Rita Daniela is "very excited, happy, and grateful" to celebrate Mother's Day for the first time not just for herself but also for her own mother.
"I’m very happy kasi ’yung Mama ko, mae-experience niya ang mga apo niya," the singer-actress says, referring to the presence of her son Uno and the other kids in their family. "Ako, bilang anak, ang saya na makita ’yun sa nanay ko na ganoon siya kasaya."
Becoming a mom
Rita vividly remembers being in starstruck awe the first time she saw Baby Uno, just after giving birth, on December 22, 2022, via Cesarean section delivery. It was an emergency procedure because of, she says, cord coil.
"Actually, ang akala ko nga ang mafi-feel ko ’yung parang napapanood sa TV, umiiyak na gano’n," she tells Smart Parenting in a press interview held at an event organized by the health care brand Johnson & Johnson. She's the celebrity mombassador for the brand's Milk + Rice line of baby products.
"Ako, hindi. More of ’yung na-shock ako. Parang nakakita ako ng pinakaguwapong artista." She was so shocked she felt her body stiffened, and asked herself in disbelief: "Sa akin ba ito nanggaling?"
But the realization of cradling her own child soon hit Rita, and that's when she got emotional: "Bigla na lang tutulo ang luha mo, ganyan." That includes the pain she felt while starting to breastfeed.
"Naging challenging sa akin ang breastfeeding," she admits, "Ramdam na ramdam ko, and everything." But she simply went ahead and did it. "'Yung masakit sa breastfeeding, kasama ’yun, tiis talaga. Kailangan ko ’yung tiisin kasi para ’yun sa kapakanan ni Uno."
RELATED: 11 Breastfeeding Advantages That Always Persuade Moms to Nurse Their Babies
The first-time mom also gives credit to her son: "Magaling si Uno. Three days old pa lang, napalabas na niya ang milk. Even 'yung mga lactation nurse sa hospital, they were actually impressed."
She can't forget hearing such comments: "Wow, ang galing ng baby mo, Ma’am. Ang galing, napalabas niya agad ang milk mo." She now agrees, "Ang galing niyang mag-latch."
What Rita is trying to avoid is letting her baby blues turn into postpartum depression. (Read here the difference.) She confesses, "Minsan kapag nakakaramdam ako ng lungkot, inuunahan ko na agad. I talk to my friends. O kaya sinasabi ko sa friends ko, ‘Ilabas n’yo naman ako. Labas tayo.’"
"Kasi mahirap, eh. So nilalabanan ko rin ’yun. Pero hindi ko siya mapuntahan. I guess for every mom, hindi maiiwasan na pagdaanan ’yun. Ako, ready na iwasan siya. Hanggat kaya, iiwasan ko siya."
She also tries to always look at the bright side: "Ang bait-bait ni Uno. Ang guwapo-guwapo. Parang walang reason para mag-postpartum and everything. Super happy ako."
RELATED: Ganito Nalampasan Ng First-Time Mom Ang Postpartum Depression At Minahal Muli Ang Sarili
Thus at four months postpartum, Rita is embracing and enjoying everything there is to being a mother to Uno. "Kahit ’yung challenging parts, like kung paano mo siya patitigilin sa pag-iyak, nae-enjoy ko siya kasi ’yun lagi ang nilalagay ko sa isip ko: Minsan lang ’to. Mabilis ang panahon. Lalaki rin sila agad."
That maternal devotion makes the GMA-7 contract artist perfect for the role as celebrity mombassador, says Johnson & Johnson's marketing manager for skin health Katrina Diaz Suarez. She also points out, "We want so show that all moms, whether single, is worthy of praise on how they take care of their babies and how they always want the best for their child."
Message to first-time moms
Rita shares one advice she's received from those who've been moms before her: "Sabi nga huwag kalimutan to also take care of myself. Sobrang importante ’yun para hindi ako malunod, hindi ako ma-overwhelm in taking care of my son."
That's why she has decided to go back to work, albeit not full-time yet so she can still watch her son grow and not miss his milestones. (Read here the 4-month-old developmental milestones.) She has also found the opportunity to travel and enjoy her me-time.
Rita has this to say to her fellow first-time moms: "There’s no perfect formula, or book, or mechanics, on what’s the dos and don’ts of being a mom. Give allowance for mistakes and adjustments. Kasi wala namang nanay na alam na niya agad ang gagawin niya.
"It’s okay if sometimes, ‘Bakit hindi ko ’to alam? Bakit parang ganito?’ It’s okay to ask. It’s okay to ask for help. Pag may nag-offer ng help, go, kunin mo agad. Kailangan talaga natin ng help. Magagamit natin ’yan."
Read here on a first-time parent survival guide for the first seven days with baby.
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