Stages of Labor 11 May 2009

STAGES OF LABOR

The stages of labor are often thought to be a mystery. In all honesty it is a mystery in many ways. Each woman will have a different labor and yet many parts are the same. Below you will find a crash course in the stages of labor, what each does, the parameters, and some average events of that stage. Remember, however, that very few women will follow this to the letter, there will be some variation.

First Stage

First stage of labor is usually the longest part of labor. This is where you are having contractions and your cervix is dilating. This stage is broken down into three phases:

Early Phase

“Yippy! I’m in labor!”

The early phase of labor may be spent wondering “Is this really labor?” The contractions are usually very light and may be 20 minutes or more apart in the beginning, gradually becoming closer, possibly up to five minutes apart. The key to this stage is to go about your normal schedule or if it’s the middle of the night go back to bed! Most women will be very comfortable during this stage and with a few exceptions those having a hospital birth will not be in the hospital at this point.

Active Phase

“This is hard work.”

The active phase of labor is where many women are getting serious and withdrawing to do the hard work of labor. Contractions generally are four or five minutes apart and may last up to 60 seconds long. Remember this still gives you a big break in between. Use this break to relax, go to the bathroom, and drink something. For woman who desire medications in labor they will usually go to the hospital in this stage of labor, while those desiring little or no medications will go towards the end of this stage or the beginning of transition, again, with a few exceptions. Mobility and relaxation are the key to getting through active labor. Remember to use the skills you learned in childbirth class and call your doula if you haven’t yet.

Transition Phase

“Okay, I’ll go home and come back tomorrow!”

This is one of the shortest parts of labor, but definitely one of the hardest. Your contractions may be two or three minutes apart, lasting up to a minute and a half. Some women will shake and may vomit during this stage. This is normal. Remember that this stage usually doesn’t last more than an hour or two. Partners, your support is crucial here. Remind her how well she is doing, and help her find a comfortable position, use cold rags for her face, and give her sips of water or ice in between contractions. This is hard work. When this phase is done you will be completely dilated! Some women will have a small break of no contractions after becoming fully dilated, and yet not feeling the need to push yet. Sheila Kitzinger calls this the “rest and be thankful” phase.

Second Stage

“I can push?”

Pushing usually feels better for most women. They have spent the first stage of labor relaxing and letting their body do all the work, now they can actually do something to help. This stage can last three or more hours, but for many women will not. The length of this stage is dependent upon the positioning of the mother (upright = faster), the positioning of the baby, whether medications have been used, etc. The contractions will usually space out a bit, going back to about four minutes apart. This stage ends with the birth of your baby!

Third stage

“I forgot the placenta!”

After you are holding your beautiful baby, you may be asked to push again after some point, and you might be puzzled. Oh yes, the placenta! Don’t worry this one has no bones and is much easier to push out. Nursing your baby after he or she is born will help the uterus to contract and expel the placenta, but most come within an hour after birth, usually within a few minutes. Don’t worry about it, spend the time bonding with your new little one.

Fourth Stage

“I asked for this?”

No real contractions to speak of, but postpartum is generally accepted as the fourth stage of labor. Your body is going through many changes now that the baby has been born. Not to mention the large changes your family is going through adding a new person to your family. Be sure to ask for help. Your body will slowly change and become more like your prepregnancy self, but not exactly. Hang in there, babies grow way to fast. I’ve often said that we need to save postpartum for when our children are about three years old so that we can enjoy the tiny newborns.

Enjoy your labor, believe it or not it’s the hardest work you’ll do, but it yields the most rewards.

JAM SISTERS’ Current Craving : Cheese Fondue 12 October 2008

JAM SISTERS wants to share with you their currect cravings! CHEESE FONDUE that is!

 

This fondue (”melted” in French) is the classic Swiss appetizer of melted cheese and wine, into which you dip pieces of crusty bread. Use whatever wine you plan to drink with the cheese fondue, as long as it’s a white wine. This cheese fondue recipe serves 6 to 8 people. 

Things You’ll Need:

·         2 c. dry white wine

·         1 tsp. cornstarch

·         2 garlic cloves

·         1/2 tsp. or so white pepper

·         2/3 lb. Gruyere cheese

·         1/3 lb. or so Cheddar cheese

·         1 loaf French bread, cubed

·         1 firm apple, sliced

·         1 bunch grapes

Step1

Mix half the wine with the cornstarch in a heavy nonreactive pan and stir together until the cornstarch dissolves.

Step2

Bring wine mixture to a simmer over low heat and add the cheese.

