Now... A Mom of 3

Amazing... I have not said here that I was pregnant at all?

Well, I have actually given birth already too. Last September 9! Yes, he (yup, another boy) is turning 2 months old on Monday. He is now shrieking and can see. He has dimples. He came into this world peeing on me... And marks me all the time by barfing on me, or salivating on me, or gnawing on me.

Iael Ysaiah is my latest bundle of joy.

And I am still homeschooling Iakob, who is now in Grade 2.

And helping my middle child (who is turning 5) transition from being the baby (cat) to being an older brother.

Life's a hoot... Hopefully I will get back to blogging soon.

Truths Behind Rejection of Formula Donations During and After Emergency Situations

(I wrote this article last 22 November 2013 with the hope that some bigger syndication will publish it... wellm they didn't so I am claiming it back for my blog. This was a reaction to all the debate going on about formula donations post-Yolanda, one that even reached international forums)

Babies and children are top priority when disaster strikes. When natural calamities end up displacing hundreds of people, one of the first calls to go out or be offered is formula milk donations.

Two weeks ago, the Visayan region of the Philippines was hit by what is touted to be the strongest typhoon ever recorded in human history. The storm surge that came along with it killed thousands and leveled several areas, stripping people of their homes, schools, churches and hospitals. Hundreds of thousands of people scattered over several provinces are left without food and shelter and yet, why are formula donations being banned by the government?

There are several inter-related truths that provide rationale for this particular policy:

1. Most mothers start out breastfeeding their children. Based on experience over several strong typhoons, most that end up in evacuation centers are either breastfed and mix-fed. Few babies below the age of six months are completely formula dependent. Thus, the need for formula donations is not high and one the government can certainly address.

2. Studies show that 50% of formula fed babies run the risk of requiring hospital treatment in emergency situations, mostly due to ill-prepared formula that will be inevitable in shelters where clean water, sterile equipment and a steady supply of the formula are hard to come by. Usually, evacuees are deluged with donations in the first few days but are left wanting in the weeks, maybe even months, to come. The reality is that mothers sometimes end up preparing formula using rain or portalet water or diluting it so much that it causes water intoxication in their babies. Most people have not made the connection that formula is called precisely that because it has to be prepared a certain way for it to be beneficial.

3. Getting mix-feeding mothers to relactate, new mothers to exclusively breastfeed, and parents to wean their toddlers/preschoolers off formula/bottle feeding reduces the risks posed by ill-prepared formula. The simple act of giving milk using cups instead of feeding bottles or getting toddlers eating more solids are more practical and sustainable strategies in emergency situations.

4. There is a system in place that allows formula fed babies to get formula at evacuation centers and temporary shelters. These babies are neither forgotten nor allowed to die. Hopefully, those identified to have no other option but formula will also be monitored. However, when more mothers exclusively breastfeed, the few formula-dependent babies left can be better provided for with age-appropriate milk and other resources and information necessary to ensure safe formulation.

5. Resources are a challenge post-calamity, even if a family does not end up in an evacuation center. Communication lines may be down for a while. Water pipes busted. Supplies like gas or milk may be out of stock. In tent cities, clean water is often scarce and a family might not be able to get enough to wash and sterilize feeding bottles, what more have enough to prepare formula with. Congestion may also increase the level of humidity, expediting milk spoilage.

6. There is no wisdom in providing hundreds of cans of milk, or including a box of milk per prepacked baby kit to all families in an evacuation center since formula has to be age-appropriate and only babies under age 1 truly rely on milk as their main source of nourishment. Unfortunately, if formula is given to a breastfeeding family, they will use it, even if they were already breastfeeding successfully. If powdered milk is given to each family, they will use it, even if they were not milk drinkers previously. Such has been the indoctrination  of some societies, like ours, that people actually think formula is a safer, better food for their baby. For some, it is even a status symbol.

