2017 - Misis Blog – For Moms and Dads

Breastfeeding is nature's gift to mothers: It's all-natural and free, and it provides a host of benefits to you and your baby's overall health. However, it's often a concern for new mothers that their milk supply isn't enough. Your milk supply may indeed temporarily diminish if you're not feeding your little one often enough for a variety of reasons.

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Remember that milk supply works the same way as economics: there's a law of supply and demand. With breastfeeding, the more you nurse, the more milk you produce given the proper positioning and latch. Unfortunately for a number of mothers, their milk supply may still be low. Enter galactagogues, the most popular and most convenient being lactation cookies.

5 Benefits of Lactation Cookies

While there are no solid scientific studies that support the effectiveness of lactation cookies in boosting milk supply, many mothers testify how lactation cookies helped them in their breastfeeding journey. Here's a list of reasons why lactation cookies benefit breastfeeding moms:

Photo credits to Milking Moms Lactating Goodies

1. Lactation cookies can boost your milk supply

Lactation cookies are named as such for the obvious reason that it's made especially for lactating mothers. The key ingredients in lactation cookies—oatmeal, brewer's yeast, flaxseed, wheat germ, and fenugreek—work together to help you boost and maintain your milk supply. Here's how:

Oats are rich in fiber, iron, protein, and complex carbohydrates. Low levels of iron have a close correlation with milk supply reduction.
Brewer's yeast contains protein, iron, B vitamins, selenium, chromium, and other trace minerals. The combination of these nutrients are believed to help in boosting milk supply.
Flaxseed is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and healthy fats, which are key components in breastmilk.
Wheat germ has high levels of zinc, which is essential in supporting baby's growth, immunity, and brain development.
Fenugreek contains hormone precursors that prompt the milk glands to produce more breastmilk.

2. Lactation cookies are more nutritious breastfeeding snacks

Feeding a miniature human from your body takes so much energy and effort, which is why most breastfeeding mothers are often very hungry and thirsty after each breastfeeding session. Instead of snacking on unhealthy food, lactation cookies are a more nutritious alternative. You get to satisfy your hunger while maintaining your figure!

3. Oats in lactation cookies promote healthy bowel movements

One of the main ingredients of lactation cookies is oatmeal. Oats are known to be high in fiber and can aid in your bowel movements, eventually helping you to shed some of your postpartum weight gain. Of course, go for homemade lactation cookies without the extra sugar.

4. Brewer's yeast and wheat germ in lactation cookies may help with baby blues and PPD

Two other key ingredients in lactation cookies are brewer's yeast and wheat germ. The combined nutrients in brewer's yeast and wheat germ are believed to aid in managing depression, though there aren't enough studies to support this claim. However, a little sugar fix from eating lactation cookies can definitely help in boosting your mood.

5. Lactation cookies have no adverse effects

Because the ingredients of lactation cookies are all-natural, there are no known adverse effects. Nuisances such as gas from oatmeal and weight gain from eating too many cookies are some of the reported "side effects." Some doctors advise against fenugreek for breastfeeding and pregnant mothers with health conditions, though the small amount of fenugreek per cookie serving is considered safe enough.

Photo credits to Milking Moms Lactating Goodies

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It's important to note, though, that each mother respond differently to lactation cookies. Some moms notice a significant increase in their milk supply within a few days of eating two to three lactation cookies per day, while some take a few weeks or so.

Lactation cookies are just among the many galactagogues available for breastfeeding mothers. These cookies can be easily made at home. But if you're like many busy moms who hardly have the time to shower, let alone bake a cookie, buying ready-made lactation cookies is the obvious route.

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Affordable Lactation Cookies in Cebu

Out of all the lactation cookies I've tried, I'm especially impressed with Milking Moms Lactating Goodies, one of the most affordable homemade lactation cookies in Cebu, Philippines. Their cookies are baked fresh from the oven, without any preservatives. Their cookies come in two flavors: Oat Raisin Cashew and Oat Choco Chip. What I like best is that the cookies are only semi-sweet, so you won't have to worry about the extra calories.

For orders and inquiries, you can contact Jovy Sabesaje of Milking Moms Lactating Goodies. You can also click on the image below to go directly to their official Facebook page. :-)

November 14, 2017 No comments

Giving birth is probably the scariest thing a woman could ever face in her whole life. The pain of giving birth is insurmountable and something you should be prepared for.

Of course, no amount of detailed planning could ever prepare you for the joys and pains of motherhood, but there's nothing wrong if you try.

To help you prepare for birth, here's a checklist of important things to ask your OB before baby arrives.

I've also included a free and downloadable printable that you can bring during your prenatal visits :-)

Important note: This is focused on a Philippine setting.

DOWNLOAD FREE PDF PRINTABLE HERE:

Things to Ask Your OB Before Baby Arrives

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Health Insurance

Is doctor accredited with your health care insurance?

