A Woman's Prerogative

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02176/pregnant_2176694b.jpg

Philippines' controversial RH(Reproductive Health) Bill has been nothing less but controversial. Politics vs Religion. Cultural Preservation vs  Population Control. Pro vs Anti. Yellow vs No Yellow.

My take on the issue is, Reproductive Health is and will always be a woman's prerogative.

By law, or sans law, this is all about being a woman. How you end up with a final decision will affect the woman who is reproducing, no one else.

I firmly believe that when it comes to woman's health, especially when it comes to pregnancy, to be pregnant or not to be pregnant could be decided between the couple, but above all, the woman should have the last word.

What if we have a medical practice in the Philippines of taking out the baby at 8 weeks because there's is no heartbeat that can be found? I wonder how the conservative Filipino will react. Would they ask themselves why they let the RH Bill be passed? Would the mother have enough tears to shed and ask herself where did she go wrong? Why there's no heartbeat? Why can't she keep the baby and wait for the baby's heart to start beating? Would this scenario actually happen?

Because yes... maybe not in Philippines (right now), this scenario does happens. I, personally, had to take days of bed rest because at 8 weeks, the little life in my tummy has no heart beat. I was too scared to stress myself out that I can not let myself cry. Because after 5 days and there's still no heart beat, my baby will be taken out. So I rest and did not stress. After 5 days.... we found a heart beat.

It was torture. It was a very taxing moment for a pregnant woman.

Is this going to happen if RH Bill will be passed?

I have no idea.

One thing I agree after watching all the discussions around RH Bill -- information dissemination, access to information, access to funds, and universal health care especially to pregnant woman all over Philippines is a MUST -- should have been before, a must now, and perfected for the future.

As a woman, I would like to know my choices. My option. And what can I do as a pregnant reproducing woman. Or as a Mother or Mother-to-Be. Support and Information is very important.

I had a roller-coaster pregnancy trimester test results, even if I had such a remarkable OB GYN and medical group in the US. Without the support of my OB GYN and the counselor and information that was shared with us, I would not have known what to do. I would not have known my options.

Hence, I believe in a must for INFORMATION. Maybe it's where we should invest first as a country. With 7100 islands, NOT all the woman has access to information beneficial to their health. Especially when it is about REPRODUCING.

Getty Comfy at her Tita Yolly's

November, 2009

Khloe started travelling at two months old. A week after she turn two months, she travelled with me and my Mother with four stops/lay-over. Four stops from San Francisco, CA-Charlotte, NC-Buffalo, NY to drop off Mother to go home in Catharines, Ontario Canada. And then flew from Buffalo, NY-Detroit, Mi-Raleigh, NC to stay with her Aunt(Tita) Yolly in Bahama, NC.  

Despite it being her first ever travel, she was such a good baby and slept the whole 6 hours and more overnight flight. It's amazing how well she adjusted to the taking-off and landing of the plane. With stroller, car seat and 3 luggage s in tow, my sister was appalled of how I was able to get to North Carolina with no mishaps.

Our stay in her place was one of the most wonderful vacation I ever had. Staying there for 3 weeks doesn't seem to be enough. It's peaceful, calm, serene and very laid back. My sister and brother-in-law, Danny, is one of the most admirable couple I've ever known. Their very simple, nature-style living is such a treat from the busy life I had in California.

I will never think twice of going back there given a chance.



August 26, 2012

My other sister, with her hubby and two kids drove to Bahama, NC with my hubby and our princess, Khloe, in tow. It's my sister's first time to visit Ate Yolly & Danny at her place, and their very first long drive. I am excited for them as were as the kids. Hubby & Khloe are very used to long drives and I am pretty assured they won't have any problem with Khloe even if I am not with them. They got there after 13 hours of driving.

And Khloe just got so comfortable, as if she never left from her last 2009 vacation.

Hubby liked my sister's very serene surrounding. Khloe had a blast playing around, that when the grown ups went out for a drive, she covered her Tita's furniture with her princess stickers.

After resting for a night, they went out the next day for sight-seeing and enjoyed the beauty of Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina.