Patient-controlled Analgesia

Nash trying the electronic infusion pump!

Jamba Juice To The Rescue!

While I can't have my daily Starbucks drink, it's good to know that Jamba Juice is now blending here in Manila! You can now substitute your caffeine intake with a fresh smoothie! Yey!

They have juices blended with non-fat frozen yogurt and sherbet, fruit smoothies, creamy smoothies for chocolate lovers, freshly squeezed juices, fruit and yogurt parfait, steel cut oatmeal, flat breads and wraps! 

I can't wait to taste them all! Prices are from PHP130-PHP190. It's better to get the medium sized smoothie because it's like the size of a Starbucks Venti drink. SULIT!

Hubby's Five Fruit Frenzy and My Banana Berry

Substitution is always welcome! No charge!

...and so Hubby changed his Five Fruit Frenzy to Peach Perfection!

Jamba Juice Philippines

7th Avenue corner 29th Avenue South, Fort Bonifacio

Operating Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 7am-11pm
Friday to Sunday: 7am-1am

Breastfeeding Preparation Tips

Nash and I have been attending a lot of birth classes lately and we are learning so much about breastfeeding. Here’s one interesting thing we learned that we never thought about before – Is your nipple ready for breastfeeding? 

Our nipples come in several sizes and shapes. I think most nipples are protruded, which is good for breastfeeding because it’s going to be easy for the baby to grasp your milk. For others, you may find yours either inverted or flat. If you have an inverted or flat nipples, it may be difficult for you to breastfeed your baby successfully.

 
I learned it is very common when you’re pregnant for the first time, nipples do not protrude completely. Now, in preparation for your breastfeeding plan, you will need to determine whether your nipples are flat or inverted. If so, you may want to use a nipple former. 

  
These are synthetic plastic cup shaped shells that apply pressure to your areola during the period of your pregnancy when the skin is said to be most elastic. Thanks to Medela Moms Philippines and you can get them now here in Manila for only PHP990.00/pair!


You have to wear them inside your bra for a few hours a day during your last trimester, so when the baby arrives, your nipples will be ready for breastfeeding! You will be advised to wear them for only 30 minutes on the first day. Then add an hour on every succeeding days until you can wear them for 8 hours. Yep, only up to a maximum of 8 hours per day and you should never sleep on them too. 

I also got the Medela Purelan 100 for nipple dryness. It contains 100% pure lanolin (wool wax) without any artificial additives or preservatives so you don't have to remove it before breastfeeding. It's also available at Medela Moms Philippines for only PHP600.00.

 

Sweet Perks!

Sure you have back aches, constipation, heart burns, indigestion and a list of discomforts, but there are a lot of perks in being pregnant too. My favorite is that I get to have a designated parking slot in malls! You get to appreciate it now especially that Christmas season is here! It’s busier everywhere and it’s good to know that you don’t have to think about getting a parking lot. 

People are also nicer to you. They hold the doors for you, offer their seats, carry your things, prioritize you in elevator lines etc.! Oh yeah and you get to flip out at your husband for no reason at all and he’ll let you get away with it blaming your hormones! You can also eat a lot without feeling guilty, what’s best is that you are even allowed to look fat! These things make the whole pregnancy worthwhile! 

To Lamaze or not to Lamaze?

They say that Lamaze provides evidence-based healthy birth practices for a healthy pregnancy, childbirth and labor. Since my doctor said that I’ll deliver our baby in the natural way, I thought of checking out the Lamaze room of Medical City. The best thing about delivering your baby there is that you get to bring your husband or anyone in your family or friends inside the room - although you are only allowed to bring one person at a time. It’s a very sterile room, so your guest should be in a lab gown. You can stay there from labor to the actual delivery. 

The rate is PHP30K for the first 6 hours then PHP935/hour on the succeeding hours. That includes Delivery Fee, Surgical Prep, Anesthesia, and Recovery for 2 hours. It doesn't include Doctor's Professional Fee, Pedia, Nursery and etc. You still need to get a room after where you will stay overnight. You wouldn’t know how long your labor is going to be, so be prepared for longer hours (Ouch!). 

Viewing Time

Delivery Suite is the most expensive birthing room in Medical City. You can stay there from labor to delivery - you can even have your C-Section inside, no need to transfer you to the Delivery Room if there will be an emergency CS.

This is my room!

Lamaze Room in Pink and Purple Theme

For your audience!

I wonder what will be in HBO that time!

Due to my low tolerance over pain, I'm still not sure if I can do the Lamaze technique but what’s good to know is that even if you don’t plan to deliver in Lamaze technique (meaning you need epidural/anesthesia and all), you may still use the room. I badly wanted that room! I want my hubby to be there when I scream ha ha ha!  It’s going to be a perfect experience for him too. He can cut the baby’s cord himself and all. 

The bad thing is – Lamaze room in Medical City has a first come, first serve system. Of course you can’t make reservations on the exact date when. If you’re getting the Lamaze room, you also have to pray really hard not to have an emergency C-Section. They will transfer you to the Delivery room if you have to undergo CS because they don’t perform that operation in the Lamaze room, thus leaving your hubby/companion behind plus paying the Lamaze room and the additional rate of the Delivery room usage (Double ouch!).

I’m crossing my fingers now!

Baby Company Shopping

We're halfway through our checklist! Shopped at Baby Company, Power Plant,  Rockwell for the basic infant items we will need! Baby Company is owned by SM. They actually have a range of items from cheap to branded stuff from the US or other countries. I find the store "almost complete" from cribs, strollers down to nail cutters! The sales ladies were very helpful and service oriented too! They'll give you a handy checklist while shopping. It's very convenient. They'll give you discounts on your next purchases when you get the Mom Card.

