'Shared Blessing': SILs Iza Calzado, Bianca King Are On The Same Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy can be contagious, they say, that's why there are best friends, family members, and in-laws conceive around the same time.

In the case of sisters-in-law Iza Calzado, 40, and Bianca King, 36, they got pregnant around the same time but Iza didn't plan it while Bianca did.

The actresses also live in different countries. Iza and her husband Ben Wintle are based in the Philippines (and vacationing in Europe as of this writing). Bianca and her husband Ralph Wintle reside in Australia.

Just the same, Iza and Bianca are ecstatic to be both in the family way. They supported each other when they made their respective pregnancy announcement by leaving an encouraging comment for each other.

Iza also made an Instagram post showing a photo of Bianca and Ralph, whom she identified as "Mum and Dad Wintle."

She wrote in this caption: "So thrilled to be on the same journey as my sister in law, Bianca, and that Ben and Ralph get to share this experience too. Though we are miles apart, we are connected by this shared blessing."

She added, "Truly, so much to celebrate for the Wintle Family! We are all so grateful!"

First trimester journey

Both Iza and Bianca have passed with flying colors the critical first trimester in pregnancy. Iza experienced nausea early on, "but no vomiting." Bianca, on the other hand, "felt all the classic symptoms."

Bianca elaborated on her first trimester journey, which she calls a "joyous time filled with gratitude and… hunger!"

She recalled in the lengthy caption of her Instagram reels: "Hungry all the time, heartburn, frequent bathroom trips, nausea all day, sore boobies. I cried over anything. I was brattier & needier than usual.

"Felt like an underachieving, tired, lazy, emotional, hot mess. Getting up to feed myself was an achievement. But all pregnancies are different! Some feel nothing, some have hyperemesis."

She went on with her musings: "Kept thinking of all the women who have to go to work feeling like poop. Warriors! Maybe in the future there will be a paid first trimester leave?? Similar to maternity leave. I hope so!"

She added, "Then there’s the fear of miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities and what could go wrong. Getting sucked into the blackhole of research. Also slowly discovering what I shouldn’t be eating and drinking and getting frustrated by it. No tiramisu!!! But at some point I chose to stop worrying."

Bianca happily reported that by the 11th week to 13th week after she took the noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and early morphology scan," her ob-gyn assured her and Ralph that their baby is healthy.

She pointed out, "The 1st trimester is a crucial stage in every pregnancy. It could be very isolating if you’re not ready to tell anyone. I was open with as many people as I could be. I needed the support.

"Just in case something happened, I wouldn’t mind sharing the bad news too. I appreciated everyone who checked up on me and were interested in my experience. If you know someone who’s pregnant, call them."

Read also: Pregnancy Basics: Your Second Trimester (Week 13 to 27)