Here are six tips to help you get into the groove and help ease your transition into becoming a new Mama. Remember this – that the 9 months you have before your baby comes along should not be spent just focusing on the right stroller or cot – it should be spent on preparing yourself and your partner mentally and physically for the ride of your life.

TIP#1. FOCUS ON YOUR PARTNER

Life after a new baby is completely different from life as you know it. It is mentally and physically exhausting, and you will often feel too drained to do anything when you’re done just caring for your brand new bubba. Your marriage can feel strained under the weight of all those new responsibilities, so make sure that in the time before the baby comes along, you take time to connect with your partner, at least for half an hour a day. Share your fears, your concerns, and your dreams for your new family. Spend quality time alone with your husband so you are both in tune with each other and in a good space to welcome your new arrival – if time and finances permit, a pre-baby holiday or “babymoon” are great ways to bond and connect before you become Mummy and Daddy.

TIP#2. FOCUS ON YOU: ENJOY YOUR “ME TIME” BEFORE BABY

Those 7 months after you discover you have a beautiful baby on the way? Spend that time doing all the things you’d like to do before the baby is here and life gets crazy. While getting your favourite decaf coffee and cake, make notes about whether the café is baby-friendly. Catch up on all those books you’ve always meant to read at the bookstore – and check out what kind of books you can read to your newborn. While you’re doing all the things you love to do, try imagining how it will be when you bring the baby along.

TIP#3. STAY POSITIVE

Remember- a happy Mama makes a happy Baby – your little one growing in your womb feels and experiences almost everything you do. If you feel a bad case of the blues coming on during your pregnancy, alert your partner and your gynae and ask for an assessment of your risk for postpartum depression. Physically, taking your prenatal supplements long walks, and getting lots of sunshine all help to keep expecting Mamas positive and in the pink of health – so don’t forget to do all those things!

TIP#4. TAKE CARE OF THE PAPERWORK

The days and hours following your child’s birth will be a blur – so make sure you’ve prepared all the paperwork and medical documentation well in advance!

Many parents do their research about how storing their baby’s cord blood can help save their lives in the future – but not many know it needs to be done at the delivery. Make sure you’ve reached out to your doctor and professionals at StemCord who will guide you through the entire process and make it painless for you!

TIP#5. SEEK HELP: IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

The early days of motherhood and even pregnancy can be confusing and stressful, with the hormonal and physical changes your body is going through – so reach out to family and friends when you need help. Delegate tasks to your loved ones so that when the baby is here, you can focus fully on him or her. Assign friends or family to dog walking duties, meal prep duties, house chores, or hire help to come in to tide you through the first few weeks.

TIP#6. FIND LIKE-MINDED MAMA FRIENDS

Join a Mama group, or a pre-birth class, and look out for like-minded Mamas to be who will eventually become a great source of support for you during 4 am feedings and to cheer you on when your milk supply – or your mood – is low. Sometimes all you need is a text message to let you know they are going through the exact same thing to make you feel like you’re not alone in this – and they can do that for you! They will be the best support for you in this rewarding journey of motherhood!

The post 6 TIPS TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR MOTHERHOOD appeared first on Stemcord Philippines.

You’re not alone! The process of having a baby can be overwhelming, and we’re often faced with many decisions we weren’t prepared for. Some questions are simple – like what to pack in your hospital bag – while others can affect the rest of you and your baby’s life.

Here are a few of the bigger questions to consider and prepare for in advance, to help make your birthing experience the joy it should be.  

1. Should I have an epidural?

An epidural – or to be accurate, epidural analgesia (EA) – is an effective and widely used form of pain relief during labour, where a local anaesthetic is injected into the spinal canal. Using an epidural during labour is the choice of the mother – but how do you know if it’s the right choice for you?

Firstly, the benefits of getting the epidural typically outweigh the possible risks and side effects. There are often many misconceptions about the epidural, but it is a perfectly safe way to offset the pain of childbirth, whether it’s administered early (less than 5cm dilated) or later (5cm or more dilated) into labour. One study from KKH Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore found that those who had early epidurals were no more or less likely to need a Caesarean section than those who had a late one. There was also no evidence that an epidural increased the likelihood of needing an assisted birth using forceps or suction, or the amount of time spent ‘pushing’. There is also no evidence of other common misconceptions, such as having epidural harm the baby or causing backache in the mother.

However, there are some minor and short-lived potential side effects to be aware of, including some loss of feeling or weakness in the lower extremities (a catheter is also generally administered to help you urinate), some cases of mild nausea, shivering and a mild itch, which will pass once the epidural wears off.

At the end of the day, an epidural is a personal choice, and with or without one, you are capable of having a wonderful and safe birthing experience.

