VLOG | Introducing Baby #2

Finally, the newest member of MSCO has arrived. Meet our baby number 2:

Atsi Maggy excited to meet shoti :)

Baby Maes' born last Easter Sunday, April 5 via Cesarean Section in UST Hospital. I'll post our birth story soon. 

TIPS| Philippine Hospital Protocols

3 more weeks and BB#2 is here! In preparation for that, I'd like to share with you guys the 3 hospital protocols that should be followed when you give birth. 

1. Unang Yakap (Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC) Protocol mandated by Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2009-0025 dated December 01, 2009) - Before I gave birth to Maggy, I thought unang yakap can only be performed for those who gave birth via Normal Delivery. How misinformed was I, sigh. Nevertheless, I asked my current OB that I want to do this with BB#2. She assured me that there won't be any issues (regardless if I'm CS). Yay!
2. Rooming-In (Republic Act 7600 or “The Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992" [5 April 1993]) - if both mom and baby are well, this should be followed once the mom is out of recovery room. Based on experience, we have to wait for 24 hours before Maggy was roomed in. There was some concern with Maggy's heart then which turned out to be benign. 
3. Milk Code (Milk Code Executive Order 51) - No formula milk should be allowed in the hospital. Medical practitioners should also educate you on how to properly breastfeed your baby. Maggy was cup fed with formula when she was in the nursery and I was still in the recovery room. According to the sub-pedia then (our original pedia was out of the country when Maggy was born), this is to prevent her sugar to drop since I had GDM. 

Here are the links related to the protocols mentioned above:

• http://unangyakap.doh.gov.ph/ao20090025.pdf
• http://unangyakap.doh.gov.ph/enc.html
• http://www.pcw.gov.ph/law/republic-act-7600 
• http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/…/ra_10028_2010.html
• http://www.milkcodephilippines.org/abouteo51.php#reporting

If the hospital failed to perform these protocols you may report here:

Atty. Nicolas B. Lutero III

Director IV, DOH Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau

DOH Trunkline: 651 7800 local 2502

FAX: 711 9572

Email: Familyhealthoffice@gmail.com / bhfs.recordssection@yahoo.com

Address: Bldg 15, Rizal Ave. cor Tayuman St. Sta. Cruz, Manila

Website: http://www.bhfs.doh.gov.ph

 

Pregnancy Update | 35 Weeks

Whew! Finally I was able to at least sit long enough to write a blog/edit a video. Today marks my 35th week (+6 days) in my 2nd pregnancy. I'm getting excited (and sleepy) as the big day comes near. Excited because finally, I get to meet baby #2 and sleepy because I get tired easily these days. 

Anyway, we had our check-up last Saturday and will be having them weekly until April 8. Yap, we already picked shoti's birthday! Yay! According to my OB, if I get any signs of labor:

• Contractions
• Bloody Show (mucus plug)
• Water Break

Maes can come out earlier than April 8. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll be a good boy and stay inside until that day. 

The check-up was pretty routine: 

• Weight check - no weight gain since last month (February 14 check-up)
• IE - aka internal exam; cervix still closed
• BP - aka blood pressure 100/70

I was given admission request in preparation for April 8 or just in case I go into labor before the said date and a prescription for malunggay capsules in preparation for breastfeeding. I can't believe I'm almost thru my 2nd pregnancy and how time flew faster than the first. Although 3 more weeks is still a long time to wait. :)

VLOG | How to find the best insurance for your car?

As moms we know that prevention is better than cure, right? So we invest on things like vitamins and vaccines to make sure that our kids stay healthy and if we have extra, we avail health cards "just in case" those vitamins and vaccines failed us. Car insurance is sort of the same thing since we pay companies to make sure we're covered "just in case" something happened (knock on wood). 

We had to avail a new insurance policy last January for our car and my husband had delegated this task to preggy 'ol me. Trying to locate the nearest branch of accredited insurance companies was easy. Going to each of them and submitting the requirements with my toddler is another. Good thing I stumbled upon a link shared by one of my friends from Cebu. 

MoneyMax is a company that provides a comparison of insurances available for your car type. All you have to do is visit their website or check out their Facebook page, answer a simple survey (questions include: car type, make and model, and your email/contact details). You will then get a table comparison of the insurance provider, their price and services included. Isn't it great?! I mean, what better way to compare "specs" than to see them side by side. This way, it'll be easier for you to decide which one suits your needs best.

Here's a picture of my husband and I with MoneyMax agent Warlough and his manager Anzel.

Just a heads-up though, you will receive a phone call from one of their agents the next day (if not within the day). They'll inquire if you'd like to avail any of the insurance providers on the given table and they'll help you out in getting the best deal. After receiving the requirements, it'll take about 2 days for you to receive your electronic policy. Then you're off to pay the said policy at the insurance company itself. Yup, no need to get worried 'coz you only need to give your payments to the insurance company's cashier. 

I think this is really convenient especially to those who're busy and don't have the time to scout insurance companies. Give this site a try when you're in the look out for insurance, it's fast, easy and best of all free (the comparison table, ok? not the insurance). 

TIPS | Activities That Keeps Toddler Busy

Do you have a toddler who has a lot of energy? I do! In this age, I must admit that I struggle to make sure she doesn't spend too much time with gadgets. If you have the same goal as well, here are some activities that will surely catch your toddler's attention (for a certain amount of time).