Step3

Slice the garlic cloves in half and add them to the mixture along with the pepper.

Step4

Stir slowly as the cheese melts, always keeping the heat low enough so the mixture remains just below simmering.

Step5

When the cheese is completely melted and smooth, thin with the remaining wine as necessary. The cheese should be thick enough to coat the bread and fruit.

Step6

Transfer to a fondue pot or serve in the cooking pot. Fish out and discard the four garlic halves.

Step7

Place the fondue pot on a large platter.

Step8

Arrange the cubed bread, sliced apples and grapes around the fondue pot on the platter. Spear the bread cubes and fruit with forks or fondue spears and dip them in the fondue.

 

Note :

Cheese Fondue cost around 60 dhs (that includes 2 servings of stale bread)

You can find nice Fondue Set at the malls or check out STROKE store at DFC.

Fondue Set can cost about 119 AED.

You can now have your Cheese Fondue at home anytime!

JAM SISTERS’ Current Craving : Cheese Fondue

The Nanny Diaries (Part II) 6 October 2008

13 months, 10 yayas


yaya no. 9. age: 19yo-22yo (age unknown, yaya somehow was inconsistent when asked about her age); civil status: single; hometown: pangasinan; length of stay: 13days; reason for leaving: boredom, and uninterested to learn; employer’s rating: 3/10

yaya no. 10. age: 32yo; civil status: married; hometown: samar; <<< current yaya


i’d like to comment on my former nannies. nothing violent, i hope… sabi nila, in hiring a nanny, get someone who is both WILLING and ABLE to care for your children. never compromise on this. with my former nannies, some are willing to care for my child, but not able, in a sense that they lack experience; some are both willing and able, but due to personal circumstances, has to leave and go home; some are willing to try and definitely are unable. we know that trying is good, but we don’t really need someone to treat our children as their guinea pigs, do we? some of the “some who are willing to try”, are first-timers in manila, they are more after the adventure, the travel, the vacation from their usual provincial lives. the other some say they are willing to try, but their actions say otherwise.

some of you might ask, “how am i as an employer?” well, i am… thorough, mataray and masungit, OC (sometimes, really OC-OC), but i am also generous and kind to them, and i try to understand their situation any possible way i can. i am willing to teach them how i want things done in my house, and most especially my preferred child care. everything starts with asking nicely. they were never treated them as slaves. we always treat them as our partners in caring for my child, at least we try to treat them as such. we point out mistakes and let go the 1st, 2nd, 3rd times, sometimes more. if you can just imagine how nerve-wrecking this is, if they’ve been with you for more than a month, doing the same things everyday, and still forget how to properly wash the baby bottles, which is by the way a basic chore as a nanny. some of them can really get stupid (please excuse my choice of words), they we still manage to let it go of their mistakes and be very understanding of the situation. but for how long shall we keep doing this? maybe… for as long as nothing bad happens to my child, but do we need to wait for an accident, that we know could have been prevented, to happen before we take action on our Willing and Unable, or Unwilling and Unable nanny? i think a line needs to be drawn somewhere. i do draw the line somewhere, somewhere wherein i was really pissed off, can no longer ignore the stupidity. this is where the dragon in me rages out of the dungeon. (strong words ba? perfect way maybe to describe myself when angry. hehehe…)

lessons learned.

hire someone BOTH WILLING AND ABLE.

always be patient and give them a chance. train and nurture them.

treat them as partners in caring for your child.

lend them an ear.

if they make a mistake that can not be ignored, tell them in a diplomatic manner. should this is the last straw after everything you did to teach them how to do it properly, let them go. never release hurtful statements.

“I Love You, Yaya” Handbook 26 August 2008

“I Love You, Yaya!” HANDBOOK

A Must-Have for Caregivers and Employers



In these busy times, parents cannot discount the tremendous impact yayas or
caregivers have on their children. For the past 10 years, The Parenting
Company (TPC), in its advocacy of providing the best care for children, has
been conducting the “I Love You, Yaya!” seminar program, a one-day training
workshop for child caregivers and first time mothers.

Conceptualized by mompreneur and celebrity mom, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, the
“I Love You, Yaya!” seminar program aims to empower and equip caregivers
with basic knowledge and skills to create a healthy and holistic environment
where the child can maximize his potentials in different aspects of life.
Maricel, together with sisters-in-law Dr. Donna Simpao and Felichi Buizon,
along with professionals from various fields on child care, have been
bringing the advocacy around the country-in residential areas, the corporate
world, even in showbusiness.