7. For the same price per can, private citizens or organizations could be providing one to three days worth of food and water to families in calamity zones and temporary shelters. The percentage of infants is always very low (and again, most that stay in evacuation centers are breastfed to some degree) so it is more practical to channel funds to feeding all members of a family, instead of just one, or providing them with shelter, clothes, medicines, etc. It also makes no sense for centers to be flooded with free formula while families struggle to get drinking water, cook their food or clothe themselves.

8. Returning to their homes or relocation may be a long time coming for evacuees which will pose challenges for the parents and the government to sustain formula feeding. At best, the average Filipino family can barely sustain the cost of formula for a whole year. Imagine how much worse it would be for families left with nothing and no clear prospects for the future.

9. Thanks to a growing number of breastfeeding advocates, the Milk Code is being observed better and better in the Philippines. Unfortunately, this has not stopped milk companies from offering free milk through hospitals and clinics. Milk companies are also known to freely distribute samples by the can in schools, conferences and the like. This surely suggests that should the government not have the budget to purchase formula for the few babies per center that need it, our leaders can still appeal to these companies to provide the milk because they can afford to give them freely. Private citizens and organizations, out of concern for babies, need not spend for them at all.  Unfortunately though, milk companies in the country seem to have a problem with donating unbranded cans to the Department of Health (per Milk Code stipulation) as well as taking on the task, even if they can afford it, of providing free milk indefinitely for evacuees that need it.

10. Formula feeding eats up resources in already compromised living arrangements. It eats up gas and water that could be used for cooking. It requires soap (or salt). It is a monthly expense. It takes up space and requires light (as proven by a mom who mistakenly used gasoline in preparing her baby's milk, accidentally killing her child). And because formula feeding increases risks for certain diseases (diarrhea, ear infection, allergies) that living in a shelter compounds, there will also be medical costs and it may even cost lives. Add to this again the burden of spending so much to provide for one member of the family while leaving the others malnourished and it becomes a vicious cycle of health issues.

11. Donations are hard to manage, track and properly distribute in our country over an average typhoon, what more a catastrophe that wiped out entire areas. Pre-packaged baby kits with a formula in each bag will have to be repacked, otherwise other babies will be put at risk. All formula cans would have to come with the necessary accessories, otherwise, it will put babies at risk. Prevention by banning formula donations reduces logistics nightmares, public health issues and loss of lives for the government.

12. 16,000 children age five and below are estimated to die every year in the country from diseases that are linked to formula feeding. This number will surely rise when measures are not taken to control formula feeding (especially in cases when babies are beyond age 1) and closely monitor formula distribution in shelters.

13. The ban on milk donations is not about breastfeeding being superior to formula feeding. It is about the greater good in a time of chaos and limited resources. Breastfeeding and formula feeding are also not just feeding issues, but during war and calamities, both become bigger public health issues.

14. The people who will be left in evacuation centers are the truly marginalized ones, without family or friends who can take them in. Post-Yolanda, we are looking at thousands of families. Not only will they be short of funds (which will challenge again the sustainability of formula feeding), they will have limited options. Some of these families also have multiple children of varying ages where it becomes all the more critical that fewer or none will be reliant on powdered milk for sustenance and nutrition. This references to the growing trend of milk-dependent toddlers/preschoolers when eating solids is most beneficial for them.

15. The difference with calls for breast milk donations and milk letting drives is that the breastfeeding groups behind these ensure that donated breast milk is not compromised (cold chain project) as opposed to the usual unmonitored distribution of formula without the necessary paraphernalia and information. Donated breast milk is also pasteurized and given through the use of cups, which makes it safer than formula. Perhaps, because breast milk donation is very personal in nature, its advocates take more care in making sure nothing gets wasted, as opposed to a general donation of formula wherein cans might be left under the heat of the sun or water used in formulation might be dirty. Donor milk is also not distributed indiscriminately because the goal is always to ensure safe and sustainable feeding so its recipients usually are moms in the process of relactation or babies who have been separated from their mothers.

