Cloth Diapers

Babies mostly sleep, eat and urinate/poop generally.
This is one of the reasons why they can be so expensive, which is why I am planning on breastfeeding (versus 7K pesos per week), and using cloth diapers (which is also more environmental friendly and less prone to diaper rashes for the baby). Modern cloth diapers (versus the lampin) usually have cute designs (no need for the baby to wear separate shorts? Haha) with adjustable sizes (some even claim until 3 yrs old).

I have read on the different kinds of modern cloth diapers, but I have decided to focus on the following because I think this is where I will stick to. To read about the basics, you can click here, or here, or here, or just google it :)

1. Flats
Most Filipinos grow up with the concept of lampin (or flats).

Pros:
Cheap (1 dozen can only cost PhP 220)
Easy to wash and dry
Breathable (presko)
Easily adjusted based on size by using diaper clamps (I remember using pins when I was young, but clamps are safer)
Lampins are also versatile and can be used as burp pads, wipes, towels for the back, etc.


Cons:
Not waterproof - but can be remedied by using diaper covers
Can be hard to put on, especially when baby is makulit

2. Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers consists of an outer waterproof layer, and an suede inner layer with an opening on the end, to serve as a pocket. Inside the pocket, you can add flats or inserts or combine them together (to be discussed later).

Pros:
Inserts/absorbancy can easily be adjusted
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Popular (these are what I usually find in department stores)

Cons:
Needs time to stuff the pocket with inserts
Harder to dry when cleaning
May also be more disgusting because you have to separate the insert from the pocket when washing

3. All in Twos
I think this is our favorite. But I have seen different variations. It usually has two components, an outer waterproof layer with a separate absorbable insert that can be snapped on to the waterproof layer. The outer layer (also known as the diaper cover) can either have a snap for the insert, or flaps on both side of the diaper where the insert can be inserted.

The other variation I've seen is a waterproof outer layer with a suede inner layer that can be used as a pocket, but it also has a snap that can be used with a removable snap-on insert.

Pros:
Reusable in between washing (if only the insert gets wet or dirty with urine)
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Easier to dry than All in Ones and Pockets
Can be combined with a disposable insert (well, this is actually available only from the US and can be expensive)

Cons:
Need time to stuff the insert
Inserts can shift when the baby moves


From all these, I figured we would use All in Twos a lot because they are reusable in between washings (we just need to buy and wash more inserts). We would also use the pocket, especially for night use where we could stuff the pockets with more inserts. I think it's pretty useful also if the baby is constantly moving, which might displace the inserts with All in Twos.


I've been talking about inserts a lot, and base from my research...
1. Flats - lampin; because this is pretty cheap and easy to dry
2. Microfiber - most common default insert
Pros:
2-3x more absorbent than flats
Cheaper than other modern inserts

Cons:
Cannot be directly put on the baby's bum
Can retain the stink
Absorbancy properties gets lost after about a year

3. Bamboo charcoal
Pros:
More absorbent than microfiber
Can be direct on the baby's bum

Cons:
Bulky
Also said to retain the sink
Harder to dry when washing

4. Hemp
Pros:
More absorbent than bamboo charcoal
So much thinner than bamboo charcoal
Natural fiber so can be next to baby's bum
Softer with every washing

Cons:
More expensive

Because of all this, I was thinking on just going for the hemp inserts, and probably the microfiber ones because it is the free default insert that comes with most cloth diapers. Though I did also buy some bamboo charcoal and zorb already just to try it out when the baby comes.

I must say that I'm really excited about trying on cloth diapers on my baby. (Though maybe it's also because I don't really wash the laundry hahaha) They did say 20-30 diapers is already enough. But since I was planning to use AI2s, I think I can just buy 30 inserts and just make do with 15 diaper covers? Though I read from another blog, that a newborn can go through 15 diapers per day! Or... maybe I should just stick with the flats with nappy clamps and pins, which is bought per dozen anyway.

Though I was so excited when I first read up on it that I already bought 10 diapers when I was just 5 months pregnant (they are a mixture of 6 pockets, 2 AI2, and 2 diaper covers that I bought online) with a mixture of different inserts (including "special" ones like pure bamboo booster (for night use), hemp jersey (stiffer than pure bamboo, but just as absorbent), bamboo cotton, zorb diamond cloth (one of the most expensive but most absorbent out there), coffee fleece (claims to have absorb the smell).