2. What should I pack into my hospital bag?

While the answer to this question depends on which hospital you are delivering at and what they provide you with, there are always a handful of key items and documents you should have on hand!

The last thing you want to be worrying about while in labour is the admin of giving birth. Prepare all potentially necessary documents in advance – everything from your doctor’s admission letter and Letter of Guarantee from your insurance provider, to your IDs and marriage certificates for registering your child’s birth.

With those essentials out of the way, the rest of what goes into your bag is mostly aligned to your comfort levels and a few items for your new baby. For mum, take some essential toiletries with you – especially some maternity pads (although the hospital is likely to provide these). It can be easy to forget things like contact lenses and toothbrushes in a rush, so buy secondary items in advance and pack them nice and early! Clothing wise, you’re going to need nursing bras, comfortable clothes, multiple pairs of underwear, and something to keep you warm – hospitals can be chilly! Don’t forget essential tech items like phones, iPad, headphones and chargers!

For baby, a couple of rompers and swaddles should be enough to see you through, as well as some tiny mittens and socks to keep them warm. If you plan on pumping or bottle feeding, you will need to have the necessary pumps and bottles with you, as well as some nipple pads and creams for those who breastfeed. Don’t forget an appropriate car seat to take the baby home in!

And finally, if you plan on storing your baby’s Cord Blood & Cord Tissue, bring your cord blood collection box, which you will have received after your enrolment with Stemcord.

3. Should I store my baby’s cord blood and cord tissue?

There are many medical benefits to banking cord blood and cord tissue – but only one opportunity for you to collect them immediately after birth. Once a baby has been delivered, and the placenta is still in-utero, the cord will be clamped and cut and the blood will be drawn from the cord before it is discarded.

Cord blood contains a rich source of Haemopoietic Stem Cells(HSCs). These stem cells make up the building blocks in our blood and immune system throughout our life. Cord blood stem cells have a unique ability to differentiate into specialised blood cells – and are clinically proven to be used in the treatment of more than 80 diseases*. Your child’s own cord blood guarantees a perfect match for him/her should the need for treatment arises. On top of this, your child’s cord blood stem cells may also potentially be used to treat immediate family members – as cord blood from a related donor will result in fewer complications and improved medical outcomes.

Families often have many questions about the efficacy, cost, storage and what cord stem cells can do. Click here to learn more about unlocking the potential of stem cells for your family.

4. Should I do anything with the placenta?

The placenta is an incredible organ that only develops in your uterus during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby, and remove waste. It attaches and grows on the wall of your uterus, with the umbilical cord connecting mother and baby. If you deliver vaginally, you will also deliver the placenta vaginally after giving birth to your child. If you have a Caesarean section, it will be removed by your doctor. Most mothers do not feel much when the placenta is delivered, aside from some mild contractions.

Medically speaking, once the baby is safely birthed and the placenta is out, there is no more use for this organ and it can be disposed of. However, some cultures have specific rituals for the placenta (such as burying it) or beliefs that ingesting it will provide some medical benefits to the mother. However there is no evidence that eating the placenta (called placentophagy) provides any health benefits, and in fact, can be harmful to ingest if various bacteria or viruses present are not properly destroyed before consumption.

One thing you can request (if you feel so inclined) is to see your placenta after it comes out – after all, it’s an incredible organ that kept your baby alive and healthy all these months!

Find out more about preparing for birth and how your baby’s umbilical cord blood has the potential to save lives. 

The post 4 Questions To Ask Before Giving Birth appeared first on Stemcord Philippines.

There are only a few more months before your baby is due. Here’s a list of items to help prepare yourself for the big day and life afterwards.

1. Take Good Care of Your Body
Pregnancy is extremely taxing for your body, so taking good care of your body will ensure that both you and your baby are in the best of health.

1.1 Eat Well
Eating well keeps you and your developing foetus well-nourished and prepares your body for mummy duties like breastfeeding. Always have a balanced diet and your doctor can advise on whether you need supplements.

1.2 Have Sufficient Sleep
Upon your little one’s arrival, frequent crying and night feeds are likely to prevent you from getting much decent sleep, so sleep well while you can! Sufficient sleep boosts your immunity and keeps illnesses at bay. Many experts recommend expectant women to get at least seven hours of sleep a day.

1.3 Stay Active
Staying active while pregnant enhances your overall well-being, prevents you from becoming overweight and reduces your chances of developing pregnancy complications. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that pregnant women engage in 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day on all or most days of the week. And don’t let the bump stop you from dressing up and feeling good too!

