After years and years of waiting, former It's Showtime host Eric "Eruption" Tai and wife Rona Samson are expecting their first child.
On Monday, August 13, Rona shared the good news on her Instagram account and gave their followers an update on her in vitro fertilisation (IVF) journey.
For his part, Eric uploaded a photo of their home pregnancy test showing a positive result.
His caption read, "Ladies & Gentlemen.. 'I’m finally PREGNANT!' Thank you for your love and support! We GOT THIS!
"@rownita #RoadToBabyTAI #Thankful #TeamEricRona #Ivf"
In a previous interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Eric and Rona said it became their main motivation when they joined Amazing Race Asia Season 5 in 2016.
The grand prize was US$100,000 cash, which was won by beauty queens Maggie Wilson and Parul Shah.
Eric and Rona, who finished third place, needed the money for the IVF.
The mom-to-be then told PEP.ph, "Basically, because Eric and I cannot start a family naturally anymore.
"In 2015, we had a miscarriage, and the doctor said for us to bear a child, we have to do it through IVF, and so it is pretty expensive to get it.
"And so we used that as a motivation."
READ: What motivated Eric Tai and wife Rona to join The Amazing Race Asia Season 5?
Rona's two fallopian tubes, where eggs travel from the ovary to uterus, were removed due to complications.
"My left fallopian tube and left ovary [were] removed due to a cyst that made the fallopian tube and left ovary in a bad shape so they removed it (2012 in the US).
"Then back in Feb 2015 I had an ectopic pregnancy. The baby was stuck in the right fallopian tube that caused the rupture so it had to be removed as well.
"So we can no longer conceive naturally 'cause the fallopian tube is where the sperm and egg meets."
Through Instagram Direct Messaging, Rona confirmed that she's now six weeks pregnant, thanks to the help of Dr. Rudie Frederick Mendiola of Kato Repro Biotech Center in Makati City.
The nerve-wracking process, which officially started last June 8, required them to save at least PHP300,000.
Rona had to undergo a series of tests (ultrasounds, blood work, and injections), and take several medications.
Finally, two healthy egg cells were retrieved from her.
On her Instagram stories, Rona revealed that the embryo transfer happened on July 23.
She told PEP.ph, "We actually saw the heartbeat today but the doctor wants to see it in a week since we're still in the early stage."
Rona and Eric received the confirmation of implantation from their doctor last July 30, but they already had a hint about its success.
Rona recalled, "They already took my blood to test for it but during the wait for the results, I couldn’t handle it.
"I decided to buy a home pregnancy test despite the fact that it might be too early to trace.
"I wanted to also prepare myself just in case the result doesn’t go in our favor.
"Then the Home pregnancy test showed a faint positive.
"I showed Eric and we were just grinning!!!
"So when we entered the doc’s office we sorta knew but we needed a strong confirmation.
"And we got the positive news! The Beta HCG they wanted to see is at least 25... I was at 75!
"So we were told to come back after 4 days to see if the HCG doubled in numbers.
"We have not posted it yet but it did!"
The former Amazing Race Asia contestant continued, "They took my blood again then we were called to get an Ultrasound.
"We were somehow worried as were not scheduled for that until 6 weeks of pregnancy. We were at 4 weeks 5 days.
"The doctor tried to see the sac, but it was too early. Dr. Mendiola said the reason he requested for an Ultrasound right away is because my Beta HCG reached 1,111 within 4 days."
According to obfocus.com, Beta HCG also known as "the pregnancy hormone" is "produced by the cells of the implanting embryo."
To make sure her pregnancy would be successful, Rona's doctor asked her to stop intense exercises and stay away from anything stressful.
She also had to maintain her progesterone levels through medication.
In the coming weeks, Rona will regularly visit her doctor for check-ups.