The Parenting Company and the trainers want to reach more parents and
caregivers to make a significant difference in the lives of children. But
the “I Love You, Yaya!” seminar program is still far from covering the
entire country. Thus, TPC offers a must-have handbook for both caregivers
and employers-The Yaya Handbook. It is a two-part reference book containing
informative articles on hiring, training, and nurturing caregivers, as well
as practical guides on first aid for children, common illnesses,
developmental milestones, and even fighting stress. What’s more, yayas can
listen to the trainers themselves as the handbook comes with an audio CD
containing the lectures in the handbook. It’s like listening to the actual
“I Love You, Yaya!” seminar in your own home!

The Yaya Handbook-get it now and help make a difference in our children and
caregivers’ lives.

For Orders and Inquiries Call: 920-0537 or email
theparentingcompany@yahoo.com

Special Discount for Bulk Orders!

Available at TPC Office #59-A Xavierville Ave. Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Reference: I Love You Yaya Handbook

———————

I Love You, Yaya Handbook
by Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Felichi Buizon and Dr. Donna Simpao

P499 pesos only

For Orders and Inquiries Call: 920-0537

Includes:

An Employer’s Guide with the following topics:

Interviewing Caregivers ©

Will you or will you not? ©

Getting helpers from a recruitment agency ©

A Guide to Partnering With Our Yayas©

Delegate ©

Common mistakes we (parents and yayas) make in feeding our children ©

Teach your Yaya the value of disease prevention ©

Yaya: Your Organization Buddy © Educating Our House help ©

Helping our helpers help themselves © Nurturing Caregivers

Love Your Kasambahay ©

Letting our helpers celebrate Christmas too ©

Best Gift Ever: SSS for your household employees ©

Enforcing the Day-off Policy © Your Yaya and her cellphone ©

Watch what they say! ©

Letting Go ©

Relax and see a movie ©

Vacationing without Yaya: Will it really be a vacation? ©

Yayas and the never ending birthday parties ©

Boosting Boys Molding Men ©

Keeping Them Happy ©

Family that Eats Together ©

Engaging your Child’s Cooperation

A Yaya’s Manual accompanied by an audio CD with the following topics:

SESSION 1

Topic 1: Gabay sa Wasto at Masustansiyang Pagpapakain sa Bata at Sarili (Basic Nutrition)

Topic 2: Kalinisan, Kalusugan, at Kaayusan sa Pag-aalaga ng Bata (Health, Hygiene, and Orderliness for Child Caregivers)

Topic 3: Gabay sa Paglaki ng Bata (Developmental Milestones)

Topic 4: Gabay sa Wastong Pangunahing Lunas para sa mga Bata (Basic First Aid for Young Children)

Topic 5: Mga Karaniwang Sakit ng Bata (Common Illness)

SESSION 2

Topic 6: Laro Tayo! Pagbuo ng Isang Malikhaing Kapaligiran (On Play)

Topic 7: CreActivity (Activities to Enhance Creativity)

Topic 8: Tayo’y Magbasa at Magsulat! (Pre-Reading and Pre-Writing Activities)

Topic 9: I-Off na Muna ang TV (Alternatives to TV viewing)

SESSION 3

Topic 10: Epektibong Ugnayan ng mga Kasambahay ng Pamilya (Family and Yaya Partnership)

Topic 11: Gabay sa Mabuting Asal at Tamang Pakikitungo ni Yaya sa Tahanan (Good Yaya Manners)

Topic 12: Pag-iwas sa Stress & Burn-out ni Yaya (Yaya Stress)

Hindi biro ang maging Yaya, di ba?



Reference: I Love You Yaya

Humming In My Universe 23 August 2008

Philippine Star

Sunday Life
HUMMING IN MY UNIVERSE By Jim Paredes
Sunday, August 17, 2008

 

Last Sunday, entering an uncle’s house to greet him on his birthday, I landed in the middle of a “speech” by an old priest. He was there to say Mass but had volunteered to do the homily first since we were waiting for my aunt, who had just woken up, to join us. I found a quiet place beside my sister who had arrived earlier.

The priest was a crusty old guy whom I remember listening to as a young man when he gave a talk to my high school class about poverty and how we young Catholics should respond. Last Sunday, (some 40 years later), I realized that very little had changed. The priest talked of other things but mostly, he stressed the great disparity between the social classes in the Philippines and how callous the rich are towards the poor. He talked about how the wealthy among us can strut around with nary a care while people sleep in the streets or scrounge for food. Even if the theme was the same, there was a striking difference, and it was the tone and tenor of his speech.

