Little Lady Mom

I'd like to share the hospital room rates Medical Center Paranaque gave me and some room rates of nearby hospitals in the south.  Medical Center Paranaque (where I will be giving birth anytime now) Honestly the hospital looks old and tired and if my doctor hadn't assured me that the staff are capable I wouldn't think twice about scrapping it from my list.  I do know that a lot of the doctors here are also doctors who have clinics at the pricey Asian Hospital though.  The staff are in their late 30s and 40s unlike the young staff at Asian and St. Luke's.  Its old, stuffy, the parking is not well planned at all and they are currently renovating some parts which makes the place look even more tired what with all the cut out holes in the ceiling but it was recommended by my doctor and it fits the budget.  This is also the hospital where my brother would go way back when he would have asthma attacks some 15 years back.  Private Room 2 (Newly Renovated): 2...

We had our 37th week ultrasound last Monday.  We were so excited to find out the baby's gender and could hardly keep ourselves from asking while the doctor took the baby's measurements.  Finally baby is in the correct position for birth!  =)  I guess the sloshing down of lots of water, stretching, talking to the baby (and bribing him or her with toys if we save money from doing a normal delivery instead of c-section and of course prayers worked.  After all the measurements, the doctor then proceeded to determine the baby's gender by scanning the top part of my tummy.  He moved the ultrasound wand over the area several times, tried shaking the area (which was a little painful) and tried waiting for the baby to move but alas.. baby decided to cross his or leg just enough so we couldn't really tell! After a 10 minutes of shaking, and squirming around we gave up.  At less than 3 weeks away, it'll just feel like an eternity waiting t...

Froggy and I researched hospitals and rates back when I was 4 months on the way.  Most of the research was done online since because it was convenient.  I learned that rates vary widely depending on the hospital. One could give birth for as low as 10k to as high as 250k depending on preferences and complications. A friend of mine gave birth 3 years ago and spent less than 20k at a lying-in.  I found this crazy since she bought an electric breast pump at 16k.  She said the experience was fine, it was near her home and her doctor was attentive.  Her husband was allowed to stay and video the whole thing (to Froggy: no you are not allowed.  You may only stay at my side and watch what happens from the top of my head to my waist.) I’m quite the scaredy-cat as I’ve never been confined or had surgery in my life so I really wanted to give birth at a hospital.  I finally settled on Medical Center Paranaque as this was the hospital recommended by my doc...

 5 months I've never been the type to gush over kids. I don't volunteer to hold babies and I get irritated when I find myself in the midst of noisy, yelling kids whose parents can't seem to keep them under control or aren't even trying. In the back of my head I've always thought I'd like to have my own little family someday, with a loving husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a cat, and of course an efficient yaya.. but I used to think this would be something sooo far away. I couldn't see myself as a mom.. and I most especially didn't see myself in maternity clothes! I thought they looked funny with the elastic waist bands for pants, gigantic floral prints, very synthetic fabrics and limited styles. I dreaded having to put anything that looked buntis on. I felt this way up to my 5th month of preggyness and continued to wear my old clothes simply because they still fit. Then came the 6th month and all of a sudden I looked like I swallowed a soccer ball. I...

During my last 3 visits to the doctor I have been told that my baby is breeched.  That's positioned butt-first or feet first to fellow new mommies.  I'm now on my 32nd week and there's still time for my little one to turn and I think he or she will.    Right now I think my baby is in a complete breech position.  I feel the kicks down low and I can definitely discern the head right below my right rib.  The baby did turn since 2 weeks ago.. shifting from the left side to the right.  Its funny when I sleep that I can feel my baby nudge and push when I start to unintentionally lie on my belly like I'm used to.  I think this kid will have quite the stubborn streak and sense of humor once he or she is out.      I'd just like to write down and share what I've learned about this so here goes:   Breech presentation is common in babies that are small (like mine is).  This is because unlike bigger babies who have...

My friends surprised me with a baby shower last Saturday.  I had no intentions of throwing one though I wanted to.  Froggy and I are saving up so a baby shower seemed like a frivolous idea.  I guess one of the sweetest surprises you can get is when your friends decide to throw you a baby shower =) My oldest friend whom I've known for half my life or more planned it all and orchestrated to have everyone show up at Mary Grace in Alabang Town Center.  She shopped for gifts on her own too!  Everything was in a soft yellow which I love.  Plus its gender safe since we still don't know whether we're having a mini-Raymond or a mini-Niki. We snapped pictures, tore open presents and tinkered with all the adorable baby stuff over pasta, hot chocolate and a variety of cakes that will surely be converted into cellulite.  There are a lot of ways to throw a baby shower, I've seen some friends host it at a spa, in their homes over tea and cupcakes, over...

At 6 or 7 months prego I was bit by the nesting bug and started to panic and get giddy over getting things for my little one.  My mom has this thing about getting baby stuff before the baby is born.  I'm not sure if this is out of superstition or if she just wants to stop me from overshopping and running out of baby-delivery money.  In any case, this, along with some practical resistance on Froggy's (my husband) part has probably saved me from being buried in debt.  Anyway, this baby's going to be born on a budget since he or she was a bit of a surprise so I have to shop smart.  I started hunting for a crib with no real idea on how to go about it.  I read up online and took a look at the available options in the market.  I went to Binondo (don't bother they don't have so much), looked online (for hours and hours) and scoured the malls (Baby Company still comes out on top).  I eventually found a playpen I loved at HMR along SLEX.  It got it ...

I'm going to be a mom.  Its like someone hit me with something on the head.. or has been hitting me for the past seven months, and hitting just a bit harder as we go along. I never really thought about being a mom until it was an inevitable round reality staring me in the face.  Don't get me wrong, I'm excited, thankful, anxious, giddy.. all the things expectant moms are.  However, there's so much to learn!  There's so much to plan and think about just for this special little person coming into our lives. So here's what I've learned so far: Useful Apps: I use my phone a lot.  Its my alarm clock, music player, entertainment center, camera, gallery, storage device.. oh and it makes calls too. I'm Expecting - This app updates you on the bodily changes you go through as well as the baby's development week by week.  It also has a weight tracker to tell you if you're gaining too much or not enough.  Of course, nothing beats asking the doctor ab...