Little Lady Mom

For the recently preggy out there, if there are any of you reading this, this is about being pregnant and some of those weird side effects it brings. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. The First Trimester: You may not know that you're pregnant until you realize you haven't had your period since.. maybe you can't remember.  Maybe a little test kit confirmed it for you with a faint pink line next to a clear pink line. What you might feel: -constant sleepiness, sluggishness and general laziness, this will probably show on your face too -a frequent need to pee -feeling bloated -weird mood swings, being weepy or irritable -"morning sickness" not necessarily in the morning.  This doesn't happen to everyone.  For some it lasts longer, for others its a vomiting episode or two, and some just feel obligated to feel vomity. -your boobs might be sensitive or achy -your sense of smell may be at par with your dog.  You smell everything and not everyth...

Happy New Year! It's a new year, everything feels fresh and before getting back into the daily grind, I would like to write.  My first topic this year: The Mommy Hospital Bag 2017 for me seemed to be the year of the buntis, with batchmates and friends popping up kids or announcing kids on the way, with twins and triplets even! One of my dearest and oldest friends asked me to text her what she should pack so here is my no frills hospital bag checklist/s with the "why's" for each item: For Mommy: ID, Philhealth card, MDR or Member Data Record from Philhealth (download then print), and your Admitting Orders from your doctor - have these ready in an envelope  Glasses if needed Phone and charger!!! (I'll post a separate blog on useful apps for moms-to-be)  pack your earphones too A light jacket - hospital air-conditioning is generally sleepy-cold temperature Hair ties / head bands - at least 3 hair ties since you might lose them, these are just to keep ...

A month into maternity leave. My second child was born on July 19, 2017.  He's a healthy baby, large for me at 8 pounds and 60 centimeters.  Soon to be Pinay mommies must have heard about the new maternity bill approved by both congress and senate and are probably jumping for joy.. just like I was up until June this year. Sorry ladies, the bill still needs the president's approval and it doesn't seem to be a priority right now.  There hasn't been a relevant update on the bill's status and implementation since March 2017. Under the new bill, Senate Bill 1305, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017,  mothers can avail of 120 days maternity leave from the current 60 days regardless of civil status or the child's legitimacy.  30 days of these may be transferred as well to an alternate caregiver and fathers'paternity leave will go from 7 days to 30 days. Here is the proposed bill: Expanded Maternity Leave What is unclear under the new bill is the SSS ...

Breastfeeding is a reality I never thought of while pregnant.   I was too focused on keeping myself and the baby inside me healthy, giving birth, budgeting, picking a hospital etc etc..  I thought it would come naturally, didn’t think of how long I would breastfeed my baby and never knew that there are so many technicalities to it.  The proper hold, the proper latch, pumping, what to eat and vitamins to take and so on.. I’ve been back at work for about a month now and am proud to say my 2 month old baby is exclusively breastfed =)  Well, almost exclusively.  We give him 4 ounces of S26 Gold everyday just so he can still get whatever nutrients and extra formulated growth boosters formula may have.  This is at the insistence of my mother and hubby.  I was overruled. Direct breastfeeding was no walk in the park for me, my nipples got sore. Feeding time was painful but necessary and I had to do it 8 to 12 times a day?!  Plus kiddo is...

Its been a little over 2 months since I gave birth to my healthy little boy.  I haven't had much time to blog or do anything else aside from take care of our little newborn.  It really is a full time (and more) task. I'll blog separately about my birthing experience.  I know a first-time-mom-to-be's foremost concern would be the cost of giving birth.  To give you an idea, we spent 60k for normal spontaneous delivery.  I opted for the "painless" option and I'm very happy that I did.  The 60k includes use of the hospital facilities, room (2 nights), doctors' fees and baby's initial tests.  I gave birth at Medical Center Paranaque. I'm really happy we stayed well within budget.  We were able to use the leftover funds for baby's bassinet, breastpumps (more on that later), and initial supplies like milk and nappies.  We even had enough to cover for car insurance and repairs hehehe..   Goodluck to all moms to be out there!  I hope your ...

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...

 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...