Bianca Umali-De Dios In Her Mom Era

Becoming a mother for the first time is truly a whirlwind of joy, fear, and wonder. It's a love so profound, it defies description, a love that blossoms with every coo, every smile, and every tiny milestone. As a mother, one learns the true meaning of sacrifice, of putting someone else's needs before one's own, and finding immeasurable joy in doing so.

The Mommy Weekly Magazine is honored to kickstart this new month of November with content creator/host, Bianca Umali - De Dios, sharing her stories of motherhood, as a first-time mom....

What was it like to see your baby for the first time?

"Oh it was just surreal. Even under the effects of my spinal anesthesia (I had an emergency c-section), my mind instantly became hyper aware the moment they placed my baby on me for skin to skin. I remember murmuring “Hi it’s me, your mommy” repeatedly, fighting the urge not to fall asleep/lose consciousness. Feeling the warmth of his skin and hearing his tiny little breaths for the first time — that was when I realized, motherhood really can’t be put into words. It was just a feeling; a strong, over the moon, happy feeling."

When it came to breast feeding, Bianca shared that her OB recommended for her to start taking Malunggay capsule weeks before her due...

"My OB had me on malunggay capsules weeks before I was due. However, my milk did not come until the 3rd day (since giving birth), when my baby was already able to latch onto me. He was admitted to the NICU the moment he was born after contracting pneumonia, so my breastfeeding journey was put on hold for a while.

I was advised to do lactation massages and pump to help my milk flow, and felt the biggest disappointment in myself when nothing came out, followed by immense worry. What if I can’t feed my baby? What if no milk ever comes out? Thankfully, the nurses at the hospital were so kind and reassuring. The moment my baby latched, milk started to flow out quite well. It was my first time breastfeeding, but somehow it felt like the most natural thing that my body has ever done." 

We also asked Bianca about the items that has been helpful for her as a first time momma.

1. Nursing pillow - provides lots of comfort and posture aid while breastfeeding, especially for long sessions! Now at 2 months my baby even uses this as a lounger/tummy time support!

2. Haakaa - trusted lots of moms for this reco; was able to jumpstart my humble milk stash by collecting my letdown.

3. Supermama Lab Air Plus Breast Pump - for on-the-go pumping! Incredibly portable, lightweight and easy to use. 

And when we asked Bianca about the one lesson she learned as a first time mom that she'd like to share to others...

"Treat what you read online as just a guide. While it’s helpful that us moms can seek information from the internet anytime, it can sometimes be overwhelming — especially when what we read doesn’t seem to work with our little one. 

I’ve learned to focus on building a relationship with my baby instead; which means, less screen time and paying more attention to the cues he gives me. I used to get so rattled whenever he cries, but I’ve learned that it’s just really his way of communicating with me. When I started to pay more attention, it became easier to decipher which cry is for which need — feeding time, nappy change, sleepy time, etc!"

THE MOMMY SLAMBOOK: 

BIANCA UMALI-DE DIOS

What food did you crave for the most during your pregnancy?

Lots of yellow fruits! Mangoes and bananas specifically!

Fave tv show to watch

Watched a lot of shounen anime while I was pregnant. Caught up with One Piece, finished Hunter x Hunter, My Hero Academia and Haikyuu!

What is your daily routine now that you’re a mom

I had to learn how to really slow down my routine, especially that I’m currently on maternity leave. My daily life now prioritizes my baby’s feeding schedule (latch on demand) and having lots of contact naps! It used to bother me that I’m not doing anything “productive”, but I just had to change my perception of the word. Nothing is more important now than making sure I’m raising August to be happy healthy!

Your fave drink at the moment

Iced dirty matcha 

Follow Bianca on Instagram~

To the world, you are a mother. To your family, you are the world.