Winwyn Marquez On Going Back To Work Just Three Months Postpartum, 'It Helped Me'

Winwyn Marquez is proof that mothers can still have big dreams and with the right conditions, be able to achieve them.

In an interview with PEP.ph, the actress and former beauty queen revealed why she had to return to work immediately after giving birth to her first child, Luna Teresita Rayn.

"Parang three months pa lang si Luna I went back na, na nag-shoot ako ng movie, nagbe-breastfeed pa ako nun, nagge-guest appearance ako."

READ ALSO: Winwyn Tells New Moms, 'Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself, Mama'

She said, her partner was the one who encouraged her to slowly go back to work. 

“Ang nangyari lang kasi yung partner ko, he’s very supportive na, ‘You have to go back to have a sense of normalcy, hindi yung parang nasa bahay ka lang.’

“Mas mahirap bumalik. Mentally, it was hard also for me [for] the first few months, e. So siya yung nagpu-push sa akin, ‘Sige I’ll stay home, mag-work ka kahit paunti-unti.’

She said the setup is now working well for them. Although they have a helper at home, they want to be hands-on with Luna.

Joey Marquez, Alma Moreno obsessed with baby Luna

Winwyn also shared how her parents Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno are also supportive of her acting career.

Lolo Joey even offered that he will take care of Luna so Winwyn can focus on her work. 

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A post shared by Winwyn Marquez (@teresitassen)

“Kahit gusto kong gawin yun, ang hirap talagang iwan ang baby e, yung mahiwalay sa iyo yung baby. Hindi ko pa kayang gawin. Siguro bibisita na lang muna sa lolo niya, ganun. Ganun lang muna yung dynamics namin ngayon.”

She said they were very fond of their 6-month granddaughter. “Obsessed na obsessed sila sobra, lalo na si Daddy! Tuwing nakikita niya si Luna, parang maiiyak.”

READ ALSO: Joey and Alma are the 'Best Parents' Despite Breakup, Says Daughter Winwyn Marquez

With a support system to help her achieve her dreams of being an action star, Winwyn is grateful.

Recently, she won an award for the film Nelia, which was released when she was six months pregnant. She said becoming a mom did not hinder her acting career, but even helped improve it.

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A post shared by Winwyn Marquez (@teresitassen)

“Totoo talaga yun kasi yung pain, kasi normal delivery ako, di ba yung mga pinagdaanan, yung labor? So feeling ko, iyon yung mga paghuhugutan ko na dapat galingan ko, yung mga roles,” she said. “So sana mabigyan pa ng mga opportunities na magagandang films.”

At the end of the day, Luna is also her stress reliever and her biggest inspiration.

“Kahit pagod ka, kahit wala kang tulog, makita mo lang ngumiti yung anak mo mawawala na yung pagod."

“Feeling ko siya yung lucky charm ko talaga, iyon yung iniisip ko so mas motivated talaga ako to do well," she said.

READ ALSO: Winwyn Marquez Normalizes The Unfiltered Mom Life, And Netizens Say, 'It's Perfect'

On being a mom and achieving your dreams

Some parents at the Smart Parenting Village, share that they had to resign from their job to focus on taking care of their families.

In an anonymous post on the group last October 10, a mom confessed that she is unhappy about being unemployed.

"I love my son and my husband so much. Sila ang buhay ko. But part of me is unhappy."

"Now that he's the only one earning, I try to cover up my share of responsibility sa pag-ako ng lahat ng gawaing bahay. Bakit minsan pakiramdam ko parang naging kasambahay naman na ako? I have my bachelor's degree pero parang wala pa akong nararating sa career path ko. Wala pa akong napapatunayan sa sarili ko."

She added, "I gave way para sa husband ko, ma-achieve nya ang gusto nyang career path. He is where he desires to be with. And I am so proud of him. Kaso feeling ko, sa pagsupport ko sa kanya, nakalimutan ko na kung ano na ba ang gusto ko para sa sarili ko, nawala na yung confidence ko sa sarili. At ang liit-liit na ng tingin ko sa sarili ko."

Stories like Winwyn's serve as an inspiration that given the right conditions, a new mother can still thrive both at home and at work.

How to support a new mom's personal goals and dreams

Merlee Jayme, author of the book Chairmom: The Winning Combination of Mommyhood and Career, said motherhood is never a stumbling block to a successful career. "It is one significant enabler that makes us more powerful in this very competitive world," the mom of four and advertising veteran said.

Jayme said she wrote the book with hopes to inspire mothers that they don't have to give up on their dreams.

"I wanted to write a book about the imperfect, gritty life of balancing and integrating, and still get through it and achieve your dream, and it is possible," she said during the Chairmom virtual press launch last September.

Here are three things she hopes mothers can receive support from so that they can integrate their work and family life.

1. Companies should help the new mom adjust after maternity leave.

She told Smart Parenting that the employer plays an important role to help a new mom get back on her feet again after giving birth.

The Philippines is among the countries with the shortest maternity leave, if employers can do their part in helping their employees to adjust, like offering a hybrid or work-from-home setup, they will not resort to quitting their jobs.

READ ALSO: Mom We Love: Ex-Nun and Now Advertising Goddess Merlee Cruz-Jayme

2. Having a "sisterhood" in the workplace is essential.

She shared that she was lucky to have the support of her female colleagues or sisters at work especially when she needs help with babysitting. "We have that kind of atmosphere where we don't look at you as weird," Jayme said.

3. Partner support is important.

When new moms decide to stay home or go back to work after giving birth, Merlee stressed that it should be a decision made by both parents. "You can't do it all, your partner is supposed to help out."

And in the case of Winwyn, what worked for them is communicating about their schedules. She told PEP.ph, “And it helped me, now nakabalik ako kahit papano, kahit paunti-unti. Kaya lang yun nga, kailangan balikan, or mag-aayos kami ng schedule. Kung ako yung may work, he’ll try to stay home [and] kailangan ko lang bumalik bago siya mag-work. Something like that, pag-uusapan namin.”

'Never lose you'

If a mom pursues her dream and feels guilty or overwhelmed, Jayme shares this tip: "Life will throw you what you can handle. What the challenge is in front of you, handle that first."

"Never lose the dream. Never lose you. Don't lose who you are. Find out who you are early on and don't lose it."

"Chairmom means you lead as a woman, but never forget who you are if you are a mother," she said.

Buy the book Chairmom by Merlee Jayme on Shopee or Lazada for only Php 499. You can also buy it on Bookshelf website here.