Glaiza de Castro on Becoming a Mom for the First Time at 38

After years of career milestones, iconic tv roles, marriage, and travels, Glaiza De Castro is entering a new chapter: motherhood.

The multi-awarded actress and singer, who is expecting her first child with husband David Rainey, recently opened up about her pregnancy journey on Instagram with words many moms can relate to: “So glad I’m through the first trimester because…GRABE PALA.”

In this Smart Parenting exclusive, Glaiza takes us through her journey, from seeing two lines on a pregnancy test and Googling what a faint line means after countless negative results to navigating first-trimester struggles, including morning sickness that isn’t limited to mornings and food aversions instead of cravings.

At 38, Glaiza says pregnancy has already changed the way she looks at her priorities, career, relationships, and even herself. Here, she shares what she has learned so far and the kind of mother she hopes to become.

Smart Parenting (SP): You and David got married in 2021 and again in 2023. Was waiting to have a child part of your plan?

Glaiza De Castro (GDC): Yes, that was exactly our plan. David and I met in 2018, and I was already 30 at the time. When we got engaged in 2021, parang after the marriage, I wasn't ready to be a mom yet. David and I weren't really planning to have kids right away either because we had been in a long-distance relationship for a few years.

We really wanted to enjoy each other's company, travel more, and that’s what we did. I studied in London for three months. Lahat ng hindi ko pa nagawa before, I was trying to fulfill my longtime goals, iyung mga ganun.

It was only in 2024 when I said, "I think I'm ready," and David was on the same page.

SP: When did the idea of becoming a mom first start to feel real for you?

GDC: Around 2023, naglalaro na sya sa isip ko. But I was also doing Sangre at the time and Stars on the Floor, which was physically demanding because it was a dance competition.

We started trying around late 2023 and into 2024. In 2025, we were hoping it would finally happen, but it didn't. My dad also passed away that year.

Then this year, around the end of May, I discovered that I was finally pregnant.

SP: Did you conceive naturally, or did you have medical assistance?

GDC: It was natural, but we had been working closely with my OB. Ilang appointments na rin iyung nagawa namin with her. She was giving me medication para mas maging fertile ako, as well as vaccines and everything.

Kaming dalawa ni David, we also had general checkups to see kung may problema ba with our health. Iyung last visit namin sa OB, medyo nag-worry siya kasi parang may mga kailangan kaming baguhin sa lifestyle namin, like mataas iyung cholesterol ko. Si David parang ganon din.

She was a little worried na hindi namin ma-achieve iyung plan namin na first quarter, mabuntis ako. We had a Plan B if it didn't happen by the second quarter. May booster siyang ibibigay sa akin. IVF ang last plan namin  if it really didn't work out. She explained it to us kung okay ba sa amin na kung hindi pa mangyari by the end of the year, iyun na ang gagawin namin, which was okay for us.

SP: What was it like when you finally found out you were pregnant?

GDC: I was actually shocked. Tapos, may disbelief kasi nung time na iyon when I took the tests, wala si David. He was in Ireland for a family gathering. May parang family reunion sila. So, iyung first test, parang parehas kaming confused na, “Okay, ano ba 'to? Baka false positive 'to or baka hindi maganda iyung quality ng PT na binili ko,” kasi parang stock ko na iyun before.

And then, finally, after the fifth pregnancy test, ayun, sinend ko siya, una kay David. I said, “Clear siya this time.” Kasi iyung first two or three, parang parehas na faint line eh. So naggo-Google pa ako kung ano ba ibig sabihin ng faint line. Tapos parang ang sabi, a faint line usually means you're pregnant. And then parang hindi pa siya nagsi-sink in sa akin. I was just staring at the results, iniisip ko, "Ano kaya iyung susunod kong gagawin?" And then nag-order ako ng panibagong batch ng pregnancy tests. After the fifth, sabi ko, "Oh my God, it's so clear."

Alam mo iyung feeling na ang tagal mong inaantay yung dalawang lines na yun kasi previously parang ang bilis eh. Pagkakita mo ng result–after a few seconds, wala, isang line lang talaga. Then finally nung parang nagdalawa siya, parang hindi ako makapaniwala.

Sumakto na four weeks later, dumating si David. I had an appointment scheduled kasi six weeks iyung parang pinaka-ideal time para makita talaga. Hindi ko pa sinasabi kahit kanino, even sa family ko, kasi I was waiting for that day na makita ko talaga on screen na, okay, may laman talaga iyung tiyan ko, may human being talaga.

And ayun, parang doon ako naging emotional na, "Oh my gosh, there's a life inside of me."

SP: How was your first trimester?

GDC: Hindi ako makakain. So iyun ang naging struggle ko. Actually, nag-worry din iyung OB ko at the time kasi from 50 kilograms, nag-drop ako to around 43 kilograms.

Wala talaga akong gana. Buong first trimester, nandito iyung husband ko, and he was really helpful in trying to make me eat. Sometimes, appetizing naman iyung food pero hindi ko talaga feel na kumain.

Hindi ko kaya iyung amoy ng gisa, ng garlic, ng sibuyas. Iyung morning sickness ko started around the first week of June. I was doing theater then. We had eight shows. I was struggling kasi iyung travel time din. I felt nauseous on the way to CCP. We live in QC, so it was an hour to an hour-and-a-half drive. I also had some commitments that I needed to finish. May pelikula ako na ginagawa. Pero alam mo iyun, kailangan ko siyang gawin. So I was really struggling. I felt so weak.

Tapos iyung morning sickness, hindi lang sa morning. Three times a day ako nagvo-vomit. Iyun ang mga hindi ko na-expect sa pregnancy kasi parang akala ko iyung morning sickness, isang beses lang siya mangyayari. Parang iyun kasi iyung ginagawa ko noon sa mga teleserye. Parang isang beses lang, tapos tsaka mo malalaman na buntis ka pala.