1. Mega Blocks: Create 'n Play Junior - This can keep my daughter busy for an hour to an hour and a half tops. One of her god-parents gave this to her for Christmas and she absolutely loves this. These blocks are big enough for her to hold on to and won't be a choking hazard. If all goes well, your toddler will be moving up to Duplo or Lego sooner or later. This will give them more blocks to play/create with. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Thanks, Ninong Carl!

2. Play Doh: Sweet Shoppe Double Desserts - There were times when I can't help but let her watch using my iPad. This is where she discovered Play Doh and apparently how to make "ice cream." She's been asking me to make these "ice creams" since Christmas. And I was honestly contemplating if I'll buy her one. Good thing she got one as a present, whew! This toy needs adult supervision to make sure that they don't try to taste their creations (or put clay in their nostrils). Once you've established the do's and don'ts of this activity, they can pretty much entertain themselves for a good 2 hours. I still advise to check on your kids once in a while to make sure they're not trying to sneak one on you. 

   

   Thanks, Ninong RP!

3. Wooden Puzzles: Alphabet - Teaching Maggy the alphabet has been challenging for me. We tried using flash cards and interactive Leap Frog toys, but she doesn't seem to get a grasp of it. Sure, she can recognise those things illustrated on the flash cards but not the letters they start with. Luckily, one of Maggy's friends gave this to her as Christmas present. Although this activity can only occupy your child for 30 minutes tops, its still 30 minutes :P. So far, we're on letter D (we started February 8).
   
   
   

   

   Thanks, Z & Q!

4. Universe of Imagination Discovery Blocks - This is just like Mega Blocks sans the little circle that locks them together. I've heard from one of my mom friends that developmental pediatricians use these to assess kids' developments. Although I'm not sure how they actually do it, I just let my daughter do her own thing while playing. We also use this to learn colors and shapes. There's another variety of this which is a bit smaller but I prefer the chunkier ones. It's easier for their little hands to pick them up plus it's not a choking hazard. 
   
   
   

   

   Thanks, Ninang Diane!

   Maggy's fortunate enough to receive these toys as gifts. They are however, available in our local department stores, Toy Kingdom and ToysRUs. There's a more affordable version of the wooden alphabet puzzles in Divisoria.

What other activities do you guys have? I personally would love to make some DIY-homeschool activities for Maggy but sadly I can't right now. Please check out our new video below as well :) Thanks :)

Pregnancy Update| 34 Weeks

Hello Friends :) I wasn't able to do much last week as I had contractions and was advised to take a bed rest. It all started last Sunday after the family's post Chinese New Year celebration in Glorietta. I think I got too excited to be out of the house, lol. The result was as you've guessed, contractions. At first, it was once a day during night time. It was really challenging to get some sleep , ugh. Then, it progressed to twice a day.

I got really scared (I was 33 weeks pregnant last week) because I don't want for my son to end up in NICU just because gusto ko maggala. I texted my OB when the contractions won't stop, she advised me to come see her earlier that scheduled. She then, advised me to take bed rest for 5 days; did IE (I think this stands for internal exam?) to check if my cervix is opening up; advised to take Isoxsuprine and get a urinalysis.

Isoxilan from Bio Femme

Thank goodness baby is ok, cervix is not yet open but I have "slight" UTI. I'm continuing my meds until end of march though and the husband ask me to be on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy as well just to be sure. He did however, gave me an earful earlier T-T


Please check out the vlog that we did on the day we went to OB's clinic here  :)

VLOG| Mga Pamahiin para sa Buntis

You've probably heard a lot of things that you should or shouldn't do from our elderly when you were/are pregnant. Here are some of them:

1. Bawal pumunta sa burol/lamay - I think I've heard this one countless of times, although no one can actually tell me why. My husband is very strict when it comes to this particular pamahiin. From what I've heard from other moms, aantukin ka daw sa labor or it's because the formalin used there is bad (emphasis on really bad) for you and your unborn baby. Even though I haven't visited any wakes during my pregnancy with Maggy, I was in and out during my delivery with her. I blame the drugs used to induce me to labor. 
2. Bawal magtahi habang buntis - According to this pamahiin you would most likely end up having a C-section because of the sewing. I had no idea about this during my first pregnancy. I sewed (or at least tried to) mini cloth wipes in my attempt to be that eco-friendly mom who only uses re-useable everything. As you know I had a C-section in 2012 so this could be true. However, I also have a couple of friends who I know for a fact did a lot of sewing while they were pregnant and still had Normal delivery. 
3. Bawal tumambay/magstay ang buntis sa pintuan - Mahihirapan ka daw manganak kasi ma-stuck ang baby habang nanganganak. I don't personally know anyone who likes hanging out in doorways and I don't have that habit either. I have different "beliefs" for this one thanks to Charmed ;P
4. Kailangan maligo kapag lumindol at bawal tumingin sa buwan/eclipse - Correct me if I'm wrong because I only vaguely remember this, you're really not supposed to look at the eclipse directly. I think it's bad for your eyes or something. So I recommend not looking at it regardless if you're with child or not, for your eyes' sake. Magkakabalat daw sa mukha na parang buwan kapag tumingin sa buwan. I have a cousin who has a birthmark on her face but I'm not sure if her mom looked at the moon. I have to ask her about that...but she probably won't remember.
5. Hakbangan ang asawa para siya ang maglihi - Self-explanatory, pretty easy to execute. I've tried it. No matter how many times I do it, hindi siya naglihi. I had high hopes for this pamahiin. Tsk.

I'm not judging anyone who believes in the things mentioned above. Personally, I'm not a superstitious person so I don't follow or believe them with all my heart. Let me know if you've heard of other pamahiin while you're pregnant. Did you follow them? Why or why not?

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