The government and concerned agencies are just looking out for these children and their families for the short and long-term. The international standards are rigid because it has been proven time and again in emergency situations all over the world that indiscriminate formula donations just create problems and cost lives.

Now, people who really want to help these babies can send cash donations instead to trusted agencies or send food, care and emergency shelter kits for their families. Let us relieve the parents of some of their immediate worries and burdens, so that they can care for their children better. And may these truths reassure everyone that this stance the Philippine government has taken is a good one.

We Cannot Outgive God in Breastfeeding

(I have not blogged for a long while but I have vowed to commit to it again. And what better way than to start the first day of the second half of the year with a reflective  post on breastfeeding, as part of preparing for Breastfeeding Month in August)

There is not one Feast that I do not hear words that resonate with me where I also do not think of how it applies to breastfeeding. Last Sunday, as we were being pep talked into serving, I heard these words: We Cannot Outgive God.

As a LATCH Counselor and BFP Admin, I try to remind mothers that breastfeeding will require a lot from them but the benefits are long term. I even always say, do the Math. Breastfeed for two years and reduce your child's allergy risks for life or give in to formula now and deal with allergies earlier/all your child's life. Breastfeed for two years and reduce mother and baby cancer risks or tempt fate and don't.

Breastfeeding requires a mother to give in a way that is very exhausting, draining, and every moment. Apart from the lack of correct info and support, I think what stumps a lot of moms is the fact that their baby needs them physically for soooo much everyday that they feel like slaves sometimes to a baby's needs and demands. After all, a working Mom can work away from home and earn the money to pay for the child's vaccines, clothes, treats, etc (things a baby also needs). But a breastfeeding working mom will have to find time to pump, ensure the milk won't spoil, etc. Any other mom can just do the chores but a breastfeeding mom will have to stop doing chores for a while and nurse.

But the thing is, when we moms breastfeed, we are doing God's work. After all, He made us mammals :) We are destined to nurse our young as sure as our young were created to feed from us. And whenever we give of our time, our bodies to our little ones, God outgives us.

God makes sure the baby communicates to us what it needs to be given to ensure its health... even before it could talk. (Enteromammary Pathway)

God makes sure our milk is perfectly made, with all the right nutrients, at the right temperature.

God makes sure that our milk does more than nourish, it also protects. And the gut protection our babies receive are lifelong, making them better able to deal with the preservatives and pollution of this world.

God makes sure we benefit as well, because we invoke reduced risks for certain diseases as we do the same for our child.

God makes sure each family need not be unduly compromised financially, and that its other members need not go without food just to feed a baby.

God alerts us the minute a virus gets into our baby's system or when we have not been mindful of their needs (they feed more).

God allows us to be enough for sick toddlers who refuse to eat.

And while all these is happening, our babies literally grow in faith (for this world) in our arms, but remain the right size to nurse from us. How amazing, isn't it?

Alas, such outpouring of grace requires a surrender to Him, however. A surrender to His design, His system. Unfortunately, because of "modern culture", many aren't that open to this truth.

Breastfeeding is not something one really volunteers for, wherein you quit when it is no longer convenient.
Breastfeeding is not a burden to be a slave to, something totally against our will, something we are forced to do, something we do not find happiness over, something that will never uplift us.
Breastfeeding is service, something we do for God because we love Him and because we are grateful to have been blessed with child. We do it with humility and gratitude, and we celebrate its rewards.

Mommies everywhere... we do not breastfeed because we like not having our bodies to ourselves, or that we like having our boobs out, or that we like to leak, or we like to be subjected to critical looks/being chased away from establishments in public, or that we like losing more sleep than we have to, or we like sore nipples and fatigued arms/backs.

Mommies everywhere... us breastfeeding advocates do not fight for every mother and child's right to breastfeed because we like our efforts being undermined by milk companies, or we like being called fanatics, or we like being called judgmental, narrow-minded, etc. We do not like sitting in boring meetings or making-nice with corrupt politicians, or counting the progress we make at a snail's pace.

