The Department of Health embarked on Essential Newborn Care , a new program to addressed neonatal deaths in the country. Under the umbrella of the Unang Yakap Campaign, Essential Newborn Care is an evidenced based strategic intervention aimed at improving newborn care and helping cub neonatal mortality.

The Essential Newborn Care package is a four-step newborn care intervention undertaken to lessen newborn death.

1. Immediate and thorough drying to stimulate breathing after delivery of the baby
2. Provision of appropriate thermal care through mother and newborn skin-to skin contact maintaining a delivery room temperature of 25-28 degrees centigrade and wrapping the newborn with clean, dry cloth.
3. Properly timed clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, (1-3 minutes or until cord pulsation stops)
4. Immediate latching on and initiation of breastfeeding within first hour after birth.

Post-natal care required within 24 hours after birth also includes

• Cord care
• Breastfeeding
• Vitamin K injection
• Eye prophylaxis
• Delayed bathing until 6 hours of life
• BCG and first dose of Hepatitis B Immunization
• Newborn screening

The Essential Newborn Care Package aims to reduce newborn mortality rate from 13 deaths (2006 FPS, NSO) to 10 per 1000 live births by 2015.

I have been reading books about perimenopause to learn how I will be able to prepare myself for the natural change that I am about to undergo in the next few years. Since my foremost inconvenient feeling is the “hot flushes” , I have gathered the following information which I can share with some who are also in this situation.

Top five things to do to relieve myself from perimenopausal symptoms

• Take Vitamin E  (400- 800 I. U per day),Vitamin C (500 mg) and B-complex vitamins
• Avoiding hot baths and hot drinks
• Eat more vegetables and fruits
• Modification of my lifestyle, do only what I like and prioritize my activities
• Do a make over of myself, i.e change in the way I look

I am one of those who is experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. It’s a little disgusting because, after all these years your body is telling you, hey there is going to be changes, I hope change for the better and not for the worst.

Perimenopause is the transition years before your actual menopausal period ( when your menstruation stopped coming every month). The main cause of these changes is the diminution of what makes us a woman, our precious hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Some changes that I have experienced are menstrual period changes, hot flushes, reduced stamina, mood swings and irritability.

Of all these changes, the hot flashes are so unpleasant . After taking a shower in the morning, there is sort of a bad feeling or an aura I cannot understand, I had to pause and sit in front of an electric fan even if I am in an air conditioned room. Hot flushes would come my way and profuse sweating follows.

This has been my dilemma every morning after I had my shower. During the night even in an air-conditioned room, my profuse sweating would awaken me and eventually disturbed my sleep.

I can do nothing this is bound to happen. No woman is exempted.