Downloadables for Preggy Moms

Forms, forms, forms!!! Along with long queues our social services office require some (or more) forms to facilitate the procurement of benefits for their clients.

Filipino pregnant women, especially those working or are dependents of employed relatives or self employed are required to accomplish and submit several forms to avail of maternity benefits.

Listed below are some of these forms. Accomplish them on time and you'll be able to avail of these claims! Just click on the forms to start downloading.

PHILHEALTH

Giving birth is a medical case covered by Philhealth.  For cesarean delivery, the coverage is P19,000. For normal delivery, it varies from 6,500 to P8,000. Read this for more about Philhealth benefit for moms.   This amount covered should be deducted from your hospital upon checkout.  If not, you can personally file for reimbursement.

Philhealth ClaimForm 1 

• You should accomplish  and submit these to the hospital upon your confinement for delivery. Actually, we need to accomplish this form every hospital confinement.


• Along with claim form 1, you'll need to submit your latest Member Data Record. This you can get from your HR (for employed) or from your nearest Philhealth Branch. If you're a dependent, make sure you are declared as dependent of your spouse (or other relative).  If not, you might need to submit an NSO-certified copy of your birth certificate or marriage contract, whichever is applicable to your status.


• Read this for more on guidelines on accomplish the Philhealth Claim Form.

SSS

We got more than P30,000 worth of maternity benefit from SSS.  That amount serves as your allowance for the period you are resting after giving birth. The amount maternity  varies.  Read this for more on how to compute the maternity allowance. Ideally, this check should be given to you one month before your scheduled delivery.

SSS Maternity Notification Form

• The SSS Maternity Notification must be filed at least 60 days from date of conception.


• If employed, submit this to your HR. If self employed, submit to your nearest SSS branch.

Write on these forms clearly and legibly. Absolutely avoid erasures.

Be on the know so you'll be able to assert your rights! But know your responsibilities as well!

Also worth reading:

• Learnings from an emergency cesarean


• Rights of the Filipina working mom

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Happy Father's Day, hands on dad!

Daddy, thanks for being such a supportive husband and the best dad to our baby!

[caption id="attachment_2477" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My two boys[/caption]

Motherhood won't be half as fun without YOU!

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SAVE or SPLURGE: A new mom's guide to saving (Part 2)

Making the most out of the baby products we buy is the key here.  I didn't realize items for my little guy can cost even more than our one month's worth of grocery!

So parents should always  read up and check out the pros and cons before actually buying. It also pays "where" you get the items. I've noticed that baby products are more pricey in the malls, compared to online shops or bazaars. There are also select items in second hand stores and thrift shops, if you have an eye for bargain hunting.

Here are 5 more baby products and gears plus some  tips before getting them.

Baby bottles

• I suggest to SPLURGE on baby bottles! We use them primarily used as breast milk  storage because my son stopped feeding from synthetic nipples at 8 months.  He drank his milk from cup or through a big syringe without the needle. We invested in bottles made with hard and thicker plastic, so they don't expand or contract when exposed to high heat when i sterilize them.


• You can also get bottles that are convertible. Some brands have a line of sealing discs, spouts and handles which fit the screws of the feeding bottles.  Get the a spout to convert it into a cup. Or just get a sealing disc to make it a storage bottle.


• If  breastfeeding, choose small bottles -  those  with 4 to 5 oz capacity. Breastfed babies feed more frequently but in small quantities.


• Actually, it does not matter what brand you choose, but always choose BPA free bottles or plastic utensils for your baby. Bisphenol A  (BPA) is a chemical used in making plastics. Too much exposure to this may cause developmental defects in newborns, according to some studies done on animals. Based on La Leche Leagues's Breastfeeding Answer Book, plastics with the recycling symbol # 1,2,4 or 5 and/or PP are BPA free. Look for this symbol at the bottom of the bottle.

Baby rocker

• It's a tossup between SAVE and  SPLURGE  on this one. Actually we did not use  a rocker then, but we bought one.  The problem is we bought it late so we did not maximize its use. P was "malikot" and more mobile and resisted being put in the rocker.  I suggest to buy it as early as possible so your baby can use it longer.