Sample of a diaper cover with hemp insert

Sample of a pocket diaper with bamboo charcoal lining

Aside from the cloth diapers from shopee, I also bought a pure bamboo booster, hemp jersey, and bamboo cotton insert

Sample of a diaper with fleece as outer lining (in contrast to the usual TPU and PUL)

Aside from my cloth diapers from shoppee, I also bought a Wazoodle Zorb insert, microfiber, and bamboo charcoal insert

This is my favorite set from a certain shop in Shopee. It comes with 1 Diaper Cover with 2 snap on stay-dry (includes microfiber) layer and 1 hemp insert. There's a specific snap so they all match perfectly (3 diapers in 1!)

I just wanted to demonstrate the different sizes of the diaper depending on the buttons

Some diapers only have 3 rows adjustable (from small, medium, and large), but this one has 4 (to include newborn size).

This is a sample of All-in-Two with a snap-on Bamboo Charcoal Lining. (Unfortunately the snap on from the other diaper did not exactly match with the snap on from this shop but can still be used if I don't use the snaps.)

Aside from the cloth diapers, I also ordered a coffee insert (which isn't really common but I've read is good for the smells)

When I received them, this is when I realized that the AI2s were my favorite, particularly the "diaper cover-type" because we can just wipe off the PUL cover then reuse it again with another insert! Yey! 

To organize my own baby shower or not?

I am soooo excited to buy things already for the baby. It's all I've been browsing and thinking about since we've reached 20 weeks and the baby has been kicking!

But... unfortunately, I can't yet. Because mom said I should wait before my baby shower before buying anything... Well, who was supposed to organize it anyway? They say it's usually a friend or relative of the mother-to-be... And I am in agreement, because it seems that we're scouting for gifts if I organized it haha

Regardless, they say the best time to do a shower is 4 to 6 weeks before the baby is due. Since we're due on August 1, that will be in mid-June, right? Hmmm... since my parents are going away after June 5, I prefer it to be June 3 which is a Sunday. I guess, there is still time for me to do online shopping then hehe Though when I counted, I am 31-32 wks AOG at the time.

But I am a bit confused on who should organize it? Should I let my sister take over or can I? Haha
Though... I was also thinking what is the purpose of the baby shower? To tell them that we're pregnant, and we're celebrating? To just meet up with my friends (especially those coming from the abroad)? To collect gifts? Haha

Okay, a part of me is saying... if I'm going to be the one to shell out a budget for this, then I guess let's just not give a baby shower and just use the money to buy our own baby stuff, right? But... if I do wait for my relatives to organize a shower for me... then... when should I start buying? Or... maybe I should just buy the essential stuff first that we'll be needing within the first month, right? That seems to be the safer answer.

What are the essentials again, especially for the first month:
Bathing - wash cloth, hooded towel, waterproof pad
Clothing - newborn set (side ties, bonnet, mittens, booties), onesies, receiving blanket, swaddle
Diaper - cloth diapers (we already have 10 pcs) and inserts
Feeding - manual breast pump, bottles, bibs and burp cloths, nursing stuff (nursing cover, pillow, pads, bra)
Nursery - we're planning on co-sleeping for the first few months, so the BabyCuddle should do

From the list above... actually, a lot of them can be easily bought online (since the diapers are local; we just need a week for delivery; and several days to have them washed first), Hello Baby Outlet (clothes), or department stores (wash cloth, towels). Since the swaddle is a bit expensive on department stores, my guess is that I could buy those online along with the manual breast pump. Even the usual lampin and basic newborn set is more expensive in SM as compared when bought outside.

IF hindi man kami mabigyan ng baby shower, ready na din naman kami mag shopping online especially for the Graco crib, which we plan to buy from the US (cause it's 3x cheaper) and just have it ship here via sea. Kahit 2 months siya aabutin, it's okay kasi maliit pa din naman si baby.

Second Trimester Preparations

Yey for second trimester!
Goodbye morning sickness and hello to appetite once again!

We are now 21 weeks, and we already have a baby bump!
I can also feel my baby move at times, which can be described as a very short intestinal borborygmi hehe Or as our nurse described it, like popcorn popping from the inside.
I can also sometimes here our baby's heartbeat with my stethoscope... Though sometimes it's hard and the sound is still very slight.

