It has been six months since Rochelle Pangilinan and husband Arthur Solinap became hands-on parents to their baby girl, Shiloh Jayne.
Rochelle has her baby in her arms when PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) talks to her at the office of PPL Entertainment Inc.
She tells us, "Grabe, sobrang ang saya-saya na sana, noon pa kami nagka-baby."
We remind her that when she wasn't pregnant yet, she was very scared of the idea of giving birth.
“Oo, ang daming tanong sa isip, ang daming what ifs, sinisi ko nga si Art. Sabi ko, ang tagal mo kasing mag-propose!” she says with a laugh.
Now that she is a mother, she is experiencing a different kind of fulfillment.
She says, “Mahal na namin ni Art ang isa’t-isa, pero ngayong dumating si Shiloh, ay grabe, iba na yung bonding namin ni Art.
“Nag-elevate kami sa pag-uusap gabi-gabi. Kapag nagdi-date kami, iba na yung mga requirements. Kailangan, puwede yung bata. Iba na yung, siyempre, priority namin ni Art ang isa’t-isa. Siyempre, una yun, pangalawa lang ‘to [baby]. Pero minsan, nauuna talaga kasi baby pa.”
Rochelle is also thankful that it's fairly easy to take care of her daughter.
“Easy baby siya,” she says proudly.
“Kasi, kapag may nakakausap akong mga mommy, 'Buti pa si Shiloh...' At saka, kapag nagsi-share ako ng mga stories, isa sa mga naranasan ko sa first month, second month, sinasabi nila na easy baby.”
Now that Shiloh is six months old, she is able to sleep six to seven hours a night.
“Of course, hindi ko naa-achieve ang eight hours, pero hindi na masama,” Rochelle says.
rochelle pangilinan's breastfeeding journey
Shiloh is a fully breastfed baby.
Rochelle says it's very fulfilling to know that her daughter's milk comes directly from her breasts.
“Feeling ko, inang-ina ko na nabibigay ko ang pangangailangan ng anak ko na kumpleto, as of now. Sinabi ko nga minsan sa social media post ko na sana, napu-fulfill ng breastmilk ang mga sakit na napagdadaanan ng mga bata.”
Up to now, her daughter doesn't take any kind of vitamins.
“Kapag may nakakausap nga akong mommy, sinasabi ko na tiisin yung pain. Kasi, yung first week, second week, napakasakit ng pagdede ng mga bata.”
She is very grateful to Jolina Magdangal, who encouraged her not to give up on breastfeeding.
“Special mention ko lagi si Jolens,” Rochelle says.
“Si Jolina lang ang nakapag—well, dapat kasi titigil na ko dahil ang sakit talaga. Parang bini-blade yung nipples ko.
“Noong araw na titigil na ako, sakto talaga, tinawagan ako ni Jolens na wag daw akong susuko. Naiyak na lang ako no’ng time na yun.
“Pero buti na lang,” she says with a smile.
“Ngayon, okay na. Okay na okay na ko at nagpapasalamat talaga ko na hindi ako tumigil na mag-breastfeeding. Ang laki ng naitutulong sa bata—bukod pa sa napakalinaw ng mata niya, parang feeling ko, ang tali-talino niya.
“'Tapos, less puyat, less hugas ng mga bote. 'Tapos, healthy pa sa mommy. Ang daming benefits ng breast milk.”
For as long as her breasts produce milk, she plans to continue fully breastfeeding her daughter.