Manulife’s Bundle of Joy: A lasting gift for our young family’s future by Cheryl De Guia-Lim (Guest Post)

If there’s one thing I learned as a newbie parent, one should give what’s best for the child, especially for a newborn baby. Parents are expected to know how to feed, bathe, clothe, play with, and generally care for their baby – but babies don't come with instructions. And even if this isn't your first, you may still be trying to figure out how to deal with it physically, emotionally and financially.

The vast majority of newborns enter the world healthy but they are more vulnerable to germs than older babies because they simply haven't had time to build up defenses. Sometimes infants develop conditions that require medical tests and treatment. All signs and symptoms are of even greater concern if the baby is less than 3 months old.

We experienced this first hand as my husband Oliver and I found ourselves rushing to the emergency room at 2 a.m. due to the high fever of our newborn son. After a series of laboratory tests to rule out bigger complications, our little boy was diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Seven days and eighty thousand pesos later, we were discharged with our baby healthier and stronger.

Looking back, we would not have done things differently, except for one realization magnified—we would stop at nothing for our child. It is a lesson learned through one hospital scare. We can only do so much to take care of our little one, and even if we wrap him in our arms until he is okay to thrive on his own, we as parents cannot live forever. Accidents happen and diseases will not always be at bay. The unpredictability of parenthood comes with inevitable emergencies of life. If something happens to Oliver and I even before he turns one, what happens to our newborn child? What can we leave behind?

We can either burden ourselves with anxiety on things we cannot control or secure the best future for our son—without delay. This means now -- no need to wait until his first birthday. The absolute security of our newborn is not even a choice, it is a necessity. After all, what is more urgent than our child’s future?

The cost of pregnancy, baby delivery, supplies and immunizations all add up. So for parents like us, Manulife’s Bundle of Joy program is a welcome breath of fresh air. With no premium required, moms and dads with newborns less than a year old would only need to register online for a free one-year insurance coverage worth Php100,000.00. You can also seek expert advice and useful guides for first-time parents and financial awareness for those who are starting to build a family. The site also offers relevant information for us parents on freebies, promos and other fun activities.

At this time, getting insurance may be at the bottom of your checklist, as it was previously in ours. But as we relish the joys of parenthood, let us learn to choose lifelong benefits, the ones that would benefit the family and ultimately our newborns. The cute strollers, cribs, baby bouncers and toys will be outgrown in a short amount of time but a good insurance coverage will last a long time.

Consider Manulife’s Bundle of Joy program as another version of a tight hug for your baby--thoughtful, comforting and valuable. Register online at www.manulifebundleofjoy.com.ph and shower your newborn with unlimited hugs while they are young.