Anyway, I just want to say that I'm soooooo excited for the baby now that we're past the miscarriage stage (1st trimester). We only have half way to go.

We started looking at things to buy for a newborn. Like, what to look for in a crib? Or do I really need to buy a breast pump?

Most people tell me not to spend too much money on newborn clothes because they're easily outgrown... Which is true... it's the last thing for us to think about or put in the registry. Actually, I was thinking of just asking from my friends for this haha So... what do I really need to buy? Or at least... what do I need to research before buying?

1. Nursery Stuff

• Crib
• 1-2 waterproof mattress cover
• 2 Receiving blankets
• 1 Comforters and pillows - But I read somewhere that too much soft things can lead to SIDS. So we'll just probably buy 1 set?

Actually, we haven't really started looking at this but since we joined Cordlife, their freebie for the month includes a Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Napper... We looked it up of course, which made us look into cribs and playpens haha

We are looking more into a playpen because they also have a bassinet and a changing table so it seems to be more convenient. Playpen costs PhP 4,000 to 12,000 which the child should be able to use until toddler stage, maybe 2 years old?

Anyway, we still think we have to time to think and research with this because it's just our second trimester. And since, we have the rocker napper and the BabyCuddle (which could be used for co-sleeping), she actually has a bed already.

UPDATE: We looked at cribs and playpens in SM department store (we were thinking of getting a registry, and it will probably come from there). It turns out that Graco is the only one that has lifetime warranty for service, in case any part gets stuck or whatever. Their service center is in Sta. Mesa. The other brands, though cheaper, only have 1 week store warranty.

2. Feeding

• Breast pump - manual breast pump for now, preferably Haakaa style (available online, Rustans Department Store, or The Parenting Emporium)
• Breastmilk reusable storage bottles or disposable storage bags - I am kind of looking for the disposable ones because I am still not sure how much breast milk I can use, nor do I know if I really need it because as of know, I am planning on breastfeeding fulltime
• Bottles and nipples
• Nursing bras and breast pads - Yeah, I already bought nursing bras and breast pads (because my breasts started to hurt from my 3rd month of pregnancy, so might as well get nursing bras already)
• nursing pillow - Is this worth it? Though Tin recommended it too, particularly the U-shaped one. Anyway, online and in department stores, it can costs so much, roughly up to 1000 for something that a normal pillow can also do, right? Though we did see it cheaper in Shopwise... haha
• nursing tops - I am still thinking if I want to buy nursing tops or I can just use a nursing cover which is more versatile
• 4 cotton bibs
• 12 burp cloths (bird’s eye, gauze or cotton) - They say burp pads are a bit small, so it's better to use bigger ones like event the hooded towel, receiving blankets, or the lampin
• Bottle/nipple brush

From this list, I am more concerned with the breast pump.
Do I need that? Electric or Manual? From what I read, Medela is usually the one being recommended... if we can afford it. Though at this point, I am looking into Ameda, which is from Switzerland, it's way cheaper and there's also a warranty for 1 year. I read some good reviews on it too. But do we really need it? Or... for now, we decided to prolong the decision until after the baby is born. Or.. for now, maybe I will just buy a manual one, preferably in the style of Hakaa which had good reviews, including better output than the electric ones.

As of now... I am more concerned with... what if I cannot produce enough breast milk? Does that mean that I need to buy bottles? Just in case. Well, I've read that they say bottles are trial and error. So we should just buy a few bottles of certain brands (brands recommended by friends and the internet), and see if it works for our baby.

So far, most popular in the Philippines is Philips Avent. Though from most US blogs, they say Playtex, Dr. Brown (soooo expensive), MAM are also good especially in preventing colic. We liked the shape of Tommee Tippee (which is cheaper than Comotomo), and we also liked NUK when we were in the department store. Therefore... we limited out bottle choices to Avent and Tommee Tippee and... well since the opportunity arises, Playtex are cheaper coming from the US, so we got those too hehe

3. Diapers

• 30 pcs of Cloth Diapers with inserts
• Diaper changing pads - we already bought one by mistake haha
• Baby wipes
• Cotton balls

Since we are aiming for cloth diapers, I read that we need 24 to 30 diapers because for a newborn, they change diapers every 2 to 3 hours, which is equivalent to 8 to 10 diaper changes per day.