We do this because we are committed to the truth of God's love for us. We do this because we love our children. We do this because we see our children's faces in other children. We do this because we care about the environment and how families eat. We do this because we want to save lives.

We are not slaves to breastfeeding. It's just that the rewards may take a while... especially if you aren't looking :)  But whatever we give of ourselves in breastfeeding, trust that we receive tenfold.

Milestones and Moments

Earlier, because I was multi-tasking (teaching Yakee how to play luksong-tinik while tracing Yamee's feet on paper for him)... and Yakee wanted to do something that required my whole body (play hide and seek), my firstborn was driven to express that he wished I had more hands.

I really couldn't help but laugh... because my son just gave me a moment of cliche, a mom whose hands were full and it not being enough.

It's really very challenging dividing oneself between the two, whose interests and skills are different... and well, when they do decide to do the same thing and play the same game, it usually spells PAIN and EXHAUSTION for me... you lose some, you win some, you lose some :D

*~*

Yamee is so jealous and territorial... he's always snapping at his Kuya. Yakee, on the other hand, has never missed an opportunity to defend his brother from our 'mean' parenting.

*~*

Yakee wrote a very decipherable IOIBP on his magic slate and asked me to read it. Then he asked me to write words we can read. And just like that... he was reading CVC words for the first time by learning to sound them off properly and deducing which word it sounds like.

I was at a loss and very unprepared... but we managed the mat, pat, cat, sat, bat, fat words... then went to ted, bed, red... then gun, sun, bun (I didn't know which words to start him with)... at and it... and mama and papa. He asked me how to write alien. Then he's had enough lessons.

Hubs kept teasing me that our son really wants to learn now... and I kept reminding him that our son learned on his own, and we should celebrate that he's ready and curious and is learning :)  I have no doubt he'd learn fast when we really go into it, but I also want him to just enjoy his new discoveries.

*~*

Yamee is lining up  play dough balls. Haha. I love these little signs that their brains ARE developing.

Going on a Country Fair!

I got my hubby to be willing to drive to Bulacan next week for the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm Countryside Fair :)  I am beyond excited for my sons because they'd be roaming the outdoors... and I will be shopping.

I have often wanted to go to country fairs like they do abroad... with merchants utilizing trailer hitches for cars so they can just sell from their car whatever produce they have harvested or goods they have made. I have always wanted the kids to 'ooohh' and 'aaahhh' over different plants and animals for sale, and compare which stall has the biggest squash or the freshest melons, to sample toys and things and dips and whatever else... and maybe find something to truly spice up a wardrobe or home.

I cannot wait!!! :)

Yes... I don't know where to get money for it... hahaha... but I cannot wait to go!

Life In A Box

Hubby was in the mood to spring clean... and so he really went all out and even borrowed their office shredder. Sometimes, he would pause though, showing me old ticket stubs of concerts and shows we went to. He couldn't bear to shred my old letters, but just took a pic of his ex's letters then disposed of them :)

This reminded me of what a fried said they do for their kids. They don't keep ALL the doodles and pictures and old things, but they do keep some in one box. The hospital bracelet when they were born. The first foot or hand print. The first movie ticket. Maybe a baptismal certificate. A drawing or two, per year of life.

I told hubs that maybe we should start on those for our kiddos. It's a good thing we can really just take pictures now of all their artwork and 'letters' and projects and compile those in minute-size hard disks. Life in a box. When they grow up, they'd have some mementos but won't get asthma attacks going through piles and piles of sentimentality.

It's a good thing too that motherhood sort of cured me of my anal retentive tendencies.

Now... to let go of more things and make space for new... memories and activities.

Breastfeeding is Feminism In Its Purest Form

I have often said to new moms that they should trust that the God who blessed them with a child and allowed them to grow that child within them will also allow them to grow that child outside them.

