Meryll Recalls The First Time Joem Saw Their Baby: ‘Tagal Ng Moment Nakatingin Lang Siya’

When Meryll Soriano got pregnant with her and her partner Joem Bascon's son Gido in early 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she knew she had to take extra care "because of my age." She was then 37, and 14 years had passed since her first child Eli was born.

True enough, the actress-vlogger developed what she thinks as an age-related pregnancy complication: gestational diabetes. To address the problem, she took the necessary steps, such as working out, cutting down on sugar, and eventually taking meds. These measures apparently paved the way for her safe childbirth.

"I'm so, so happy na walang complications," Meryll tells SmartParenting.com.ph in an exclusive online interview. "At 7 lbs 'yung anak ko, normal delivery. So, I am just so happy." What's more, her sugar level has somehow normalized.

"So hindi naman ako nahirapan," she adds, before breaking into laughter. "Nahirapan ako sa papunta sa ospital kasi hindi ko alam. Ang taas ng tolerance ko sa pain, hindi ko alam na nagle-labor na ako."

The now mom of two then takes us back to the time she's going to give birth: "No'ng araw na 'yun, may nagki-cleaning pa dito [sa bahay], general cleaning at meron pa akong pa-facial.

"Meron akong appointment sa derma kasi sabi ko kailangan maganda ako pagkapanganak ko. Makapagpa-facial man, hello? Ilang months tayong pandemic, di ba, 'yung lockdown. Hindi ako nakapag-facial, e buntis ako. Sabi ko, 'At least man lang makapagpa-facial ulit ako.'"

Meryll says she really had no idea she's about to pop. In fact, the facial appointment with her dermatologist was meant for next day's maternity shoot, which was, of course, cancelled. She and Joem were also supposed to take together the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as part of the health and safety protocols in the hospital.

"Hindi ko alam nagle-labor na ako," she laughs. So she got her cousin to drive her and Joem from their place in Quezon City to her hospital of choice in Makati City. "So, para siyang pelikula na ang traffic sa EDSA."

She adds, "S'yempre tinatago ko pa 'yung sakit kasi ayoko silang ma-bother at lalo silang mag-panic. But, sobrang sakit. Wala na, e. Hindi ko alam na 'yung akala ko ihi ako nang ihi during the, parang morning, ihi ako nang ihi, 'yun na pala 'yun.

"Wala na akong tubig kaya sobrang sakit na ng contraction ko. As in, 7 minutes na lang 'yung difference no'ng nanganak. Yes, dry labor na 'ko. So masakit. Mataas ang tolerance ko sa pain so kung masakit, masakit talaga. Diyos ko, day! Hoo! Nakakaloka!"

Meryll recalls what happened next in the hospital: "Sabi nga ng doctor ko, pag punta ko, 'Ay Diyos ko! E, 5 cm ka na. Malapit ka nang manganak.' Sabi ko, 'Epidural na, please.' E di kailangan mo pang magpaano, PCR.' So isolated ako dahil wala akong PCR. E di si Joem hindi ko kasama sa delivery room."

But Meryll says she didn't really feel alone in her journey because, thanks to technology, her family got to watch, via video call, the whole experience.

"Diyos ko, sabi ko, 'Ang ingay!' she squeals in delight. "So ayun, lahat sila nandoon. Nauna pa ngang maiyak 'yung pinsan ko, e. Pero naiyak talaga si Joem no'ng nakita na niya 'yung baby.

"Pero no'ng nakita niya in person, I think, ang tagal no'ng moment niya do'n na nakatingin lang siya, and siyempre, naiyak ako. It was very different. Talagang iba 'yung joy. Iba 'yung pagiging love niya."