Bad Service in a Government Hospital

I gave birth in Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last January 8, 2011. I was in the Pay Section. My friends and relatives would ask me why I will give birth in a public/government hospital. Actually, the reason why I chose PGH was because my OB is giving birth in PGH, her clinic is in front of PGH, and she was the one who did the surgery to me three years ago, and she was the one who took care of me so I could have my little angel.

Though PGH is a government hospital, I thought the service for those in pay section would be different from those in ward section…but I was so wrong. I paid Php 80,000++ for giving birth; same as though I gave birth in a nice private hospital isn’t it? But I received a freaking bad service from the staff. Admittedly, the specialists of the hospital are really great, no questions asked, because they’re all graduates of University of the Philippines, and most of them were trained abroad. However, the nurses (not all), nursing aids, and other whoever, should be trained not only for good customer service but for good manners and right conduct. They treat all the patients there as if we were all from ward section/charity. Masusungit as in! As if all the patients don’t have the money to pay them! Duh?!

My husband witnessed a nurse from Nursery ICU pushing a baby’s cart (I don’t know how it’s called) with a baby on it, then there was a monobloc chair at the center of the hallway, guess what this lazy unscrupulous nurse did? Instead of stopping to set aside the chair first so she could pass, she bumped the chair with the baby’s cart even though there’s a baby inside it. The doctors are very strict about the ‘shaken baby syndrome,’ why then can’t they advise their nurses of the right handling of a NEWBORN BABY?!? Grrrr! When my husband saw that, he couldn’t stop worrying about our baby who was sent to the NICU 12 hours after he was roomed-in with me for suspected mild sepsis (blessedly, it was just a suspicion, I have a healthy baby boy!).

My Childbirth Experience

Last Pre-Natal Check-Up

Had my last pre-natal check-up and Biometry/Biophysical ultrasound last January 5, and guess what? My OB advised me for a caesarian section OUTRIGHT! Why? As per the ultrasound result, my baby’s estimated weight is 4113 grams (Warlof) already. I was so shocked. I knew it might not be 100 % accurate but I wouldn’t risk my baby’s life just because I want to give birth via NSD. I followed my doctor’s advice. My husband and I made our decision – I will give birth via caesarian section on January 8, 2011 (Saturday).

Baby’s Arrival

Finally, the long wait is over… my precious baby has arrived at 8:02am on January 8, 2011. When I saw my baby, when I heard him cry, and when I finally held him, I forgot all the pain I have experienced from pregnancy to childbirth; I even forgot that I had an incision. The Feeling? It was overwhelming, I could not contain myself.

The recovery?

Very fast! I underwent surgery three years ago due to endometriosis so I already knew how it feels to undergo the knife, and it took me some time to recover. It took me months for me to be able to walk briskly, bend my knees to pick something up, sleep on my side, carry something, and do the things I normally do as a healthy person. But this time, I was so amazed on how fast I have recovered.  Inside the birthing room I was so awake that I kept on talking to the nurses and kept on tilting my head from left to right to observe what’s being done on me. I was not so like this three years ago during my surgery. I gave birth at 8:02am, was sent to recovery room at 9:00am, I was still so awake, as in. At 9:30am, I was already asking the nurse what time is it and what time they will send me back to my room. Every 30 minutes I kept on asking every nurse who passes by near me about the time. Finally, at 11:30am, I was roomed-in. My baby was then roomed-in with me at 12:30nn.

Agony of an OFW Mom

How does it feel to be away from your family? How painful it is for a wife to leave her husband? How miserable it is for a mother to leave her kids? And why does she have to go?

It’s terribly painful for a mother to leave her kids. I don’t know how it feels to be away from my child, but I have seen the desperation and misery from the eyes of those mothers I’ve been with when I was abroad. They wanted to be with their children but they just had no choice.

How does it feel missing the birthday celebration of your child? All you can give is your remittance so he/she could have a grand birthday party. How depressing it is for a mother to learn that your child is sick? You cannot kiss, hug, or even caress your child longing for your comfort. A mother will always be a mother as they say it. How many Christmases, New Year celebrations, and school recognitions have you missed spending with your family? How many balikbayan boxes have you sent to substitute for your absence?

The pain of being away from your family especially from your child is horrible wishing you could do something about it. But all you could do is just stare at their pictures, always wishing, hoping, and praying that they are doing fine.

We're ready to go...

I'm already on my 37^th week which means that my baby is already in his full-term, yipee! I am oh so excited but also nervous at the same time. I don’t know how it feels to be in labor. Since I am a first time mom, I am new to this kind of experience, everything is my first.

I have already prepared my baby’s things. My baby hasn’t arrived yet but he already received early gifts. We’re so blessed to have family and friends who are always there to give support and love.

Onesies, receving blanket, bibs, washcloths, mattress, etc.

Philips Avent baby bottles, breast pump, food container, etc.

Baby's health care kit, teether, toys, etc.

Huggies diapers - small, medium, and large sizes

Shoes given by baby's cousin and ninang

Baby's books, educational materials, and toys

Disney jacket, Mossimo shirt, and Ralph Lauren sweater

My Big Baby

I went for a pre-natal check-up today and also had a Biometry/Biophysical Ultrasound at PGH. I was surprised to know that I was just 36 weeks pregnant but my baby’s fetal length is already of 38^th week. He already weighs 6.6 – 7.2 pounds. Oh my gosh! In this case, my doctor advised me to limit my food intake - only one cup of rice three times a day, and to eat only fruits in between meals. Since it’s Christmas season, I have no choice but to abstain from eating sweets, no leche flan, buko salad, cassava cake, etc.

We are going to try to deliver normally but if I cannot prevent my baby’s growth inside my tummy, my doctor told me that I might undergo a caesarian section. What can I do if he’s really big? His father is big, so I guess it’s in his genes. Well, for now, all that matter to me is to deliver my baby safely in whatever way it may be.

MY CHRISTMAS WISH THIS YEAR: A NOKIA C7

12 days before Christmas, I have just one wish and my Christmas will truly be a very MERRY Christmas! If Santa’s real, I want to tell him that I have been good all-year ‘round, so please grant my wish – a NOKIA C7!

Why do I want Nokia C7? I have always wanted to have a touch-screen phone. When I learned about the features of Nokia C7 in http://www.nokia.com.ph/, I know I wouldn’t want anything else. Why? In a person, we define ‘beauty’ as something seen inside and out; same with this phone, it’s beautifully crafted inside and out, the design,  the features, the usefulness, it is definitely an all-in-one phone.

Fears of an Endometriotic Woman

According to Wikipedia.org “Endometriosis (from endo, "inside", and metra, "womb") is a gynecological medical condition in women in which endometrial-like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries.”



Endometrial tissue (shown in green) can attach to many of the pelvic organs.

                               http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/

 I was never aware of the disease until I was diagnosed of having it three years ago (2007). I was so fearful, frustrated, and depressed when I learned about it. My world fell apart.  

Didn’t know I was already having problem with my ovaries until I felt the symptoms: bloated stomach, constipation, nausea, and pain on my right pelvis.

I traced my family background and learned that two of my aunts (my dad’s sisters) also had endometriosis. So my case was hereditary. My aunt had her ovaries and uterus removed when she was 26 years old, luckily, she had one son before the diagnosis. My other aunt had her right ovary removed already, and had two daughters, but just recently, the left ovary and the uterus were also removed.