My guess is I should also help with the laundry, particularly for this one because we need the diapers and it needs time to dry (especially with those microfiber and super absorbent inserts).

So far, (and in my excitement) I bought 10 already from Shopee haha We tried different brands, with different types of diapers (all in one, all in two, and pocket) with different features (single versus double gussets), with different inserts (microfiber, bamboo charcoal, hemp, coffee, zorb). Usually for newborns, they say that the microfiber is enough... unless the baby is really heavy wetter, then the hemp and zorb are better absorbers. I am quite excited to experiment which one works best, but since I don't have a baby yet, I may have to lend them to my other friends then tell me their verdict afterwards.

As of now, it seems that Jeff and I are aiming for the cover-type or the all in two diapers, which have snap ons at the end. If the baby pees, it seems that we can just change the insert and still use the same cover. I read that double gusset is important in keeping the poo inside the shell, so we also got those. But... really, it has to depend on the size of the baby and its fitting.

UPDATE: Most department stores only sell the pocket ones usually with microfiber inserts. There are so many better choices  online! So I would recommend to buy online instead. It seems to me that we have already settled for Babyland and Happy Flute cover diapers with hemp inserts coming from Shopee.

4. Clothes
They say that I should refrain from buying too much newborn clothes since they will outgrow them very fast. As I said before, I did think about just inheriting this from my family and friends haha

• 3-6 Tie-sides - best they said, especially for newborn babies who still has their umbilical stumps
• 3-6 Onesies - convenient especially for changing diapers
• 3-6 Mittens - prevent themselves from scratching themselves
• 3-6 Socks - no shoes needed since babies don't walk yet
• 3 Bonnets - prevent the cold from going in
• Burp pads/Lampin/Gauze eye - hmmm... I was just thinking if a microfiber towel serves the same purpose? Microfiber towels are cheaper from Shoppee than lampin!

So we're thinking if we're going to put this on the Baby Registry, because this seems to be the easiest. And there is the possibility that we would want to pick our own baby's clothes, right? (Like... even if we're having a girl, no very girly-girl stuff so much; we prefer it to be neutral)

So... our plan is to wait until after the baby shower to purchase this. Someone will probably give us this even if it's not on the registry. If not, we plan to go to this Hello Baby Outlet in Makati to get clothes in bulk, which is cheaper.

5. Bathing and Grooming Accessories

• 1 bath tub with hammock-like chair
• 1 bottle baby wash (Cetaphil or any brand recommended by the pedia)
• 1 bottle baby shampoo (optional. Baby wash can double as shampoo)
• 3 hooded towels
• 4-6 wash cloths - so isn't this the same as the burp pads above?
• 1 bottle alcohol
• 1 bottle baby oil

• 1 nail clipper or nail file
• 1 soft brush and comb
• 1 nasal aspirator
• 1 pack cotton buds
• 1 pack baby-safe laundry detergent
• 1 digital thermometer

We looked for the bath tubs in SM Department store. Bath tubs can cost from PhP 300 to 2000! Since we're practical people, we think the simple plastic one is already enough, though we are going to get this sort-of hammock-like chair (similar to this one) where the baby can sit because she's still an infant. (In Landmark, they already have a set with both bath tub and net which costs less than its counterpart in SM)

They have different hygiene sets in the Baby Company, so some of those are conveniently packed and ready to be bought as gifts haha Though... what I think we really need are the nasal aspirator and the nail clipper. It's not like the baby would have that much hair when born, right? And we already have a thermometer, as freebie from one of the baby seminars I've attended.

For the consumables,  like the baby wash, shampoo, alcohol, baby oil, cotton buds, detergent... We are not too concerned. We still have many freebies from the baby seminars. We also have to test which one is best for our baby. And... it's not like the baby can already take daily bath after she's born.

6. Travel

• 1 diaper bag
• 1 baby carrier (ring sling or baby wrap is recommended for newborns)
• 1 stroller (optional if you prefer to babywear)
• 1 car seat

From this list, Jeff just preferred a diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag (because he's the one who's probably going to carry it), like this backpack. I prefer it to be one with many pockets and compartments. Bags in the department store costs up to 4k! Whoa! Okay, we have time to look into this and shop online haha Though in the end... we actually got one for free because Cordlife already gave one to us.