This man did not mince his words, much less parse his message. He was an old, angry man. He talked disparagingly of the Church whom he accused of being unable and unwilling to challenge the flock because it has become too soft and accommodating. In his view, many of its leaders had compromised themselves by receiving “donations” from the government and from the business community in exchange for their silence on pressing issues.

As he went on to tackle a range of other things, it was striking to listen to him because he showed no fear nor hesitation as he called by name certain world and local leaders, labeling them as murderers for engaging in senseless wars, and/or stealing public funds which could otherwise have gone to food and welfare programs that could ease hunger and improve living conditions everywhere.

Here was an old man who has devoted most of his adult life to living with the poor and dedicating all his efforts to alleviating their living conditions. I imagine how he wakes up every day with a fire in his heart and zeal in his soul doing every big and small thing he can to make a difference. He belongs to a big organization — his priestly order, and an even bigger one —  the Catholic Church, which he must love dearly to be able to commit to, embark on, and keep his course steady in pursuit of his mission as he has done all these years. But at his late age, he realizes that they have failed him. And these days, he is frustrated, angry, even pointedly cutting as he lambastes his superiors.

I looked around the room and saw many of the older people listening quietly and, I imagined, somewhat passively. In contrast, I found myself nodding in agreement as he looked me in the eye. He was, to me, not a demagogue or a crazy idealist, but an angry man who had not surrendered or tempered what he feels his faith demands just because his superiors are not on his same intense wavelength. In my mind, I could hear Albert Camus’ exhortation to people who had a vision, a mission to accomplish which went against the grain of things: “Between you and the world, second the world.”

This crusty old priest is intent on not going gently into the night. He intends to rage, rage and rage further against the dying of the light so that his own breath will ignite what is left of the embers of compassion.

I thought of the emotion of anger and the power that it has over our internal and the external world. Anger can be a very uncomfortable feeling to have. When it hits you in a strong way, it feels like your very being is on fire and there is a great compulsion to spread this fire by expelling it and lashing at other people. Definitely, it calls you to action, to something drastic if it is to simmer down and disappear.

If an emotion like this can be powerful enough to move us out of our selves and act on the world, surely it must have some positive use even if it is unpleasant. For one thing, it is definitely a wake-up call. How? Because  it shakes us violently from the slumber of comfort to remind us that our world, our boundaries have been invaded and violated.

You wake up and realize that you’re just not going to take it anymore. You’ve had it. You will not sit quietly and continue to keep it all in. You will act!

The positive thing about healthy anger is that it tells you that you can’t continue to live life the way you’ve been living it. You realize how stupid you have been to be blind or unforgivingly tolerant of how others have treated, disappointed or hurt you and you will have no more of it. Something’s gotta give and it’s not gonna be you.

“Sobra na! Tama na! Palitan na!” Remember marching to EDSA then and feeling how your sense of decency, morality or expectations had been trampled upon? The millions who came all felt pretty much the same way, enough to take the time to march, shout and even risk their lives to express how much they wanted no more of the status quo and demanded change.

These days, one need not look very far to see how our sense of anger has been hijacked. No matter how shocking the revelations we hear about our officials, people hardly express themselves in a way that can constructively strike fear in the hearts of those who mock us. I would even go further and say that not only has our anger been hijacked, diverted or misdirected, we are using this anger against ourselves. There is an internal fire all right, but instead of directing the raging flames of wrath against the objects of our contempt — the corrupt, the brazenly calloused liars and thieves who rule over our lives, we have kept it all in to burn our own spirit so that the transformational power of our anger has turned into a consuming hopelessness.

“What’s the use?” I often hear people (including myself) say when asked  why we do not march in the streets or do anything against our situation.

A comic once said in jest that depression is anger without enthusiasm. How true, how true. Instead of outward action, our anger is kept in. This is the unhealthy way to deal with this powerful emotion. Our silence hurts us more than we know as it emboldens the enemies of our ideals to further violate the rules they swore to follow.

It is important to pay attention to what makes us angry even if just to remind ourselves that we have not lost our sense of outrage, or even our conscience. It is even better to act on it constructively.

How does one act constructively when angry?

There is a difference between acting on anger, and acting out our anger. The first is directed, pointed action that is thought-out and planned. The other is plain raging. Like a flame, acting on anger is like heat applied to metal to shape it into something we want. It is measured, purposeful and even constructive. Acting out is an uncontrolled conflagration. The priest I listened to last Sunday urges us to act on anger, do what needs to be done, regardless of how much or how little support is behind us. To not do anything is to allow oneself to be consumed by one’s own flames and turn this useful emotion into an enemy. 