• Always check to weight limit of the rocker, that can give you an idea how much longer you baby can use it.Look for straps to make sure baby is securely placed on it.


• The biggest come-on (for me) when we got this one is that it has music and lights - which should have come secondary to the rocker's structural design.

[caption id="attachment_2357" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We bought this rocker when baby was around 7 months, only to realize he's about to reach the weight limit![/caption]

Safety gate 

• A safety gate is a must to prevent your toddler from getting to hazardous places like the kitchen or stairs.  SAVE on this by checking online stores or second hand stores or thrift shops. Believe me, once they start walking they'll  try to get to these  areas when you're  not looking! They usually start walking around 9 to 13 months.


• Make sure that the safety gate is easy to install but at the same time sturdy.  Make sure they fit right on your doorway so it won't fall down when your child swings on it. Believe me, he will! 

[caption id="attachment_2424" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We bought a safety gate like this for P1,000 in a thrift store along McArthur Highway in Valenzuela. Source of photo: ebay[/caption]

 High chair

• You can SAVE on a high chair if you check out thrift stores. (As you may notice by now, we are a fond of bargain hunting!) 


• You can get a high chair when the baby starts to sit on his own, that's around 6 months for our baby.

[caption id="attachment_2423" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We got this high chair from a thrift shop along Del Monte Ave in QC for only P800.00. This converts into a swing by pushing down the back panel. When baby was younger, he would actually sleep on this.[/caption]

• Look for a high chair with a heavy and wide base. This adds to the stability of the chair. Sturdy highchairs won't topple down when your child reaches out to grab on something.


• Straps are a must for high chairs so you're secure as he sits on this. I once sat may baby down, and being to small, he almost slipped down because i forgot to strap him.

Baby shoes

• SAVE  your bucks rather than spend it on too many baby shoes! Baby feet grow so fast! At 12 months, i think we got  about 12 shoes for P din! He just kept on outgrowing them.


• I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get the right size for your kid. Always have some allowance, but not too large for his feet.

Every family's need is unique so take time to check if you really need to get these items. Do diligent research before buying big ticket items like a rocker or a  high chair.  Avoid buying on a whim or else you won't have time to analyze the product's features.

Shopping for baby is always happy time for me! It even get happier when you know that your every purchase is worth it.

Also worth reading:

• A new mom's guide to saving (Part1) 

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My bucketlist for the next pregnancy

Ehem... No, i'm not pregnant! I know it's still too early to contemplate on this because we plan have the baby at least two years from now. But since it's my birthday, i have a loooong wish list for my second pregnancy.

Exactly two years ago, the hubby and I were clueless schmucks waiting in line to have our very first visit with the OB.  Learning that i was pregnant was actually the best birthday gift i ever received! From that day forth, every pregnancy-related issue we encountered we dealt with utmost care and caution.

Since the first time is always trial and error time, i hope my next pregnancy can go on more smoothly and much more enjoyable!

Here are  my "points for improvement" for next time.

VBAC! 

•  I had C-section on my first pregnancy because of placenta previa. This is why i'm aiming to give birth the natural way the next time around.  I just hope VBAC will be possible in my case.  We need to discuss this with the OB.   Most of the moms i know who had CS on their first also had CS on their second!  Actually i don't know anyone who had vaginal birth after cesarean. 

More control over the delivery process

• I know, delivering a baby is a medical procedure but moms should also play active participation. In my first i was just very passive, it was really like i don't know what's going on. I guess second timers will know more about the birthing process and they can probably ask  "more intelligent" questions. For my second, i'll definite assert that baby be latched right away.

[caption id="attachment_2329" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I'd love to experience breast crawl, which i did not get to do the first time!
Source: Unang Yakap's Facebook page[/caption]

• I got to touch my baby only after 3 days, imagine that? By the way, did you know that a sign that your hospital is baby-friendly is if they facilitate breast crawl? I'm just not sure how it is for other hospitals or clinics, but when i was pregnant i totally did not know about breast crawl, that first close contact between mom and newborn right after birth. Our Department of Health says Unang Yakap is essential for the well being of both newborns and moms! I'll definitely discuss this with my OB and the pedia for the next time around.