For the baby carrier, my sister already gave us one. I am not sure if we going to buy another 1 as an extra. But I guess it would be an investment because carrying a baby will probably hurt my back hehe Though that could also wait until after the baby is born hehe

For the stroller, Jeff preferred it to include a car seat already... Though I was thinking, car seats aren't really common in the Philippines because there's no law about it yet. Though for security purposes, a car seat is always nice. I just prefer the stroller to be lightweight. In the department store, the brand that will fit our expectations was Graco, for the whopping price of 15k! Haha That's the price of the crib already! So... we still have time to look for something else haha

So there you have it. My guess is that it's still too early to buy this but I'm too excited so I'm already on the lookout for sales and reading up on the different kinds! Haha The list is basically based on another blog and this one.

Though a thought came while we were in the department store... Do we really need those sterilizers that cost 15k? I just remember getting the bottles sterilized through boiling in water when I was young haha I guess I still have much to learn and read up on, but it's okay because I'm excited anyway hehe




Since I've been reading up on "essential" things for babies, I also read up on those things that are not really necessary (some of which, I agree). For example, there are a lot of things listed in the SM Department Store Gift Registry, which I don't think are necessary.
Clothes - as I said previously, they say don't buy a lot of newborn clothes, because babies tend to outgrow them very quickly (and they're rather cheaper to buy in bulk in Hello Baby Outlet in Belair, Makati)
Car seat - well, in the Philippines, they are not totally required, unless in the US and they're actually pretty expensive here
Sterilizer - as I said, we can just boil them right? Hehe But I guess it's a nice to have especially if it's a gift hehe
Air purifier/humidifier - really?
Changing table - actually... we are thinking of just a regular drawer... but we're not yet sure since we don't really have enough space for now. Or since we were hoping to get a playpen, they can come with changing tables.
Diaper pail/trash bin - having a separate bin for diapers? Well, I was thinking of a diaper bag because we have to wash this separately from the other clothes because we need it.
High chair - we think it's way tooo far to think about buying one... Actually, I don't really remember if we used one at home before.
Knee pads - I think babies need to crawl on their own and it would only strengthen if they don't have knee pads

Cordlife: Worth it or not?

So we are already on our 2nd trimester, and thinking about banking our child's cord cells upon birth. Since I am a doctor, cord cells is not a new concept for me. In fact, I was surprised that we can do it already here in the Philippines... And I guess that's where my doubt lies.

Let me tell you why we are interested in getting Cordlife.
1. Family history
We have a family history of cancer on my side of the family. That is enough of a risk factor for me.

2. Elderly primigravid
I am already almost 35 years old by the time I give birth, so that is already at risk for trisomies and other malformations.

3. Radiation and chemicals today
As compared to previous generation of raising children, a lot of women my age are having a hard time conceiving, and I believe that there is an increase in the congenital malformations. I think it's due to the radiation of technology today, and the chemicals that we eat everywhere! From canned goods to instant food, to even the pork, beef, chicken, and fish that are fed with chemicals and antibiotics to grow bigger and faster! I really think the likelihood of cancer will increase.

4. Cord Shield
Aside from banking our baby's stem cord, I am also aware that there isn't much health insurance that covers maternity (as far as I know, only Maxicare... and maybe Intellicare? Based on the patients that got admitted on the hospital that I work at). Even SSS doesn't cover maternity benefits if you applied for it too late.

With Cordlife, there is some sort of insurance in case there is fetal and maternal death and complications. Though as of now, there are only 7 types of maternal complications that they cover, which includes pre-eclampsia, DIC, postpartum hemorrhage, abruptio placentae, and fetal death. In the event that the baby also has congenital malformation like Down syndrome, diaphragmatic hernia, common heart defects (ASD, VSD), cerebral palsy, and hydrocephalus, they are also covered.

5. Cord Blood Network
They also offer to extend the use of cord blood to our baby's sibling, ourselves (the parents), and the grandparents.

This is an advantage, yes, but there seemed to be a lot of hang ups with this one (I will explain everything later, which is one of the reasons why we are still hesitant about it.)


Reasons Why We Are Still Hesitant:
1. Insufficient Quantity
The contract states that for the cord blood to be valid, they only require 15 mL... which is in international standards is very limited. (But the blood bag, according to the agent holds up to 250 mL).

Because of this other blog, I learned that even Cordlife themselves admit that their own units are limited to less than 40 kg patients... Meaning not adults. Heck, today, some children 12 years old and above are already more than 40 kg!

