My Pregnancy Chronicles: My Search for Affordable Nursing Bras

The first noticeable change in my body when I got pregnant was my breasts. They just grew overnight! Fitting into my underwear soon became a problem, plus wearing anything under-wired was uncomfortable. And thus, my first pregnancy-related purchase was a soft-padded non-wired bandeau bra from B. It definitely gave my growing boobies more room to breathe, but a bandeau is a bandeau -- it didn't offer much support. Still, I happily stuck with it for several months.

When I made it to my third trimester, I started to go shopping. I went to M, and happily noted that they have both maternity bras and nursing bras. The cheapskate in me just couldn't see the sense in buying a maternity bra when I'll just be wearing it for a couple months. I still have my bandeaus anyway. I was thinking that it would probably be wiser for me to buy a nursing bra so that at least I get to use it longer. But, maternity or nursing, those babies are expensive! I went to another maternity store AL and it costs even more there! Gaaah.

Anyway, my next dilemma was when to buy one. The books I read and the sites I visited gave different suggestions. Some said it can be purchased as early as the 8th month. Others said that I can already buy one but in a bigger cup size (to make room for the milk that will come in once the baby is out). The lady in M told me to buy at the last possible minute before I give birth. Well, I decided to give it more thought, and just wait it out, given how much it costs!

At around the same time, I chanced upon bra extenders. I happily bought a pack for Php100. It had 3 different colors -- beige, white, and black -- in a pack. Not bad, right? It is, as the packaging says, "the simplest and most economical way to add inches of comfort to your bra band." I must agree!

Then came my lunch date with K. I was ranting about how expensive nursing bras are, and she said it's because I have been looking at the wrong places! She said that I can buy a very affordable one at the local department store. She made my day! I did feel a bit silly that it didn't cross my mind to look there, since I go there for most other things! So the next day, I set off again in my quest for affordable nursing bras. And I found it! Three local brands have them -- So-en, Sorella, and Sogo. Price range weren't that far off from each other, and I happily fitted the different designs and brands. In the end, I bought 3. And the cost? Only around Php300 for each! I didn't even think twice in buying three all at once. Even if my cup size change after I give birth, I wouldn't mind buying another pair given how affordable it is.

For the meantime, my boobies are very happy with their new outfit!

My Pregnancy Chronicles: The Products I Use

When I got pregnant, I had trouble the first couple months with the skin on my face. Isolated pimples would appear, and it seemed to me that my skin got even oilier! Oil equals shine for me, and I don't like it even though I'd stopped working and stayed home most of the time. My face regimen has always been simple. Wash, rinse, and moisturize. It got even simpler when I got pregnant -- just wash and rinse, as my ob advised. She said the less products I use, the better! I have been a loyal user of Dove facial wash for years, and was really surprised that it didn't seem to agree with my face this time around. All those hormones in overdrive I guess. So I did trial and error with the other facial cleansing products I had in my closet. And the only product that worked for me was Face Shop's Fruits Mix Cleansing Cream. No breakouts ensued, and it didn't render my face too dry or too oily. Thank goodness! 

The Face Shop Fruits Mix Cleansing Cream

This cleansing cream is applied, massaged onto the face and either left on, or wiped off.  In my case, I still like to rinse with water afterwards. (Not everything gets rinsed off, so no worries!) 

Another thing my ob advised was not to use any anti-stretching creams or products on my tummy. She said that they don't work; that she'd had patients who ended up with ugly black line marks on their tummies because of the products they used. Besides, genetics have a lot to do with stretchmarks, she said. I was very  obedient as always... until Big Sis sent me a bottle of Bio-Oil and insisted that I use it. She used it for her past three pregnancies and vouched for its effectiveness. I read the enclosed leaflet and thought it harmless, and so I have been using it faithfully the past 5 months, and plan on doing so till I give birth. I'm on my third trimester now (30 weeks 3 days, to be exact), and haven't seen any stretchmarks threatening to form. Not yet anyway. And I hope never! 

Bio-Oil

Bio-Oil is applied twice daily, on thighs, breasts and tummy-- where stretchmarks are most common. But since this is not available where I live (at least not that I know of), I only apply consistently on my tummy, sometimes on my thighs, and rarely on my breasts. Teehee. 

Project: Mom+Baby Door Hanger

Just a couple more months and baby T will be born! Naturally, after waiting for more than three years, hubby and I are giddy with excitement! My dear sis emailed me a link to adorable printable mom/baby door hangers, and I just had to make me some!

Printables are so easy to do! Just print, cut, and voila! For this project, I printed mine in regular paper, then laminated it. Figured it would last me longer that way than just printing it out on cardstock. Oh, and I used my circle cutter to seamlessly make that hole in the middle. This printable was designed by CAKE and generously shared to all. You can download the pdf files directly from her site here. 

Mom+Baby door hangers by CAKE.

Aren't they lovely? I can't wait to use them!

Circle Cutting Made Easy

I am in love with my EK Tools Circle Scissor Pro! This is in stark contrast to my Martha Stewart Circle Cutter which I used only a couple of times, and then promptly kept in storage where it remain to this day. Let me explain...

Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Cutter

First, the Martha Stewart circle cutter. I decided to buy this product since I love anything Martha and thought it would be a much wiser and economical investment versus buying several sizes of individual circle punches. I was greatly disappointed however. It was really hard to cut a circle in one smooth stroke, and doesn't cut all the way through thicker papers like photo paper and cardstock. I also had to make sure I hold the outside rim with a good amount of pressure for it not to slip. I did try to practice since I read that I just have to get the feel for it, but I just got more and more frustrated as I practiced!

EK Tools Circle Scissor Pro

And so, after not finding the 2" circle punch that I requested, my cousin sent me an EK Tools Circle Scissor Pro. Naturally, after my first circle cutter experience, I eyed it with a whole lot of suspicion. But surprise surprise, I gave it a go and there it was-- my first perfect circle in just one rotation of the tool! Somehow this cuts smoother, and the handle was way easier to manipulate. No wrist twisting needed! Another plus for me is that this circle scissor has horizontal and vertical grid lines in the middle that goes from end to end. This lets me easily align the center of the tool with the center of a photo or picture that I need to "circle-cut." I also had no trouble letting it cut through a laminated project, which made me super happy and very satisfied!

Let me just add that for both products, you need a cutting mat, and it'll be wise to tape the edges of the paper to the mat to prevent any possible movement that would render your circles imperfect. Both products have a built-in storage system on the handles for the extra blades.

Below are video tutorial links that both brands have up on YouTube that you might find useful--
Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Cutter
EK Tools Circle Scissor Pro

Happy crafting!

One More Time

I'll be honest. This is my nth attempt at journaling/blogging. I've always loved writing. I guess I just got lazy. However, reading blogs online has inspired and motivated me to do this; and I am giving myself a pat in the back for actually starting. Please bear with me as I brave this blogging adventure. May my random thoughts and jumbled words somehow string together and turn into a collection of organized musings that people would love to read.