To check out with newborn in tow

• When i was discharged, my baby was left in the nursery for 5 more days! His birth weight was very low and very very mild pneumonia. We patiently waited for the go signal from Doc until our newborn was well enough to come home with us. So it's my earnest wish for my next baby to be healthy so we'll be able to go home on the same day!

Photos galore! 

• I did not have decent pregnancy pictures! Actually i was camera shy back then. I was actually taking photos of my growing belly week-on-week through the What to Expect app during my first trimester. But i got impatient and stopped taking pictures later.  We did not have pics of the baby in the delivery room. On d-day we were in panic mode and we forgot about the camera! I can vividly recall the OB asking for the camera in the delivery room. If i was not given anesthesia, i'd probably get up and get my camera just to capture that special moment!

[caption id="attachment_2320" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I would love a fab shot of my belly!
Source of photo: virginia.gov[/caption]

• Now i'm relishing the thought of having a photo session - as in full on pregnancy  and breastfeeding pictorials!  I love to have some fab photos of my mommy journey.  And I'll definitely insist on bringing that darn camera in the delivery room! I would love to have photos so that we can have a cherished memento of his first day out.  

Fabulous maternity wardrobe

• I was penny pinching during  first pregnancy. I think i bought just 5 or 6 sets of wardrobes that time.

[caption id="attachment_2340" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Who would not want to have nice clothes during such a special occasion?
Source of photos:eden.com.ph[/caption]

• Now i realized it will be worth the investment, if i get dual purpose wardrobe - as in clothes for both maternity and nursing. Here and here are some of the nursing wear i'm currently drooling for.  

They say every pregnancy is different but we can try new things to get better the next time around. We always learn from the mishaps from our previous pregnancy!

How did you first pregnancy fare to your second? Were you able "to do better" the next time around?

Also worth reading:

• Learnings from an emergency cesarean section

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A sure way to make your life easy

Even before the Kasambahay Bill was passed, hubby and i agreed to enroll our helper in SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig.  It's just our own little way of showing that we appreciate the hard work and care she is giving our child.

But as working mommies, we can't afford to waste time in long lines in banks or Bayad Centers to pay the monthly contribution. Did you know that you can remit monthly SSS contributions online? Thank God for online banking!

As of posting, i see only Metrobank Direct that accepts online payment of SSS premium. Here's how.

Log on to Metrobank Direct. On the homepage, click pay bills. On the special bills tab, scroll down and look for SSS. Check the type of membership - if voluntary,  self employed or OFW.

[caption id="attachment_2286" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Check out the special bills tab to see other offices or companies that accept online payment.[/caption]

On the Subscriber/Account No. tab, enter the the 10-digit SSS Number followed by the month and year you're paying for. So if you're paying for May 2013, the input should be XXXXXXXXX052013. If paying for June 2013, then type in XXXXXXXXX062013.

Leave the Reference No. blank. Type in your contact number for the Phone No. Enter the amount you're paying. Check the details before clicking continue.

Once you have entered this payment, you will be receive an email confirming your payment.

[caption id="attachment_2555" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Check again before clicking confirm.[/caption]

Refer to this table from SSS to see how much the required contribution per month, depending on the member's salary.  The employer must pay the SSS premium if the helper's month salary is less than P5,000.  Read this Frequently Asked Questions  for more information on the Kasambahay Law.

[caption id="attachment_2284" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The New SSS monthly contribution table.
Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/index2.jsp?secid=111&cat=2[/caption]

I'm still in the process of getting for her online SSS account, so she'll be able to confirm SSS payment premiums herself. Here's a guide on how to create your own SSS account. For starters, you'll need an email account (of course), your SSS Number and the SBR number which is indicated in your latest receipts from SSS counters, banks or payment stations. Any member can apply for an online account as long as he has posted at least one month's worth of contribution. If you do not have an online SSS account yet, you can get started  here. 

The monthly premium payment deadline for self-employed and voluntary members depends on the last digit of the SSS number.