And usually, I have found that the lack of information and support is what was lacking in every story wherein breastfeeding wasn't succesful. It's very crucial for new mothers to know that it's not really just breastfeeding or formula feeding, because breastfeeding can happen and be achieved in many ways. Most problems aren't deal breakers and shouldn't be... and formula feeding, though it has its merits, isn't THE solution for all feeding problems. It's handy, convenient and yes, calorie-rich... but it is also processed and dead. A lot of children now are reistering so many illnesses and handicaps, like allergies, and it would be stupid to deny that our diet had an effect on that. So, who's to say what their problems will be because of formula feeding?

And now that there is a crisis again, for sure, there will be a deluge of formula or powdered milk donations. How useful would these be if the people they are given to won't have the sterile water and equipment to prepare it? Sure, it will fill tummies and shush babies, but what happens when these same babies get diarrhea, or catch colds and other infections?

If it doesn't matter how you feed your child, then why are you making sure to eat vegetables or avoid carinderia food or even wash your hands while preparing food? Why do you take care of what you put in your mouth, and then defend a choice you made when you probably didn't have the right information and support?

In Love with an Allergologist

Once upon a time, Yakee's eyes were always watery and he always seemed to have a shiner around his eyes. Someone referred me to an allergologist at Chinese Gen. She took one look at Yakee and declared my son had asthma, and started giving us all these Cetaphil and Physiogel products to use (charged to us) and told us Yakee would need a skin test. And she uses the latest something that doesn't hurt which costs P25k.

Suffice it to say, we never went back to her. She did not even touch my son!

But for the past three weeks, we have been plagued by allergies. Well, two months, if you count Dr. Mantaring's discovery of exercise-induced asthma in Yakee and my angioedema episode over fried chicken (thank heavens it was a very sluggish allergy attack and it responded to two Benadryl caps because I didn't have any milk for Yamee then!).

At least, Yamee's rhinitis-like episodes are no more... he just gets blistery wounds when bitten by a bug.

But Yakee... haay. The hives annoy me like crazy! So I called our HMO (Intellicare) to ask if the PF of the allergologist at Healthway Robinsons Manila is covered, as well as the tests. We can reimburse up to P1k only for skin tests. Anyway, I decided to try this allergologist and thought that if she still wasn't ok, then we'd go to Dr. Alava at Manila Doctors (who was our main pedia's referral).

But oh, I fell in love with Dr. Arlene Sandejas! She made the trip to an allergologist just the way I want it to be. She asked questions and answered my questions. She was the first to offer a conservative approach to MY allergies and then gave me a list of house dust control measures after ascertaining that we live a generally allergy-free lifestyle (no pets, carpet, no smoking).

Being an allergic person and having written that article above, I like to think I am pretty knowledgeable about allergies. I mean, I know the basics. But Dr. Sandejas made me realize that I must also dust our books and not let them anywhere near the bed. She told me why allergic people sneeze in the morning (because the dust mites eat our dead skin cells at night, so we wake up irritated by them) and how baths usually resolve the issue. She told me about how long after a room is cleaned should kids stay away (3 hours, so dust has really settled! 1 hour for adults), that fabric conditioners are irritants and better avoided, and many other things. I learned more talaga!

Yes, she did tell me I must have my skin test repeated (as my last was 6 years ago, and I lost the list already, and it was done by Dr. Agbayani who has expired already!) but she assured me that she can give me time to save up for it, and that it can be done in batches so I can allot money for it. It's P6k for the 85-full panel test. And no, it's not administered generally to kids below 6 years old. And since I average a trip or two to the ER due to allergy episodes, I know the skin test can be an important tool to manage my allergies.

MABUSISI is the word I have been using to describe her. Thorough. Exhaustive. Without being unnecessary.

Now, for Yakee, she has prescribed Cetaphil lotion for the dryness, instructed me how to properly bath my son (less than 20 minutes, lukewarm water, no scrubbing to dry, just gentle pats, then lotion) and asked me to keep a food diary for him. We're not eliminating anything yet from our diets, just observing. And she also ordered a repeat CBC and urinalysis for Yakee (to which Yakee was so totally against, I cried a little asking him to give more blood) and also a stool exam (haven't yet done this!). She also asked to see Yakee's old X-ray, just to rule out whatever could be triggering my son's hives (infection? food? insect bites?).