So... I was thinking maybe we could increase the quantity to at least 40 or 50 mL collection, before we can consider it sufficient quantity? I have to talk to my OB about it, because she is the one to collect the blood.
If the collection is insufficient or no blood was collected, Cordlife will give us a full refund.

2. Application in the Philippines
Just about... how many cases of umbilical cord transplant are there in the Philippines? Apparently, 3 have already been released. One of which is in Davao, Cerebral Palsy, where a team of doctors, including a doctor from Singapore Cordlife and a doctor from Manila, came to Davao to do the transfusion for the patient, and she improved.

So... am I safe to assume that the doctor will be provided by Cordlife in any hospital in the Philippines? Or if not... how do I know which doctor is "accredited" by Cordlife?

Either way, up to what part will Cordlife cover the cost of the actual procedure? According to their Cordlife Transplant Care Guarantee, they will give SGD 50,000 if the baby is the one that needs the procedure. So... does that cover everything already? But if it's not the baby herself, I assume that we will be the one to shoulder the procedure and the hospital bills... which will roughly cost millions?

But... what if the baby needs a transplant, but it's not her cord blood (it's not autogenic), but an allogenic transplant? So does that mean, Cordlife Transplant Care is not applicable anymore?

3. Cordlife Pledge
If my baby needs an autologous transplant, and we later found that the blood is not viable, Cordlife will find a suitable match OR SGD 50,000 lump payout.

But the question is... so if they found a match, are we going to pay for the unit, which the agent says costs millions? But since we're clients of Cordlife, they will sell it to us with a huge discount. This is what Jeff thinks, so we have to ask them about it.


So, we are going to UP Technohub tomorrow to check their lab (might as well), and talk again with our agent Edward to clarify our questions.

Here is the price list given to me by our agent last March in case you are interested:

They have two products which is the Umbilical Cord Blood and the Cord Lining Cells, but we opted to get both. For me, it seems the umbilical cord blood is more important for the baby, while the cord lining cells is more applicable for us adults hehe

They have 3 different payment schemes, which is Classical (only pay upfront, then you have to pay the annual fee very year), Premium (pay upfront and advance for 10 years), and Prestige (pay the whole upfront up to the 18 years).

Of the three, we think we will go for Premium payment scheme because:
1. I think the most crucial in the child's life is the first 10 years. This is where most childhood leukemia is diagnosed... As well as the other diseases listed treatable by umbilical cord blooding, like palsy and autism.
2. IF the theory on cord blood only works for patients less than 40 kg, then it probably won't cover until 18 years of the baby's life.
3. The Classical Plan doesn't have Cord Shield, which is the insurance part during pregnancy.



UPDATE:
We just got back from our site visit from UP Technohub. Princess was the one who explained to us the technical side of the processing of the samples, from the pre-processing to the storage to the withdrawal and use (as far as she knew).

So to answer our previous concerns:
1. Based from her experience, there are patients who is able to get more than 1M TNC from just 15 mL, so it's not necessarily insufficient quantity.
After their processing, they are going to tell the parents if the count is less than 1M TNC. If it's less than that, we have the option for a partial refund (we only pay the 35k). In the case that we want to store it, we sign a waiver.

IF in the future, we need the sample and our transplant doctor deems it insufficient, we have the option of doing a STEM CELL Expansion to increase the number of cells. Unfortunately, this is done in Singapore and there's going to be a fee, which they don't know yet because it hasn't been done. But at least our question was answered.

2. Princess told us that in case we need the blood, our transplant doctor (whoever and where ever we might be) will coordinate with Cordlife's Medical Director. Cordlife will provide a team consisting of the Philippine Cordlife Medical Director and even the Singapore Cordlife Medical Director, which will be shouldered by Cordlife. The Philippine Cordlife Medical Doctor is a pathologist who is also part of the Stem Cell Division in St. Luke's and teaches pathology in PGH and other medical schools.

So they will be the one to assist the parents how to go about it. If the baby is the patient, lucky for them, processing, matching will be done by Cordlife, and they will also give a SGD 50,000 to cover the transplant. In case, another relative will be the patient, processing, matching, and hospitalization will be shouldered by the client.

3. Cordlife Pledge
Yes, we have to pay for the unit but since we're Cordlife clients they're going to give a HUGE discount. (A unit of cordlife costs 5M, according to the agent? Not really sure because it hasn't really been done in the Philippines yet.)

