Mommy Banker

St Luke’s recently launched it’s “Great Expectations Package” for expectant moms.

For expectant mothers who will be undergoing uncomplicated normal spontaneous delivery, the Great Expectations Package (GEP) offers a two-day ward room stay with the package cost varying according to the following categories: a) under General Anesthesia with rooming-in P40,000; b) under General Anesthesia without rooming-in P41,000; c) under Spinal Anesthesia with rooming-in: P40,000; d) under Spinal Anesthesia without rooming-in: P41,000; e) under Epidural Anesthesia with rooming-in P48,000; f) under Epidural Anesthesia without rooming-in P49,000; and, g) Lamaze Delivery with rooming-in P36,000.Besides the two-day room and board, the Great Expectations Package also includes: a) service for a maximum of 20 hours labor period; b) three-hour recovery period at the Recovery Room; c) nursery accommodation for up to two days; d) medicines and supplies related to normal delivery starting labor up to the 2nd day; e) Hepatitis B Vaccine, Newborn Screening and the use of Otoacoustic Emission (OAE); and professional fees for the obstetrician, anesthesiologist and pediatrician.

“The Great Expectations Package recognizes the predicament of many Filipino mothers who may want nothing less than the best for their newborn, but fear that they may not be able to afford it. This package assures them that the services we provide are well within their reach, and they do get value for every hard-earned peso,” said Dr. Marietta Sapaula, St. Luke’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chairman.

What is Children for Breastfeeding?The organization aims to….
· Preserve the Filipino indigenous way of nurturing our children guided by a deep respect for life and the environment.
· Mobilize parent and children advocates and other sectors of the society to promote, support and protect breastfeeding through the *Seven Acts of Kindness to Support Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers.*
· Revive indigenous healthcare and nurturing practices like cooperative or shared nursing and the use of baby slings, strengthen family and community support and other traditional practices that sustained breastfeeding in the past.
* *
Milestones:
· Initiated the Presidential Proclamation of the annual celebration of World Breastfeeding Week from August 1-7, 2006 in Malacanang, the official residence of the Philippine President last August 2005.
· Established the First Breastfeeding-friendly Mall in the Philippines with SM SuperMalls that will put up Breastfeeding Stations in all SM Malls throughout the country within this year.
· Official Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding that mobilized 3,541mothers with the City of Manila.
· Established the first Breastfeeding Clinic in a Private Hospital in the Philippines
· Conducted trainings on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care

Our organization, seeks to mobilize children to promote earth-friendly parenting through the Seven Acts of Kindness to Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers.

The Seven Acts of Kindness:
1. Represents the issues that breastfeeding addresses.
2. Develops respect for life in the womb and instill in children the value of breastfeeding.
3. Revives indigenous healthcare and nurturing practices that sustained breastfeeding in the past.
4. Provides support and inspiration all women need in these crucial stages of motherhood.
5. Develops social consciousness and social responsibility by guiding children on how they can help in their own little way.

Download: The Seven Acts of Kindness:
A PowerPoint Presentation
http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/philippines.htm

Suggestion: Please attach a native lullaby while you are playing the presentation.

The Seven Acts of Kindness was conceptualized by two breastfeeding advocates Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, MD, FPDS, RPh, IBCLC and Director, Children for Breastfeeding and Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC and Director, Nurturers of the Earth, two of the only three Filipinos who are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). They have observed that parents are unaware of the risks of bottle-feeding and even if they are made aware of it, many will resort to mixed feeding and consequently, full bottle-feeding.

Alarmed by the realization that the bottle-feeding culture is so deeply ingrained, they saw the need to educate children, the future generation of parents on the superiority of breastfeeding. The exposure of children to mothers who breastfeed will help them internalize that breastfeeding is the norm. A concrete example is when children breastfeed their dolls when they see their mothers breastfeed. Hopefully, this will instill in their young minds that breastfeeding is the most natural and beautiful way of nurturing, when they become parents themselves.

For more information on breastfeeding and the hazards of cow’s milk, visit the following websites:

http://www.promom.org/101/
http://www.drjacknewman.com/
http://www.iblce.edu.au/Consult_an_IBCLC.htm
http://www.milksucks.com/index2.asp

For more information on WBW activities and downloadable materials, please visit:
http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/philippines.htm
http://bringbackbreastfeeding.org.ph

I’m a proud owner of a Baby couture Diaper bag. No, I’m not pregnant (but am about to start training to be). The brainchild of Rea Uyco and family, these bags are a godsend for both Pinay working moms and kikay moms. I initially bought a few as shower gifts for friends and officemates but then quickly realized that the spacious bags with multiple inside pockets would also help me in my neverending quest to organize. I quickly snapped up a brown & pink Sydney for weekend shopping and a sophisticated black & white Madeline for the gym. I absolutely LOVE my Madeline bag! It sure beats walking down Ayala Ave to Fitness First in full business battle gear with a knapsack on my back. =)Since the bag collection is still in its infancy (a walk-in store is in the works), the color choices and designs are fairly limited. But with a price range of P460 to P770 and relative exclusivity, who’s complaining? The bags are currently being sold by orders only. You may view them through the website and contact Rea at miloku2003@yahoo.com.au for pricing and delivery options. The last time I checked, delivery of 4 bags or more was free so it pays to pool.