And she offered me her cell number should I have questions. I didn't even have to ask (and I actually seldom do, although I know that's a standard for some people, because I also respect how some doctors do not like free consults over the phone, at two in the morning).

And she tells you what you should do, writes it down, and discusses it again with you so you really know what to do. Love it talaga!

So far, Yakee and I are fine and on meds. We're going back to her on the 19th and see where it leads us.

*~*

She is a doctor and a human being, I cannot guarantee she will be as thorough with each patient... she could get tired, after all. Plus, it may help that I came armed with a printed timeline of what happened to my son and when, as well as knowledge of our allergy histories and my son's health history. But I really feel good about her. It's seldom that I find a consultation... rewarding... enlightening. I think the euphoria is stemming from that inner sense of having found a perfect fit.

*~*

She does not accept health cards at Manila Doctors. And I don't have her clinic sked there so better call the hospital.

Healthway Medical Clinic-Robinson's Manila
Ground Floor, Padre Faura
Robinson's Place
Ermita, Manila
Tel. no. 528-4547
Schedule: Tuesday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Ramos Medical Clinic
5696 Pagulayan Street cor. Ilaya Street
Poblacion Makati City
Tel.no. 890-1696
Schedule: Wednesday/Friday/Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

*~*

I Googled her name and believe she is also a pediatrician, she was also referred to as a pedia-allergo at Healthway. Blessing talaga for moms like me :)

My Sons and Their Eyesight

As I was feeding my infant his pureed carrots, I mentioned to my cousin that I really hope my sons won't end up like their Dad who needed prescription glasses at such a young age (high school). If it were up to me, I really hope they'd inherit my 20/20 vision and that all the technology in the world right now won't affect them. After all, a 20/20 vision does seem to be a pretty tall order for kids now who really grow up with TV sets, gaming consoles, computers and every other portable digital screen... like cellphones!

Speaking of glasses, though, I came across $6.95 prescription eyeglasses and I just had to research on it if it was a good deal or something with a catch. Then, I found out it was Zenni Optical glasses (Zenni was in the news--journal-news.com recently) which I keep forgetting to tell my husband about. We usually have to go to Sta. Cruz for his eye wear and he recently paid around P4k for his latest pair. If we order from Zenni, we could have a pair at a fraction of that cost... kinda like getting a good deal from a Groupon site. You have a great array of frame styles to choose from too.

Maybe I will keep this tidbit in mind for my sons, if and when they need prescription glasses. Meanwhile, I hope tons of vegetables in their diet are doing their job.

A Summer Affair: Children’s Workshops Expo 2011 by Working Mom Magazine

I am pretty excited about the Children’s Workshops Expo 2011 happening on April 10 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City. Yakee is pretty much covered for the summer but I want to see what classes are being offered now, if anything is near where we live, what I can offer on my own and new educational/enrichment trends. Consider it as research for my homeschooling dream.

The expo is from 10 AM to 7 PM. See you there!!!

Earthquake Scare

I was out shopping for clothes and diapers for my sons when I got a text from hubby asking that I go home as soon as possible. The earthquake that happened in Japan today is currently scaring everyone here as all are on tsunami and earthquake alert.

I felt a little panicky when I realized we don't have a working flashlight at home. I have to make sure there are some snacks and water and light in the house, in a bag, along with our important documents. It is kinda great that office supply is the furthest thing from my mind... and I thank God somehow that I am still breastfeeding (which wouldn't amount to anything if an emergency strikes and I am separated from Yamee) because it ensures clean food for my sons. Yes, both of them.

Let's all pray that we are not next... and that Japan and New Zealand recovers soon.

Sleep Deprived

I think I need the help of natural sleep aids because I am being really grumpy on hubby and short on Yakee for lacking sleep.