• if ending with 1 or 2 - 10th of the month


• if ending with 3 or 4 - 15th of the month


• if ending with 5 or 6 - 20th of the month


• if ending with 7 or 8 - 25th of the month


• if ending with 9 or 0 - last day of the month

Read this for more details on SSS premium deadlines.

How i wish all dues and fees can be paid through the internet! That will not only save us time wasted on long queues, we'll also save on gas! Plus that's less time away from the child as well!

***

Who has time to wash the pump parts?

First off, let me tell yah that washing these pump parts is the most hated job of this lazy mommy! I don't know but i just find it too tedious! It's taking time away from my boy while at home. In the office, i don't have the luxury of time to wash them every..... single.... time!

But what's a mama gonna do? Someone's gotta do it so that someone might as well be me,  since i am too OC to let anyone else do this task!

This is why i'm trying to find ways to make washing pump parts in the office much easier.

First know that I don't wash the parts after every use.  My rationale for this is that breast milk stays good at room temp until  6 to 8 hours   according the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. My own  bm shelf life is 4 hours, because of varied ambient temperature in my workplace.  Personally, if it's within the 4-hour interval, i reuse the parts.

(Disclaimer: If you have access to a fridge, play safe and keep the parts there until your next use.)

Having a refrigerator nearby would have been perfect, but our lactation station is not accessible to me. It's on our ground floor in the clinic, while my office is at the second floor.  I try to limit per pumping session up to 15 minutes. Going up and down the stairs every time is just a no-no for me. So i do my pumping business right on my own work station.

If you're still queasy about leaving the parts at room temp, bring a big cooler to store all parts - bottles, flanges, valves and connector. This can act as your mini ref so bring in a lot of ice packs, too.  Warning: This can be bulky and heavy to lug around!  I used to do bring in a big Lock and Lock cooler to store my pump parts, too! But i got lazy doing this, so when my baby turned one year old, i stopped doing this. Hence, my 4-hour rule.

When my 4 - hour rule is up, then i face the music and wash up.

Here' s my setup:

[caption id="attachment_2235" align="aligncenter" width="256"] Here are the items for my washing up ritual.[/caption]

• Clean water- i raid our office's drinking station for this!


• Lots of clean white cloth -  for drying and wiping


• Food grade container - should be big and deep enough to submerge the parts


• Chicco sanitizing liquid - This is available in most baby section of malls at P300 per 1 Liter. If this sterilizing liquid is not available, a very mild cleanser can do the job. I use Messy Bessy natural dish cleaner.


• Alcohol - to sanitize through out the washing procedure


• Tissue - to wipe any mess or spills

My cleaning procedure

• Mix 1 doze of the sterilizing liquid ( see label for instruction and dosage) with 1 liter of clean drinking water. Or add a few drops of dish washing liquid to the water.


• Dismantle the valves and flanges into separate parts to ensure all the breast milk trapped inside these parts are washed away.


• Submerge the pump parts to be washed for at least 1 hour.


• Rinse thoroughly with drinking water until any trace of soap or grease is gone.


• Never lay the parts on your keyboard or the sink, use the clean cloth as liner. Make sure your hands are clean before touching the parts.


• Air dry for a few minutes and wipe with a clean cloth.  Air drying would have been ideal but since time is of the essence here, use clean cloths to wipe the flanges, valves and bottles to try.

Bring extra parts to save cleaning time!

I bring at least 4 4oz bottles so i have fresh ones every pump.

It's actually a good idea to have spare flanges, valve and bottles so you won't need to wash these in the office. But pump parts are expensive.  Buying extra parts before the need to replace them will eat a large portion of our budget.

There! Just some tips from a lazy mommy like me.  Every second you save on pumping and cleaning  will  give you extra time to do more work in the office, right?

How about you, how do you wash your pump parts? It would be nice to hear some more time-saving tips!

Also worth reading:

• More tips for working and breastfeeding mommies 


• Office Pumping after on year


• How to serve breastmilk while you're not with baby. 