If you have a personal health care insurance other than the government-mandated PhilHealth, it's important to ask if your doctor is accredited.
This could help you save tons of money, and could help you decide whether you want to switch to a doctor who's accredited (though this should be something you need to carefully consider especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy).

What hospitals is doctor accredited?

If the doctor is indeed accredited with your insurance, you need to know which hospitals she's accredited to practice.
Health insurance has two levels of accreditation: one for the doctor and one for the healthcare facility.

How much is her professional fee? And how much does your insurance cover?

Depending on your health care plan, the coverage of doctors' fees vary. Typically, the lower the plan, the lower the coverage of the PF, and you would need to shoulder the rest of the fee.

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Birth Preference

Are you a candidate for normal delivery? For cesarean delivery?

The type of delivery obviously affects how much it costs to give birth. Ask your options whether you're safe to give birth normally, or if your condition (and the baby's positioning) calls for cesarean delivery.

If for normal delivery, can husband go inside the delivery room?

Most hospitals in the Philippines do not allow husbands to go inside the delivery room, but it's still worth a shot to ask.
Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu, in particular, gives a nod to allowing husbands in the delivery room, given that they have attended a birthing class.

If for cesarean delivery, when is your schedule?

If your condition calls for an elective cesarean delivery, be sure to ask when your schedule is.
This helps you determine the start of your maternity leave, and a better way for you to prepare for birth.

Do you need to be scheduled for an induced normal delivery?

Some factors come into play when a doctor advises for an induced normal delivery.
It could be that the doctor has a scheduled out-of-the-country trip during the week of your delivery, among many other things.

Should you have epidural anesthesia (painless delivery) during labor?

Epidural anesthesia is optional, so this is mainly a personal decision.
Most health insurance companies do not cover this, so be sure to ask your doctor how much an epidural will cost if you ever do decide to have one.

When should you start your maternity leave?

Depending on how far along you are, the condition of your baby, your dilation and effacement, your doctor can give you a rough estimate on when you're most likely to give birth.
Discuss your options whether you need to start your maternity leave a few days before you give birth, or if you can wait it out until true labor ensues.

Which hospital should you give birth?

Factors like the health insurance accreditation of your doctor and the distance from your home or office are important to consider when deciding where to give birth.
In the end, it's still your personal choice, but your doctor could still give you advice.

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Pediatrician/Anesthesiologist

Does your doctor have a pediatrician she can recommend?

While the choice of the pediatrician for your newborn baby highly depends on you, if you're a first-time mom, you can ask your doctor if she has a pediatrician she can recommend.
Other things to consider is whether the pediatrician is also accredited with your health care insurance.
Be sure also to ring your pediatrician weeks before giving birth and ask if the pedia doesn't have out-of-the-country trips within the timeframe of your due date.

If needed, does your doctor have an anesthesiologist she can recommend?

If you're a candidate for cesarean delivery, or if you opt for epidural anesthesia, you would need an anesthesiologist.
You can choose your own anesthesiologist, or you can ask your doctor if she could recommend one.
There is only a handful of anesthesiologists who are accredited with health care insurance companies, so be sure to research on that too.

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There are so many things to prepare for when you're pregnant, but don't let anxiety dampen your spirits.

Motherhood is such a beautiful thing. Enjoy the journey :-)

October 19, 2017 No comments

It's not every mother's dream to sacrifice her hard-earned career to stay at home for the kids.

But for some moms, it's the ultimate dream. I am one of those some moms.

I didn't downright leave the workforce, though; I'm still working at home, so it's a win-win situation for both our family's finances and my baby's welfare.

Being a work-at-home mom (WAHM) made a big difference to our family, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The advantages of being a WAHM outweigh all the disadvantages, and I'm listing all the good reasons I have here for choosing the road less traveled.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

1. Lesser household expenses

Working in an office entails a huge amount of money: transportation, food, and even your clothing—unless you have a work uniform.

When you work at home, your household expenses drastically go down to a bare minimum.

You don't need to spend on commute or gasoline (if you have a car), you don't need to eat out, you won't be tempted to buy stuff when your officemates do, and you won't need to spend on buying more clothes or new makeup.

At home, you eat home-cooked meals, you don't need to change clothes every day so you can save on your laundry expenses too, and your transportation is limited to the weekly trip to the grocery and occasional visits to the doctor or the mall.

2. Being hands-on in taking care of your baby

When you work in an office, the first thing in mind is, who will take care of the baby when you're not around?

It could have been easier if your mom or mother-in-law, or some other family member, is at home to stay with the baby.

But not everyone has that advantage. It's probably far easier to find a needle in a haystack than finding a trusted nanny to look after your kid!

Being at home, you don't need to worry about any of that.