Let us then, at the very least, properly acknowledge our anger. There is anger that needs to be acted on. But sometimes, all that is asked of us is to merely notice it even if in the end no action follows. At least we know we are feeling it, and not denying it.

As I said earlier, many of us avoid anger because of its unpleasantness. It is important to know ourselves, to discern when acting on our anger is not in our best interest at a given time, or whether it is a true friend expressing itself for our own good.

Apathy, indifference — now, those are the real enemies that kill our spirit and strengthen our tormentors.

The Power of Anger

Go Green 27 July 2008

found this really interesting…  it’s locally manufactured and locally available in the market. an earth friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable line of household cleaning products.  This is Messy Bessy.

let’s go organic, let’s go green! save our mother earth!

Toys from Anding’s 22 July 2008

stuff that we got from anding’s in divi:

wooden domino 3 pcs.
wooden puzzle 3 pcs.
wackel turn 2 pcs.
pool table 2 pcs.
stationery set 1 pc.
doctor set 1 pc.
doctor set (pink) 1pc.
xylophone 3 pcs.
fishing game 3 pcs.
water balloon 2 pcs.
clay  2 pcs.
magnetic board 3 pcs.
ring toss  1 pc.
glow in the dark 2 pcs.
water gun 3 pcs.
coin bank 6 pcs.
beads  3 pcs.
magic cubes 12 pcs.
rainbow spring 3 pcs.
clay  4 pcs.

plus the plastic buckets with gardening tools, and bubble makers, 50 pcs each.

everything for Php 2,662.50.

Tips for a Successful Children’s Party 20 July 2008

KUYA MAU’S PERSONAL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN’S PARTY

• Invest in a good venue. If your place is quite small, there are restaurants and clubhouse where you can rent it at a reasonable price. Choose a place where children can ran and play yet securely safe. There are restaurants which offer free rent of place but they require that you have to avail their catering. Also consider venues which schedules one client per day, it would be better because you have no pressure in finishing the party.

• Invest in delicious foods. Children normally prefer sweet spaghetti and barbecue. It would be better if you separate the food of children and adults, but if you are in a tight budget, you can have the same food for both. Have the children’s food in Styrofoam package to minimize time in distributing it. But always prioritize the taste buds of children. Remember, it’s their party and not for the adults.
• Remind your guest 10 times to always come on time and one day before the party, remind them for the last time to come on time. If you have invited them 4:00, start the party at 4:30. 30 minutes is reasonable for the early guest. To wait for 1 hour is not quite reasonable. It would be unfair to those who come early. Invest in texting and calling your guest in reminding them. It is already a Filipino culture to always be late in the party. So, you have to remind them always.
• Investing a good children entertainment. Exert effort in choosing an entertainment for your child’s birthday party. Try to ask if you could watch their performance in a tape or CD. Children entertainment like clowns, mascots, magician, puppet show, acrobats have different qualities. Do not easily go for low price entertainment to be surely safe.

Reference: MAUPETS

The Divi Experience 20 July 2008

went to divi and binondo yesterday with my closest single friends.  the single friends i have who seem to know more about what are fun toys and appropriate.  hehehe…

main agenda was to go to Anding’s buy stuff for the party, the buckets, the bucket fillers, prizes and piñata fillers.  mission accomplished!  we bought all the prizes at anding’s, so with all the buckets (with shovel, rake and molders), and bucket toy fillers (bubble makers).  for the piñata, tito onteng plegded it, including all its fillers.  sweet!

i spent 50% of my allotted budget.  really worth the trip!  though, i forgot to look for materials to be used in keeping the children busy, like maze, connect-the-dot and coloring sheets, and crayons.

for the binondo part of the trip, teng took me for lunch at this dumpling resto where he said the taste is like the real thing you taste in macau.  hmmm…  dunno about the authentic taste, but the dumplings are truly yummy!  more of the chinese stuff the next time we go to binondo (and divi as side trip, whichever..  hehehe…)  tito onteng has been in and out of the streets of binondo since he was a child, so, no worries na maliligaw kami.  hehehehe…  next time nga lang tito onteng, take your meds ah, awa ako with your allergy eh.

to my friends who accompanied me to divi, actually, who volunteered to take me to divi despite their very busy schedules, teng, jacqui and sheggz, thank you so so so much.  sana, when you guys are already married and have children of your own, you’ll still find time for me.  *muah*  *muah*  *muah*

Budget Planner 18 July 2008

para sa mga kinakapos ng monthly buget: Budget Planner

o kahit sa hindi kinakapos…