By DR. DORY BUENA 
Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Asian Hospital and Medical Center

That moment you decide to become a mother, for me, is the beginning of the journey to motherhood. It’s a selfless choice because you have to commit to a big unknown. There are a lot of things to think of and prepare for before you even get started. Imagine committing to conceiving, rearing, giving birth, and lifetime caring – this is only for the brave and loving.

A gift to your future child

My OB-GYNE colleagues advise their patients that the first step is to make the body pregnancy-ready. This does not mean getting your body ready only when you’re getting pregnant soon. It would be ideal if you have started having healthy habits early on.

Knowing your body better through annual checkups can help you understand what needs to be improved in your lifestyle (eating habits, exercise etc). It also helps uncover if there are any underlying medical issues that need to be worked-up. The more you know about your health, the more you will be prepared to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

As the journey begins

As pregnancy begins, prenatal care is a must. Regular monitoring is vital to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. If there are health concerns, your doctor needs to be able to manage these to help avert complications. Your OB-GYN monitors your blood to know if your pregnancy is causing you to have anemia which can make you feel tired and weak. Weight is also monitored because going beyond the recommended weight gain or not gaining enough could increase your risk of complications like stillbirth, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

Pregnancy makes women vulnerable because of the hormonal changes they experience.

Hospitals offer prenatal care packages to aid you in your pregnancy journey. At the Center for Women’s Health of Asian Hospital and Medical Center, there are various packages to suit your needs. These would usually include ultrasound, which could either be 3D or 4D to monitor baby's development, non-stress test which is a non-invasive routine procedure usually done on the third trimester to ensure that the baby’s heart rate is appropriate with movements, and various blood tests.

Have a glimpse of the best gift ever

It is exciting to have a glimpse of your little one through 4D images.  Not only does 4D ultrasound give you early pictures of your baby, it’s a vital tool to know your baby’s condition inside your womb. At around 26 to 33 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may recommend that you undergo a 4D ultrasound to know how the baby is positioned, how it moves, how are the body parts like heart valves, walls, and even blood flow.  You’d normally get the print out of your baby’s first pictures as well as soft copies of videos and images.

Happy Natal Day

So D-day has arrived. At Asian Hospital and Medical Center, you comfortably wait in a spacious room with medical professionals ready to assist you. When it’s finally time, your partner can join you in a private labor room. As you push, you are surrounded by a cheering loved one and a medical team who are equipped to make your labor experience as smooth as possible. If you’re going for a caesarian section, you’ll be attended to in an operating room. And in case your pregnancy is labeled as high-risk, there’s a dedicated room equipped with necessary tools to ensure safe delivery.

As you hear your baby cry for the first time (I’m telling you the happiness is inexplicable!), your little one is being prepped to be checked by a pediatrician - this where our role in motherhood starts - before baby is roomed-in with you.

Congratulations, best mom ever! We know that motherhood doesn’t start and end in childbirth.  As you go further on your lifelong journey, you’ll dedicate more time with your little one. Breastfeeding will bond you even more as you provide your child with liquid gold needed to provide optimum nutrients and disease prevention. This bonding is also an opportunity to help develop your baby’s emotional intelligence – touches, laugh, and cuddles – all these little things can help build your child’s emotions.

Enjoy every moment of becoming a mother – a lifetime commitment of loving and learning. Always make sure to set a regular appointment with your child’s pediatrician for monitoring and up-to-date immunization.

Learn more about Maternal and Child Services. Contact Asian Hospital Info Hub at (02) 8-771-9000 local 5913, and email [email protected].