Yamee actually has spells when he'd just sleep but during the day, I either squeeze in some work or playtime with Yakee. I also bond with my newly-arrived mom. At night, even when Yamee sleeps, I get awakened by the noises he makes, a cacophony of grunts and moans that disturb my sleep because I want to get him before he cries in earnest and disrupts his older brother's sleep. And even when I know someone is minding him during the day, I can't get any rest when I hear him fuss. Unfortunately for me, I cannot always go back to sleep after being woken up.

Sigh.

I am worried that I am turning out to be unloving to the other boys in my life.

The Breast Crawl That Wasn't

Have I officially said that I have given birth already?



Anyway, people are always commenting on how far Asian Hospital is from where we live so we always had to repeat that hubs' family is from the South and that's where we left Yakee, and that our pedia instituted the ENP in Asian.

Anyway, again, because I indicated in a note that I had a strong drug allergy history, intend to exclusively breastfeed and want to experience ENP, the attending anesthesiologist did not sedate me anymore to ensure that my baby won't be groggy and will do the breast crawl. Needless to say, it was traumatic for me hearing all the tinkle of the instruments and conversation going on.

Unfortunately, my darling Yamee didn't receive the memo that I wanted him to do the breast crawl and only had plans of sleeping till the next day.







So yeah, he was heartily crying, making the doctors comment that he might be a cryer but when he was put on my chest (because I was a CS delivery), he immediately stopped and slept.

But we did get precious skin to skin contact and I loved the instant connection I felt. I immediately felt that I was his Mom and he is my child, which took days before I felt it with Yakee. There was none of the estrangement and none of the insecurities. Our heartbeats just synchronized and I immediately KNEW that he KNEW who I was, that he was safe again when he was on top of me.

Of course, I guess it also makes a difference that Yamee is my second child already. I am just a lot more confident now. But really, somehow, I know him more or know more of him when he was born.

So yes, IF we're having a 3rd baby, it will be at Asian Hospital again and I will insist on ENP again.

Preparing for Baby During Pregnancy

Being pregnant is both an exciting and scary time in life, especially if you are expecting your first child. There is so much preparation that needs to be done and so many things that need to be purchased that the whole situation can be quite overwhelming. It is also a lot of fun.

You start your preparation for baby physically. You go to all of your checkups and take your prenatal vitamins religiously. You do everything you physically can to ensure that your baby is growing and is healthy and that you are taking care of yourself, too. You exercise everyday and eat three meals and snacks.

There are a ton of other preparations that need to be made before the baby arrives. You have to buy a crib and all the other essential baby items that you will need. A baby shower can help with some of this, but there are still going to be things that you will need to pick up on your own. Don’t forget to buy a car seat, too. You can’t bring baby home without one. You should have everything prepared for the baby by your eighth month so you can focus on relaxing and resting up the last month before your baby arrives. Besides, you’ll always find little projects to work on to keep you busy preparing for your baby.

For all of these baby purchases, you should check out Offers.com to see if there are any discounts you can use to save money. After the baby comes you are going to have less money to spend in general because of the baby’s needs, so be sure to be prepared as much as possible. It never hurts to look for deals, so even if you can’t find what you are looking for in one place, you should keep trying other places.

Stressed Over Christening

We originally planned my son's christening to be sometime end of January or February. I wanted to have adjusted to two kids already and to have lost some weight. Plus, we needed time to come up with money for it.

But hubs' sister was arriving from Dubai and my parents are arriving from the US. And my Mom is going back there in January so it doesn't seem wise to delay it since we do believe christenings are a family thing.

So we've booked Aristocrat already for the reception and now, I am trying to get a decent photographer who's not going on holiday then. Hubs and I hemmed and hawed over the menu but decided on the packaged one. We'll just leave it to our guests to do their post-Christmas colon cleansing elsewhere... fish is just really more expensive than meat. Hehe.