You're the main caregiver for your baby. You're there for every diaper change, every feeding, every sick time, and every single minute of her precious life.

Whatever your kid needs, you're there for her—ready and available.

3. More time with family

Quality time with my baby is the main reason we decided that I work at home. That and the lack of satisfactory childcare.

When I returned to my office job after giving birth, it was a whirlwind of waking up early to bathe and feed the baby before I get ready for work, of pumping like crazy in the office, of rushing back home at night before dinner, and of cursing at the traffic jam.

You spend all your time trying to squeeze in all your responsibilities at work and at home, you barely have quality time with your baby.

When I started working from home, things mellowed down. Our household was happier and more relaxed now that we didn't have to rush all the time.

There will be more cuddles and kisses with your kid and your husband, more time to play, and more time for everything that matters.

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

4. Unlimited breastfeeding

As a breastfeeding mother, it's paramount to provide unlimited opportunities for your baby to latch on your breasts.

Nothing beats direct latch in boosting your milk supply and in providing your baby all the nourishment she needs.

When you work in the office, you need to express your breast milk so that your baby has something to eat when you're not around.

While you can supplement with formula, I'm a firm advocate of exclusive breastfeeding.

I wasn't a big fan of pumping too. It's tedious and takes a whole lot of time.

At home, my baby can take all her sweet time to breastfeed. I didn't have to worry about low milk supply because my baby can latch on anytime she likes.

Breastfeeding got a lot easier now that I'm at home with her 24/7.

5. Witnessing all of your child's milestones

When I gave birth to K, my heart melted into puddles when she opened her tiny little eyes and saw me for the first time. It was the happiest moment of my life.

Being a work-at-home mom, I get to witness all of her firsts: her first smile, her first laugh, her first attempt at sitting down and standing up, her first squeal.

No amount of salary or prestige can outweigh the happiness of witnessing all of your child's milestones, and this is probably the biggest advantage of being a WAHM.

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Deciding to stay at home is a big decision every family makes. Believe me, my husband and I gave so much thought on this before taking the leap.

Read: 5 Things to Consider Before Deciding to Become a Work-at-Home Mom (WAHM)

When you decide whether to become a work-at-home mom, try to look on the bright side and factor in all the advantages it offers.

October 13, 2017 No comments

This is all so overwhelming—I've been nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award! That's two award nominations in just a month of starting this blog! :-)

Read: Nominated for the Liebster Award 2017

Many thanks to Lauren Najar of Laugh Always for appreciating the work I've done for my blog.

Laugh Always is a blog that aims to promote positivity and encouragement to anyone who needs it.

What is the Blogger Recognition Award?

The Blogger Recognition Award is an award given to bloggers by bloggers who appreciate the hard work, dedication, and effort in creating posts and in regularly updating their blogs.

It’s an awesome opportunity for bloggers to recognize one another for our contributions to the blogging community.

What are the rules for the Blogger Recognition Award?

When you are nominated, you have the option to accept or ignore. If you choose to accept the award nomination, there are few simple steps that you need to take:

Write a post to show your award.
Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give 2 pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers to nominate.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

How I Started Blogging

I actually started blogging back in 2011 after learning about Google AdSense.

Paper and Ink is my experimental blog without a niche in mind. I wrote about a variety of topics from books, movies, travel, to personal reflections on my life events.

A few years down the road, the thought of starting a new blog began brewing in my mind. The moment I got engaged and knew I was expecting, I wanted to create a blog about motherhood.

Then early this year, shortly after getting married, I got into Wordpress and started Misis Blog. I used the free plan, so I didn't have my own domain.

Being pregnant and all, I got bored and stopped blogging.

Misis Blog was dormant for a few months, until my loving husband gave me the go signal to buy my own domain.

He was very supportive and encouraged me to blog again, especially now that I'm a WAHM.

I deleted my WordPress blog and started from scratch here in Blogger (where it's free to map your own domain). Hence, the rebirth of Misis Blog.

Top Advice to New Bloggers

1. Find a niche that you're interested in

Learn from my mistake. My first blog didn't really fare well in the blogosphere because Paper and Ink was a hodgepodge of topics.

Focus on a topic or group of topics that closely relate to one another—your niche, so to speak—and write about your focus topic consistently.

The trick here is choosing a niche that you're genuinely interested in and something that you're knowledgeable of.

2. Be consistent

Writing sporadically won't get you anywhere in blogging. To keep your audience engaged, you should post regularly on your blog and on your respective social media sites.

Consistency equals commitment to your blog, and this is one mistake I had with my first blog.

Bonus tip: Be patient

Reaping the rewards of blogging takes time: growing your audience, learning SEO, getting on the first page of SERPs, and earning through blogging.

Believe me, I'm going through the same pains right now. But just like any good thing, you just need to be patient. Enjoy the journey of blogging.