My First Mom Card

Daddy paying the tags!

You can also have your Baby Registry for Baby Showers, Christenings and Birthdays for no charge at all and your guests get 10% discount when they buy gifts for your baby in their store.

For all the moms / preggy ladies out there!

See you at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell for the last day of Mommy Mundo Bazaar! You may go check my Mom Fairs / Bazaars / Sales Page for more information.

No Planned C-Section For Moi!

I know it sounds crazy and everyone would tell me that a normal delivery is way better than a cesarean section but let me tell you why I’m seriously considering going through an incision in my belly instead of popping the baby. 

One word: PAIN.

The thought of going through the pain of labor is killing me already. I have an unbelievable low tolerance over pain. Every time I talk to people who underwent CS, they all gave me the same ideas. It’s not painful at all. People might say that recovery is painful afterwards, but according to my doctor friend, the advancement of our medicines now is different from 20 years ago. I even know one person who went back to work 2 weeks after CS and she’s just doing fine. I just thought that C-Section delivery is not bad at all. 

This morning I went to tell my OB that I’m considering a scheduled CS. She said they’re not allowed to do that. Obviously she didn’t agree with me. My doctor will help me cope up with pain in labor (an epidural maybe) but she said something that made me realize that normal delivery is way better. 

“It’s a natural way of life. Think of all other women who went through the same thing. They are still alive now and very happy.” 

So now I should be ready for my natural birth plan! If they can do it, I can do it too! I will just fast forward my thoughts to holding our baby in my arms. That makes me feel so much better now.  All pain shall pass. Of course, it’s still within God’s control. What’s important now is not the pain but to deliver the baby safely. God will give us what’s best for our family.

So yeah, I’ll bring it on… (breathing in, breathing out)

MOTHERCARE

Alas! The biggest store is nearby!

MOTHERCARE

Bonifacio High Street, G/F Active Fun Bldg, Global City, Taguig. 

(Near Krispy Kreme and Dimensione)

Chocolate Polka Madness

I have been addicted in buying brown polka dots for our baby lately. It all started when I saw Quirks Marketing’s Warehouse Sale last Saturday. They have DwellStudio items you will surely love! You can buy them in Rustan's but Quirks Marketing’s Warehouse Sale gave us a huge discount!

After buying, I immediately checked the prices online (Amazon) to see if we were really able to get a good discount. Of course everything from the US is priced doubled when brought here in manila but I was actually surprised that the items were even cheaper than Amazon!

We bought these:

DwellStudio Baby Dots Stroller Comforter 

DwellStudio Chocolate Dots 3-Piece Bib & Burp Set 

DwellStudio Baby Dots Travel Case 

Baby G ’ s Perfect Ride

Thinking about baby shopping, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is getting a stroller. Although I have to admit I’m a bit skeptical in seeing couples modeling their newborn babies in the malls (because I think about the immune system of the baby if they’re already ready to mingle with germs), I think it’s better to have my checklist completed before the baby arrives.

The question we had in mind was “What stroller should we buy?”

There are definitely so many out there, and that it’s such an expensive item! Can you imagine buying one for PHP30K- PHP50K? If we are buying an expensive one, we have to make sure that IT HAS EVERYTHING WE NEED. 

So what do we need to consider? 

1. The ones that you can maneuver easily. Perhaps a 4-wheel system that can rotate 360 degrees, making it easy to push, pull and otherwise navigate.
2. Heavier ones if you plan to use it outdoor.
3. Lightweight ones and easy to tag along wherever.
4. The ones that you can fully recline for your newborn.
5. The ones that has a car-seat that can be a carrier too. Basically, a complete travel system.
6. Stylish but not that expensive and with warranty.

Having said those, of course we still have to be realistic about the budget. You’ll be surprised how costly other baby stuff nowadays can be. I know for a fact that we can always count on a number of popular brands that sell PHP30K and above, but if you can’t go there without falling into debt, aim lower. My husband and I decided to get which is most vital for us: lightweight ones (because we travel a lot), easy to fold and can fit in our sedan car, good brand and reputation, can be used from newborn till 3 years old, a color for girl and boy, simple but classy. 

So good thing my friend recommended a warehouse sale by Quirks Marketing Philippines last Saturday. Luckily we saw a perfect stroller for us! 

Obaby Atlas Circles Stroller (from UK)

The Obaby Atlas Circles Stroller is an incredible value for money stroller with a multi-positionable seat recline, adjustable calf rest and rain cover. Suitable from birth to approx 3 years old (15kg) the Obaby Atlas stroller is a winner everytime.

• Multi positional seat - baby can lie completely flat which they can't do in McLarens
• Adjustable 5 point harness
• Ergonomic foam handles
• Carry handle for easy lifting
• Adjustable leg rest
• Detachable hood
• Lockable front swivel wheels
• Wipe clean fabric
• Large shopping basket 

Age suitability: Suitable from birth to 3 years old (15kg)

Weight: 7.7kg – even lighter than McLarens

We got it with a free rain cover. It was perfect! Even if it didn’t include a complete travel system, it was on a great sale (45% off) - which gives us an opportunity for buying a car seat and carrier in one - still a lot cheaper than getting a 3-in-1 travel system. PLUS MOM AND SIS BOUGHT IT FOR US! What else can we ask for??? Ha ha ha!

Stroller (one down on our checklist)

So while you still have time to check out other brands, research for the perfect stroller for you. Even go online to check out feedback from other users too. With all the brands you see around, don’t worry... when you find one - you’ll know it.