***

Rights of the Filipina Working Mom

I have just about 16 months of motherhood and i could not ask for anything more! Being a mother has totally met, and oftentimes,  exceeded,  my expectations. I also have the rest of my life being the doting mommy to this wonderful little human being! It's been just over a year and i think i've changed a lot, for the better i hope! Mother's Day is just around the corner and what better way to remember this day than to list down some of the rights of Pinay working mommies!

Maternity leave

• Every regularly employed mom should be given about one month paid maternity leave by her company after a normal delivery. Maternity leave after CS is about 78 days (approximately three months). She can also take two weeks off before her expected date of delivery.  The bad news ,  i think this, this applies to REGULAR employees only. The leave arrangement varies for contractual or project-based workers.


• In hindsight, i'm actually thankful that i had c-section, i had 3 months time off with my newborn!  But did you know the Filipino moms have a short period of maternity leave compared to other countries? In Norway, which is among the best place for moms according to the 2013 State of the World's Moms, maternity leave lasts for 36 to 46 weeks! In Denmark, maternity leave is 0ne year! I'd love to have given birth there! haha


• Imagine if Filipino moms have longer time off after giving birth. They'll have longer time to bond with baby.  Surely, they'll breastfeed longer! Some moms stop breastfeeding after the first month because they have to return to work already!

Maternity allowance

• Aside from paid time off, working moms who are pregnant are entitled to   SSS maternity benefit. This is cash allowance for female workers who are not able to work because of  child birth or miscarriage.  Naturally, the SSS maternity benefit is larger for CS cases. Click here for the computation.


• This benefit can only be released to you if your SSS records and contributions are in order.  So better review the records and notify your HR as soon as you confirmed your pregnancy. You'll have to file an SSS maternity notification form. If you undergo cesarean delivery, you should submit a medical certificate from your OB. By the way, even a self- employed or contractual worker moms can avail of this maternity benefit.


• Ideally, you should receive the SSS check one month before your expected date of delivery. The SSS maternity benefit i got was spent to buy a swanky double electric breast pump! So better have this in order, sayang din ang benefit na ito!

Health coverage 

• Working moms are entitled to health benefit coverage when they give birth.  This mean that upon billing, hospitals are required to deduct this  coverage from your bill.  This automatic deduction will only happen if your records are updated and you have processed the required documents. You need to submit Philhealth Claim Form 1 to your hospital (make sure that the hospital is Philhealth-accredited). You also need your latest available Member Data Record, which you can get from your Human Resource Department or from the Philhealth office where you pay your premiums.  Click this for more information on Philhealth  medical availments.


• If these papers are not in order upon your checkout, you'll have to personally file for reimbursement. That's totally a hassle and the reimbursement check will be released after two loooonnggg  months.


• For normal delivery the amount deducted is P6,500 to P8,000 (depending on type of hospital). For cesarean delivery, the Philhealth coverage is P19,000. Read this for more information about Philhealth coverage.


• Lucky are those with HMO that cover at least a portion of the maternity bill!

Lactation breaks

• I know I sound like a broken record when i say, "Breastfeeding is possible even after you return to work"! BUT IT'S TRUE! By law, employers should give lactation breaks - at least 40 minutes within an 8-hour period to pump milk at work.  But the problem is not all offices or companies provide accessible lactation stations, which make expressing breast milk much more comfortable. This is among the reasons why breastfeeding while working is such a challenge!

Skin-to-skin contact right after giving birth

• This is not just for working moms! All moms should be given ample time right after giving birth to bond and experience "breast crawl".  This is among my frustrations, since it was an emergency cs delivery for me and my baby was not well enough. He had a hard time breathing during the first hour!


• According to the Department of Health, "Unang Yakap" helps decrease new born mortality and it increases bonding between mom and her infant. I do hope i get to do this on my next pregnancy! For preggy mommies, ask your OB about the hospital's protocol about this.

Happy Mother's Day to all especially to Pinay working moms!  I wish that every mommy be empowered to KNOW and ASSERT her right!

Also worth reading:

• Downloadables for pregnant moms and mos to be


• Alarming facts about breastfeeding in the Philippines


• For breast milk givers and takers

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