mompreneurs went side by side with the latest products and services from their Cebu counterparts. The event was a partnership between Mommy Mundo and Gymboree Cebu.

Daddy’s TurnMommy Mundo celebrated fatherhood last June with a basketball training camp for dads and dads-to-be led by Coach Xavy Nunag. Sponsors include Gatorade, Havaianas, Spin, GSK, Moms Today, Citibank, and Lifestyle Network.

Juday for Johnson & Johnson’sJudy Ann Santos talks about why she likes Johnson’s Baby Milk Bath for her and her kids, Johann and Lucho. She also shares how her life has amazingly changed since being a mother.

EVENTSINTHECITY

CLASSIFIEDS