Here's an interesting thought that I learned today. In case that we decided to terminate our contract with Cordlife, we can decide to discard the unit (which is a waste), or sell the sample. I didn't know we could do that! But in the Philippines, since we only have private cord blood banking, there is an option to sell our cord blood to other family who might need it.

Basically, a lot of questions remained unanswered because Cordlife is sooo new here in the Philippines, that there only has been 3 cases where it was used. So... they are also not sure about our other questions because they haven't experienced it first-hand.


So... OUR VERDICT: Yes

And we're... pregnant! (First Trimester Woes)

I didn't think it would be this quick, but we are already pregnant. And may I just say that this is not fun as it sounded like from my mom, who had no symptoms when she was carrying all 6 of us. I am currently on my 13th week of pregnancy already, almost at the end of my first trimester. And I am really hoping the symptoms would start to abate and I could enjoy this pregnancy.

I first learned that I was pregnant on the 2nd week of December. I was feeling nauseous for several days since we came back from Tokyo. I thought it was just some sort of travel-related bug or whatever, but it didn't go away for 3 days. And since I was delayed (I was supposed to have my period when I was in Tokyo), I took a pregnancy test. And it was positive!

I thought it would be easy, because I was a doctor. I should already know things, right?

For a few weeks, I didn't announce it much because I know how pregnancy could go wrong, and the risk of spontaneous abortion was still high. I just told people at work, because I don't want to risk maternal infections. To (supposedly) lessen the anxiety, we had our ultrasound at 8 wks so I can be "sure" that there is a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, I also found a bit of subchorionic hemorrhage on ultrasound even if I was asymptomatic. Since I was a bit paranoid, I told myself to do bed rest and stop work for the next 2 weeks. Unfortunately, this was also the holiday season, so clinic schedules are not regular for a lot of doctors and I cannot consult an OB. Instead I sent a message to my OB friends (who were abroad), who told me to also take Duphaston (which made me my nausea worse).

Being the doctor that I am, I just repeated the ultrasound after one week to find out that it has regressed spontaneously. I therefore conclude that I could attend my cousin's wedding where I was a bridesmaid haha Though another OB friend told me to take Heragest instead if I cannot take Duphaston orally.

I thought my nausea and dizziness was already starting to resolve itself, because during my cousin's wedding, I was fine for the whole day! But... tada... the next day was New Year's Eve, and that's where I felt my nausea the worst, almost vomiting in Friday's at the time. So while everyone was watching the show at Eastwood and enjoying, I wished I was at home, curled in bed and trying to sleep off the nausea.

The term "morning sickness" is actually deceiving, especially for me whose nausea is even worse at night. I cannot drink water, cannot smell Japanese or Chinese food, cannot eat chicken -- these things made my nausea really bad. I really miss the water though. I wasn't much of a juice person before I got pregnant. But now... the water tastes metallic and weird. Though I find it more tolerable if it's cold. I used to love Japanese food and chicken before I got pregnant too... but I guess what do they say when you're pregnant? You abhor your previous favorites and start to eat other new things that you usually don't eat, right?

I am sooo thirsty right now as I'm writing this, because sugary drinks also make me thirsty. But if I drink cold water, it makes me nauseous and bloated and uncomfortable in my stomach.

Good news is... it seems the morning sickness is starting to let up. I was able to drink water in my parents' home, even if it was warm just last weekend!! I was so happy! Unfortunately, when I got home, I still taste the metal in the water. Argh.... I wish I could just stay in my parents' home in the meantime... Or at least get myself some water from our purifier there.

And just when the morning sickness was starting to let up, I had an episode of spotting! I thought I was more or less safe because the last ultrasound only showed minimal hemorrhage, and my Heragest was actually discontinued (for 5 days). And also, because I am near the end of the first trimester already. I basically panicked when I saw the piso-sized brown blood on my underwear when I woke up! (Well, I had a dream the other night before that I bled... profusely while I was panicking trying to find my Heragest and a napkin.)

It was a good thing our doctor had a clinic schedule for that day. Ultrasound was done, which showed low-lying placenta for me... And I was advised 2 weeks bed rest again :( I am so depressed.

And now, I am being emotional and crying yesterday, feeling sorry for myself. I really hope the next two weeks pass by quickly...