Now, I have about a week to finalize the invitations (which we'd send via Facebook only) and maybe do the layout for the tarp. Then after that, I can print the meaning of Yamee's name to leave with Aristocrat so they can attach it to the souvenirs we're getting from them. It's an uninpsired glittery something but I just don't have the strength to scour Divi anymore.

Out and About

I arranged for today (well, technically, yesterday) to be a day for errands.

I finally collected cheque payments from Vibal and ABS-CBN, one of which ended up being stale so good luck asking for a replacement cheque.

Then I also applied for a replacement card for my EON debit card.

Then we went to MOA for the MDG-F Photo Exhibit that was co-sponsored by LATCH and also did some grocery shopping. Hubs, my cousin and I all took turns holding Yamee through the day that hubs asked why we didn't bring my sling. Truth is, even if I complain that Yamee is such a lazy nurser, he is thriving beautifully and can get quite burdensome in the arms already. At one point, I even wondered myself if we shouldn't get an ergo baby carrier there and then.

I just hope my antibodies are protecting my newborn because he sure was exposed to germs today.

Oh and it tickled me pink that people said I didn't look like I've just given birth. Hehe. And yes, I just bought another nursing top!

Anticipating Loot from Abroad

Two of my parents' balikbayan boxes are already here, albeit we haven't officially received them because they were delivered while we weren't here and they wouldn't release the packages to my cousin.

Another one is on its way.

And while chatting with my sister earlier, she told me about how it's Black Friday sale this coming Friday and that's when she and my aunt are going to load up on things for me. My parents are also doing a last-minute shopping spree then and will just ship the parcels before they leave since they are already over the baggage limit.

So yeah, it was with a light heart indeed that I went through my son's toys and threw away about a fourth of what he has because I just know we need the space. Plus, there'd be two of them already. The diaper and wipes boxes alone will require a huge space in the house. I can't help but wonder what else my parents bought for us.

My Morning Inventory

Since my darling son woke up real early today, I found myself in the mood to do some minor cleaning up and nesting. I also took out a bag of cloth diapers to check if there's anything there I should be washing for my unborn and that's when I discovered the fact that I still have to buy some more cloth diapers.

You see, I had a dozen of white gauze diapers, a dozen of printed gauze diapers, a dozen of Gerber pre-folded diapers and six pre-folded Chino Pino. I thought I only used half of the gauze ones (the printed ones for wiping/drying my baby's bum, the white ones for wiping spit ups & sweat and serving as receiving blankets in the early days). Well it seems I used up all the white gauze ones which means that I have printed ones for my second-born's bum, but I don't have cloth diapers to use as receiving blanket for him.

And no, I don't wanna use the old cloth diapers on him, no matter how clean they are (because I am still using them to wipe Yakee's sweat with when we're out). And I can't use the prefolded diapers for spit ups and sweat, eventhough they were never used (I only road tested one of each but just really preferred disposables).

So yeah, wouldn't you know it, I have more shopping to do!

Essential Newborn Care Protocol

This is why I am insisting on giving birth at Asian Hospital. This has been documented as having succesfully reduced infections like sepsis and increased breastfeeding success.

And breastfeeding saves lives.

Cordlife Philippines

When my son was born in 2007, the closest cord banking facility was still in Singapore. Cord blood would be collected here and stored in their facility there. But now, I was happy to hear that there is already a Cordlife Philippines with a storage facility somewhere in Laguna.

We still don't really have the budget for their yearly fees but cord blood banking is something I really find a good investment. It's not like going over one insurance quote after another where you compare premiums to interests and other terms, it's basically just paying for that option to have stem cells save your child, his sibling or you someday. I am simply amazed that now, cerebral palsy in children is getting 'cured' or 'reversed' and I couldn't help but wonder if it could do the same for other brain-related issues. I was even thinking out loud last night that if our friends had the money, maybe they could collect their second-born's stem cells and have it infused in Anya, who has several neurological issues. I'm just not sure if the 75% possibility of a match is enough to benefit Anya, or if it could harm Anya. But by golly, the leaps and bounds we're making in medical breakthroughs!