This Is Ria Atayde's Tip To Pregnant Moms: 'Keep An Open Mind'

Ria Atayde and her husband Zanjoe Marudo are expecting their first child in September! In an exclusive interview with Smart Parenting, the 32-year-old actress shared her pregnancy journey and revealed her essential items for expecting moms.

As a first-time mom, Ria described her experience as a unique journey. "I feel like every pregnancy is different. I feel like kasi it's helped a lot na I've been telling myself na, you know, everything I'm going through is physiological, it's scientific. But at the same time, it's nice to know that there's a baby growing inside of me," she told Smart Parenting at the launch of Mamas & Papas in Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Estates, Quezon City.

^{Ria Atayde at the Mamas & Papas opening at Opus Mall, QC}

Ria Atayde on her pregnancy journey

Ria was surprised by the challenges of pregnancy, saying, "I'm surrounded by a lot of my friends who are already moms as well. And more often than not kasi, di ba, parang they always focus on the exciting parts of pregnancy."

She added, "Sometimes, they forget to share how painful, how tough, how mentally challenging it all is. So, I think, these are the things that you read about but when you go through them, it's like, 'Ah, so this is what they meant.
I get it. I get it now.'"

"I think that's really what you need when you're pregnant. You have to keep an open mind. Everything is beyond your control." —Ria Atayde

At the start of her pregnancy, Ria experienced common symptoms like morning sickness and weird cravings for sweet spaghetti. "It just makes more sense to you. And you know how they say, you won't really know how something feels unless you go through it. Exactly. That's super perfect for pregnancy," she explained.

Ria Atayde's support system during her pregnancy

Ria is due to give birth next month to her first child and the first grandchild of veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez and businessman Art Atayde. 

"I feel like this is the most, like the most supportive I've felt from her also. Because this is her first grandchild. So, medyo wild. Like she comes home from all her trips with a balikbayan box full of items for the baby, ganun. Ganung level," Ria said. Her mom has advised her to rest and checks up on her regularly.

Ria expressed how she's excited about parenthood, especially meeting her son. "I think just the idea that I'm gonna have a child. Like, that's a complete life change. Tama talaga yung no one's ever ready for it. Like you don't know when you're ready. But, I feel like I had nine months to prepare na rin naman."

Her husband Zanjoe is also thrilled about becoming a dad. "Oh, he's just been very supportive. Everything you could ask for," Ria said about the actor. The couple got married in March this year, and announced their pregnancy in June.

Ria Atayde shares top three pregnancy essentials

Speaking with Smart Parenting at the opening of the largest Mamas & Papas store in the Philippines on August 27, Ria shared the top three items that helped her in her pregnancy journey.

1. A pregnancy pillow

"I kept telling myself, hindi ko kailangan ng pillow. I don't sleep with, kasi in general, prior to pregnancy, I don't sleep naman talaga with a pillow. Except in between my legs, because of my back problem. Oh my gosh, totoo pala ang chismis you do need a pregnancy pillow," she said.

Check out this maternity pillow from Mandaue Foam on Lazada here.

2. Stretch marks oils and creams

Ria said she uses creams and oils to help with stretch marks, specifically Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks and Bio Oil.

Buy these products on Lazada here and here.

3. A huge water jug.

Hydration is very important for pregnant women, especially during the third trimester. For Ria, a huge water jug is one of her pregnancy essentials because she ensures she drinks three to four liters of water a day.

Check out our tumbler recommendations here.

Aside from these pregnancy essentials, Ria also shared how working out has been helping her out. She has been doing pre-natal Pilates, and she swears it has helped her alleviate her pains and aches and stay active despite being on her third trimester. 

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A post shared by Ria Atayde Marudo (@ria)

Ria Atayde's advice to expecting moms

If there's one thing that Ria wants to tell her fellow pregnant moms, it's to keep an open mind.

"If you're just starting out, like, just be open to every possibility. Keep an open mind. I think that's really what you need when you're pregnant. You have to keep an open mind. Everything is beyond your control. It's not like you can control your body," she explained

Ria continued, "Like, for instance, sasabihin sa'yo, normal [delivery] ka. And then, a week later, sasabihin ka, CS [C-section] ka. O, go! I feel like, it's all physiological. It's not something you can really take control of. Just keep an open mind so you don't get disappointed."

Excited for you, Ria and Zanjoe! Join us at the Smart Parenting Village, a Facebook community of over 106,000 Filipino parents, and let's navigate this parenting journey together!

Mamas & Papas, a renowned brand from United Kingdom, offers functional and stylish premium products for new parents. Their services include gift registry, online delivery service, and gift wrapping services. Their largest store is located at the 3F, Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Estates, Quezon City. Follow them on Instagram here.