All moms will agree when we say that the moment you see your child for the first time is an experience like no other that you will treasure forever. It signifies both the end of the long wait as your child developed in your womb, as well as the beginning of a brand new journey for the whole family.
Inspiring photos of moms meeting their babies for the first time
On our Facebook page, we asked moms to send us photos of themselves meeting their little ones for the first time, and to share the unique stories behind each birth. Not only did we receive many adorable photographs, we were also able to learn about the beautiful journeys each mom and child went through.
Many of the moms experienced difficult pregnancies, but they still agree that after seeing their little ones for the very first time, the pain was more than worth it.


Mom Margaret Tan called her son a miracle baby. “I managed to conceive by natural [means] when my gynecologist told me that I couldn’t conceive by natural [means] as my fallopian tubes were blocked,” she shares.
Despite that, she was able to give birth to a beautiful baby boy, without having to undergo any surgery!

Mom Nikay Evolove's baby was born in extraordinary circumstances: at 30 weeks, with a 0-0-7 APGAR score, and with no heartbeat. Due to abruptio placenta, Nikay had to give birth via emergency C-section, and she was only allowed to carry her baby after several weeks. But she and her little girl managed to overcome the odds.
“I know she felt that ‘mother’s love’ the first time I carried her, that’s why she’s so [behaved] in the photo… and showed us how strong she [was],” Nikay wrote. “So grateful that we were given the chance to carry her from time to time during her ‘incubator days’, at least we [could] hug her during her difficult stage and tell her how everyone’s excited to see her go home.”

Another mom who experienced a highly difficult pregnancy is Gail Lasola Osayan. While her experience carrying her first two children were relatively smoother, her third time proved tough. “The whole time masyadong maselan ‘yung pagbubuntis ko,” she shared. She even had a hard time eating every day. Aside from that, Gail also experienced high blood pressure throughout her pregnancy.
When she gave birth via emergency C-section, the umbilical cord was wrapped around her baby’s neck. Still, it was all worth it! “Di ko ipagpapalit lahat ng hirap at sakit na dinanas ko sa pagmamahal ko sa kanila,” Gail said.

Mom Risa Rheng Dice Esguerra had a high risk pregnancy with her baby boy. “At 8 weeks of gestation I was rushed into the hospital because I [was] bleeding and according to my OB, ‘Humihiwalay ang placenta sa baby.’ I was [on] bed rest for 3 weeks.” By her 7th month, she was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which meant that she needed to be admitted to the hospital again.
On April 17 this year, when Risa thought she was just going for a routine prenatal check-up, she found out that she had also been going through gestational hypertension, and was recommended to go to the hospital, where she was given medication to regulate her blood pressure.
The process of giving birth was extremely difficult for her. Still, she commented, “Grabe, [ang] traumatic, but when I saw him, totoo pala, mawawala lahat ng hirap at sakit na pinagdaanan mo.”

Mom Mary Grace Magbiray-Cabuyao experienced two failed intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures, a miscarriage, and hormone injections, before finally giving birth to her baby girl in May 2013.

At the time mom Merry Oliveros Quiambao was giving birth, typhoon Ompong was ravaging the Philippines. But when her little girl finally left the womb, she seemed to bring the good weather with her — the sun came out!

After giving birth, mom Sunshine SG acquired chronic UTI. Aside from that, she also needed to prepare to raise her baby by herself. Despite all the challenges, her optimistic outlook still prevailed.
“The whole [process] was one of the most challenging phases of my life but in the end, I feel blessed to be given the chance to become a mother to this wonderful boy,” Sunshine said. “Raising him alone would be a long road to cross but I know it will all be worth it.”

Pregnancy was extremely tough for mom Ginny Guevara Agsaluna. She experienced extreme morning sickness, had to be hospitalized due to dehydration, and went through a case of depression. But with the help of her husband, she was able to survive. “He helped me get through everything. I never felt alone nor unhappy for too long as he would always keep my head above water.”
When she finally heard her baby’s first cry, Ginny was overwhelmed by joy and love. “I [hadn’t] seen her yet but I knew that she was the full embodiment of love. Suddenly all the worry, anxiety and pain disappeared!”

The joy of being able to hold your baby for the first time might be difficult to articulate, but the photos of these moms are worth a thousand words!

PHOTO BY Courtesy of Dianne Margaret