Pero hindi pala iyun. Parang araw-araw mo siyang mae-experience, tapos araw-araw kang may fear na baka yung mararamdaman mo, hindi maganda.

SP: As someone who has spent much of her life in the spotlight, has pregnancy changed the way you see yourself—not just as an actress, but as a woman and soon-to-be mother?

GDC: Iba talaga iyung reality. Parang lahat ng mga nagawa kong eksena before, being a mom sa teleserye, sobrang layo niya pala.

Sa ngayon, nagbago yung perspective ko, iyung priorities ko, iyung mga plans ko. Parang hindi na towards my career. Hindi na siya towards myself. Hindi na rin sa family kasi I was a breadwinner for so many years.

I feel that okay, natapos ko na iyung role ko bilang anak. Ngayon, meron akong paghahandaan na panibagong chapter ng buhay ko bilang nanay. It also helps na I'm living with my mom now. She’s also looking after me while si David nasa Ireland.

Ang comforting lang na merong mother figure na nakaka-empathize sa iyo.

SP: Have you started thinking about what life will look like for your baby? What are your plans?

GDC: Ang number one plan, and I think challenge din for us as a couple, iyung kung saan namin siya papalakihin.

David lives in Ireland, while I've lived here in Manila my entire life. Siyempre, kino-consider ko kung ano iyung better option for our child.

Kung dito ba, maraming connections, maraming privileges and advantages. Pero pagdating din sa quality ng life, you know, I hate to say this, but Ireland is a first-world country compared to the country we're living in now.

SP: Does becoming a mom mean saying goodbye to your career?

GDC: Goodbye for a while siguro. Parang sa ngayon, hindi ko na iniisip iyung career ko entirely. Pero hindi ko naman siya iiwan.

Parang  hindi naman ako magu-goodbye kasi I don't think that when you become a mom, hindi mo na magagawa iyung mga dati mong ginagawa. I believe na pwede mo pa rin i-pursue kung ano man iyung mga plans mo for your career. Kumbaga, may kino-consider ka nang ibang tao, iyung child mo, hindi ba? So siyempre magkakaroon ng effect iyun sa mga decisions mo in accepting the projects. Kasi before, parang accept lang ako ng accept eh. Oo lang ako ng oo sa lahat eh. Ngayon, parang mas conscious na iyung decisions ko. Mas intentional na lahat ng ginagawa ko.

SP: What other adjustments have you had to make during pregnancy?

GDC: I've learned to put myself first.

Kasi before, as a millennial, oo lang ako nang oo sa lahat. Tapos parang matiisin kasi akong tao. Hindi ako masyadong mareklamo pagdating sa trabaho. Kahit na nag-sstruggle ako, I would still show up.

So parang kinailangan kong mag-speak up, na hindi ko ginagawa before kasi nahihiya nga ako. Ayaw kong isipin nila na nag-iinarte ako. Pero sabi ko, buhay iyung nakasalalay dito, so kailangan kong i-communicate nang maigi sa kanila na I'm not going to be able to do some of the things na normally pwede kong gawin. Your baby's life is involved. You have to communicate properly.

Iyun yung isa sa mga na-realize ko na, "Ah, pwede naman pala akong mag-no."

SP: Has your idea of motherhood changed now that you're actually experiencing pregnancy?

GDC: Siguro isa sa mga preconceived notions ko about motherhood is magre-revolve na talaga completely iyung mundo mo around your child. But I really don't think na ganun iyung pananaw ko ngayon kasi parang you always have to leave something for yourself eh even if that's a small percentage.

Parang it's not being selfish. Pero para sa akin, paano ka makapagbibigay kung wala kang mabibigay sa sarili mo?

I mean sa ngayon, I always make sure na I'm okay mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually para hindi rin yun mag-reflect negatively sa kung paano ko aalagaan yung anak ko.

Kasi hindi ba, kapag sinasabi nilang selfless love, iyung takot ko is baka makalimutan ko yung sarili ko, mabigay ko lahat sa anak ko. So parang you have to give yourself some time to enjoy life while you're taking care of the baby.

Marami naman ding tao sa paligid natin na tutulong sa atin eh. Isa rin iyun sa mga realizations ko when it comes to taking care of your child, you're not alone. You have your husband, you have your parents-in-law, you have your sisters, you have your friends. And I think it's also important that you have a community na mas nagiging magaan iyung loob mo. "Oh, I know what you're feeling!" 'Di ba? Iyung mga ganon. Kailangan talaga ng support.

SP: As you prepare to meet your baby, what kind of mother do you hope to be?

GDC: Nung time na tina-try kong mag-conceive, I was telling my friends na gusto kong maging cool na mom. Gusto ko na maging tropa niya ako or mag-bond kami. Iyung mga hilig niya, maging hilig ko rin, or suportahan ko siya sa mga gusto niya in life, like kung anong sports iyung gusto niya.

Gusto kong makilala niya ako bilang nanay na pwede niyang pag-confide-an.

Of course, hindi ko makokontrol kung gusto niyang mag-keep ng secrets sa akin. Pero I would appreciate it if hindi siya matakot sabihin sa akin iyung mga topics na normally ayaw mong sabihin sa nanay mo or sa parents mo kasi baka hindi ka maintindihan.

Tapos, actually iniisip ko ito before eh, iyung mga parang magpapakita ako ng clips ng mga ginawa ko, like mga performances ko in the past or mga roles ko, like Pirena. Na parang ,"Oh, nanay ko yan. Oh my gosh!"

Like Glaiza De Castro, first-time mom Maiqui Pineda is also learning the importance of being kinder to herself as she navigates motherhood.