Max Collins is now six months into her pregnancy.
The Kapuso actress, with husband Kapuso actor Pancho Magno, has started the countdown to the second week of July, when they finally welcome their baby boy.
Speaking to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) via a telephone interview, Max reveals she wanted their first child to be a boy, while Pancho had wished for a baby girl.
“Gusto niya girl, para raw Daddy’s girl. Pero ako, gusto ko talaga boy. At saka, feeling ko talaga, boy.”
She adds, “Iyong sister-in-law ko, napanaginipan daw niya ako na sinabihan ko siya na buntis ako, tapos ang anak ko, boy. Hindi pa ko buntis noon, hindi ko pa alam.
“'Tapos noong nag-vlog kami sa PPL nina Rochelle [Pangilinan] at Andrea [Torres], wala raw available na ibang color iyong onesie, blue lang. Basta, parang ang daming sign.”
PPL is the talent management company that handles her career. The color blue, in the meantime, is stereotypically associated with boys.
Pancho is now happy they are having a boy.
“Siyempre, happy siya. Excited siya na, at least, may kalaro siyang mag-basketball.”
MAX COLLINS: PREGNANCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Max and Pancho came home from a two-week vacation in Melbourne, Australia, just days before the Enhanced Community Quarantine was declared throughout the entire Luzon.
If they had not arrived home when they did, they would be experiencing a lockdown in Australia.
Max says, “In a way rin, nag-quarantine na kami dahil hindi rin kami lumabas sa Australia. Noong nandoon kami, parang nobody considered na lalabas na ganun.
“Pag-uwi namin, nag-start na iyong commotion, ganun din sa Australia.”
Their recent trip abroad got them concerned about contracting the COVID-19 virus.
The mestiza actress says, “Medyo napraning din kami nang konti, kasi nag-travel kami, 'tapos inubo nang konti. Pero nang maging okay na after a few days, hindi naman nagtagal so that’s when nalaman namin na wala kaming corona, naging okay na ulit.
“But then, ayaw na rin naming lumabas at nag-stay na lang kami sa bahay.”
With her due date just months away, Max admits she is nervous. Giving birth in the middle of a pandemic is always top of mind.
“Kinakabahan kami sa labor, sa hospital, kasi iyon ang fear namin na baka hindi safe sa hospital,” she admits.
Even if the ECQ is not extended beyond April 30, and she is not due until July, Max has decided to have a water birth at home.
“Kasi, imbes na isipin, at hindi kami sure, you know, we’ll just wait na lang for the virus to end. Obviously, hindi natin alam kung kailan mag-e-end, so iniisip namin na mas safe na lang sa house.”
The couple intends to put an inflatable pool at home for the water birth. They have also started an online course with a doula.
According to Wikipedia, a doula is a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional, but who supports another individual through a health-related experience—such as childbirth, miscarriage, induced abortion or stillbirth, Or even non-reproductive experiences such as dying.
Max and Pancho have also spoken to their OB-GYN about their plan to have water birth at home.
“Iyong OB-GYN ko, wala siya on the day of birth, pero nakakausap pa namin kasi siya rin ang magpa-facilitate ng lahat ng tests ko. So, she’s still my active OB-GYN pero, hindi siya ang magpapaaanak, unless magkaroon ng problema like Caesarean or something.”
While everyone is afraid of the COVID-19 virus, the fear is doubled for women like Max who find themselves pregnant during these times.
“Doble ang kaba, that’s why I really chose na sa house na lang. I’m not saying na hindi totally safe sa hospital. Siyempre naman, there are areas na safe.
“Pero, siyempre, ayoko na rin na magkaroon ng additional stress na iisipin ko pa na baka mahawa kami, or it’s not just comfortable.”
She adds, “And doble ang kaba kasi, at the end of the day, it’s not as before na ang dali lang puntahan ng hospital, wala kang iisipin.
“Everyone’s scared now, e, lalo na if you have a baby growing inside you. Kasi, you’re most susceptible to the virus itself.”
If Max has one prayer today, it is for the eradication of the COVID-19 virus.
“Sana matapos na ito at maging safe at healthy lahat. Ma-surpass natin ang pandemic na ito because, at the end of the day, as long as we have each other, eventually ay malalagpasan din natin ito.”