2. Take Beautiful Pregnancy Photos
Celebrate your baby bump! There is no other time your body will look like this unless you conceive again, so why not capture everlasting memories of your pregnant self? Whether you choose to do it yourself or engage a professional photographer, you’ll be glad you did.

3. Devise a Birth Plan
Especially if you are delivering for the first time, you absolutely need to be prepared!

There are 2 vital questions you need to think about your delivery

Question 1: Where do you want to deliver the baby?

While it is common for women to deliver their babies in any of the hospitals, you have the choice of delivering your baby at home too. However, doing so is inadvisable for mothers-to-be who have had difficult births or conditions such as preeclampsia because of the lack of medications and equipment should an emergency arise.

Question 2: How do you want to deliver the baby?

For your baby’s exit, choose from natural, caesarean section or water birthing methods in consultation with your gynaecologist. Another practical consideration is whether you want pain relief. Options range from epidurals to massage to hypnosis and what you choose is purely individual. If you need more help, you may even want to hire a midwife to provide advice and care during and after your pregnancy. Upon making these decisions, you need to make bookings in advance and communicate your birth plan clearly to your doctor and those closest to you.

4. Decide Whether You Want to Store Your Baby’s Cord Blood
“What’s the use of keeping my baby’s cord blood?” you may wonder. Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of haematopoetic stem cells (HSC) that have been successfully used to treat immune and genetic disorders as well as blood cancers.

The main benefit of storing your baby’s cord blood is having ready HSC in the event they are needed without having to go through the time consuming and costly process of searching for a suitable donor.

Even among siblings, the chance of a successful match is one in four. Hence, storing your baby’s cord blood may mean the difference between life & death when certain diseases strike and serve as a form of a biological insurance.

Parents can pay to collect and store your baby’s cord blood in a private cord blood bank such as StemCord.
The collection of umbilical cord blood is pain-free and risk-free for both mother and baby. Under MCYS’s Baby Bonus Scheme, parents can pay for cord blood banking services using their children’s Child Development Account. Unless you have opted to save your baby’s cord blood, the umbilical cord is usually discarded after delivery.

Tip: Find out more about cord blood banking here.

5. Plan Your Finances
If you haven’t started calculating how much having a baby will cost you, you should really do so now. From the inevitable essentials to the nice-to-have items, there is just so much to spend on. Here are some of the things you can expect to spend on:

• Prenatal check-ups
• Delivery charges
• Confinement needs
• Essentials like diapers, bottles and so on
• Toys
• Childcare

Your first step towards ensuring you have adequate finances to raise your baby is to assess your needs and wants where childrearing is concerned. Discuss this with your spouse and work out how you can reasonably fulfil them with your combined income. Familiarise yourself with the Baby Bonus Scheme and how it can be used to ease your financial burden. You may also consider taking up insurance plans for you and your child.

Tip: Check out insurance plans from various providers. Some of them cover pregnancy complications and congenital diseases.

6. Get the Baby Essentials
Bringing your baby home for the first time is definitely a special occasion to look forward to. But have you gotten what you need to care for your newborn? At the very least, you will need a cot, diapers, baby clothes, a swaddle cloth, wipes and a baby carrier. Accepting hand-me-downs from friends and family saves you not only the trouble of having to buy them yourselves but money as well. Stock up your essentials because you may not have the time when your baby is home.

Tip: Make a list of items you need to get for your baby’s arrival. Then, do your research on the options you have, especially for more expensive items like baby cots and strollers.

7. Make Plans for the First Year of Motherhood

By the time you are cradling your bundle of joy in your arms, it could be too late to worry about certain things. On top of that, caring for your newborn will likely leave you with little free time and more than a little tired. With so many things to take care of, making plans early will prevent your new mum’s responsibilities from throwing your life into a mess.

If you are working, plan how you are going to use your maternity leave and discuss with your company if you need to make alternative work arrangements. Think about naming your baby and how you would like to be involved in his early childhood. Would you continue working full-time? How would you like to record all his developmental milestones and your memories of times spent together?

Consider your childcare options and see if your family can help. It is also necessary to plan for your confinement especially if you intend to hire one of those confinement ladies who need to be booked months in advance. As you are likely to have limited “me” time in the first few months post-partum, this is the time to indulge in all the “me” time you want. Don’t forget to load up on information on baby care too!

Tip: Stock up on books, dramas and things that keep you entertained during the long hours at home. Working from home is an option too.

From preserving memories of your pregnant self to making all sorts of decisions, we’ve dished out the essentials. Get any help you can so you can do the necessary without tiring yourself out. Know that you are closer to being a happy and prepared mother with every item you check off this guide. Enjoy your final trimester and all the best!

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The post Your Ultimate Guide to the Third Trimester of Pregnancy appeared first on Stemcord Philippines.