My Nominees for the Blogger Recognition Award

Nanayhood Chronicles
Times with Kai
Kayla Dene' Blog
I Read What I Like
Simple Mom Simple Life
My Momma Bear Life
Smile 4 Mama
The Kanga Tribe
Thoughts of a Woman Revealed
Bibliobakes
One Day Today
Journeys to Simple
Being a Mama Abroad
Healthy Dash of Sass
Lily and Me

October 12, 2017 No comments

Caring for your baby begins even before she is born. This is why it's important to have regular prenatal visits with your OB-GYN.

The moment you suspect you're pregnant, it's best to have yourself checked by a doctor. The earlier you could have your prenatal checkup, the better.

If you're an anxious mom like me, it's helpful to know the frequency of prenatal visits and what to expect during each checkup.

It's also a good way to know how much you would be paying each prenatal visit (if you don't have a health insurance).

Here's a simple guide on the frequency of prenatal visits for a normal pregnancy, what to tests and procedures are done, and how much you might be spending for each visit.

Important note: This is focused on a Philippine setting.

First Trimester Pre-Natal Visits

1 to 2 months (4 to 8 weeks)

Checkup once a month

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Transvaginal ultrasound for confirmation of fetal heartbeat at 8 weeks

Average cost: 800 to 1,300php

Routine laboratories: urinalysis, complete blood count, random blood sugar, hepatitis-B, HIV

Average cost: 1,000 to 1,5000php total

3 months (12 weeks)

Checkup once a month

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Fetal heartbeat can be heard from Doppler machine in doctor's clinic
Doctor to check your weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition

Second Trimester Pre-Natal Visits

4 months (16 weeks)

Check up once a month

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition

5 months (20 weeks)

Check up once a month

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Earliest time to detect gender

Average cost: 800 to 1,300php

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
Administration of tetanus vaccine at week 20

Average cost: 100 to 150php
Tip: You can get free tetanus shots at your local health center!

6 months (24 weeks)

Check up once a month

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition

Third Trimester Pre-Natal Visits

7 months (28 weeks)

Check up twice a month (every 2 weeks)

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Ideal time to have 3D/4D gender ultrasound

Related read: Affordable 3D Ultrasound at All About Women, SM Cebu

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
Additional laboratory: glucose challenge test

Average cost: 300 to 500php

8 months (32 weeks)

Check up twice a month (every 2 weeks)

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition

9 months (36 weeks onwards)

Check up every week until baby is born

Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit

Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
Internal examination of cervix

It's important to note that the frequency of prenatal visits highly depends on your doctor's judgment.

If you have any health problems before or during pregnancy, or if you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor might require more prenatal visits than usual.

She may also order additional tests to make sure you and your baby are okay.

October 11, 2017 No comments

September 12, 2017 No comments

Congratulations on getting married! After all the wedding planning and the (on-going) honeymoon, it's time to get back to reality and face one of the "newly married life" hurdle: updating your civil status.

Here's a simple guide on how to update your civil status in the Philippines, and if you're a woman, how to change your last name.

Updating your civil status: SSS requirements

Accomplished SSS E4 form (2 copies)
Marriage certificate (LCR or NSO)
UMID card or 2 valid IDs

Updating your civil status: PhilHealth requirements

Accomplished PhilHealth M2 form (2 copies)
Marriage certificate (LCR or NSO)

Updating your civil status: PAG-IBIG requirements

Accomplished PAG-IBIG MCIF form (2 copies)
Marriage certificate (LCR or NSO)

Updating your civil status: BIR requirements

Accomplished BIR 2305 form (2 copies)
Marriage certificate (NSO)
Birth certificate (NSO)
Employer's signature (if locally employed)

General Tips on How to Update Your Civil Status

Instructions on How to File

Go to your nearest government office, or you can go to the nearest Government Satellite Office in SM or Robinsons.
- Government Satellite Offices are open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (cut off time), Monday to Saturday

Ask for the corresponding form for information update.
- While you can download the forms online, you will still need to fill up a new one in the actual office. (Reason: I honestly don't know. Government red tape?)

Submit requirements.

Effectivity

For SSS and PhilHealth, information update is effective immediately.
For PAG-IBIG, information update is effective after 20 working days.

Other Tips

Local Civil Registrar (LCR) Marriage Certificate is available after 15 working days from date of marriage.
- If you got married in a church, you can get your certificate from the parish office.

National Statistics Office (NSO) Marriage Certificate is available 6 to 12 months from date of marriage.
- Since BIR requires an NSO copy of your certificate, your tax exemption update will take some time to file.
- You may opt to have your NSO Marriage Certificate electronically endorsed to expedite the process. You can get your certificate within 3 to 4 weeks. For more information, go to your nearest Philippine Statistics Office and bring a copy of your LCR Marriage Certificate.

Tax Update is facilitated by your employer if you're employed.