We have recorded all-time high new and active COVID-19 cases in the country in recent weeks. So us mamas can’t help but get worried especially for our little ones. Most of us would want to receive some nuggets of wisdom from fellow mamas who are able to share with us their first-hand experience when COVID-19 hit their home.
Ahead, we list down some useful tips from celebrity moms who had battled the virus. We hope their advice and reflections help and console you as you fight COVID-19 right now with your loved ones, mama!
1. Have some sort of routine.
Bianca Gonzalez, TV host and mom of two girls, shared this tip in a post after she “graduated” from isolating after the virus hit their home. She explained, “...from being used to thinking about a hundred things at once, biglang I just had to think about myself. Di naman kailangan todo schedule, but some sort of routine or flow to your day that will help you feel like you have control of something, in the middle of everything beyond our control, helps.”
2. Make sure to follow the quarantine guidelines.
Cooking mama Danica Sotto-Pingris and her two kids caught the virus, after she thought what she was feeling was only the side effects of her booster shot. She reflected on a post how it is a must to ensure you are adhering to quarantine guidelines because “even if you feel ok na, tapusin ang quarantine. Some symptoms show up after 2 to 3 days pa.”
3. Hydration is very important: don't forget to drink water!
Award-winning broadcast journalist and mom of two Karen Davila continued working from home even while on quarantine. She shared that their family started feeling better on Day 4, and reminded her followers to hydrate with water. "Don’t forget to drink 2-3 liters of water everyday, gargle often with warm water & salt, drink your vitamin C, zinc + vit D," she wrote.
4. Get vaccinated!
Actress and mom of two Chynna Ortaleza-Cipriano shared that even though they have been on guard against the virus, they still caught COVID-19. She’s thankful they were already vaccinated and attest that vaccines are effective in our fight against COVID-19. She quipped, “I can truly attest to the efficacy of vaccines.”
5. It's okay to feel sad and disappointed, but "you have to get over it as soon as you can and get in that speed car towards recovery for your family.”
TV host Iya Villania-Arellano, mom of three and also currently expecting another baby, shared how tough it was not to be able to hug and kiss their kids because she and husband Drew isolated from them after testing positive for the virus. “So mamas in this same situation, you are not alone! My tip? Try not to cry!!!! coz the tears will only cause nasal congestion and lengthen recovery!”
6. “Make sure you have everything ready for the night… Get ready for battle.”
After a few days, all their three children and helpers also caught the virus. So Iya had this advice to fellow parents taking care of their sick kids while they are also recovering: “Make sure you have everything ready for the night. Meds, medicine cups or syringes, extra clothes (in case of vomit), nebuliser, necessary nebules, wet/cold towel, thermometer, oximeter, water and a lamp! You might not need it but you’re better to be prepared than trying to find all of that in the middle of the night. Especially if you’re isolated and have limited access to things around the house. Get ready for battle.”
7. Don't forget to take care of your mental health, too.
TV and podcast host Joyce Pring-Triviño, who just gave birth to a baby boy in 2021, is thankful for their restored health after their bout with COVID-19. Reflecting on their experience, she emphasized that COVID-19 can also take a toll on one’s mental health. “...the battle with the ‘vid is a mental one almost as much as it is physical. But what I kept holding onto in the daze of the disease was this: it’s never about peace despite circumstances, but peace with God. I think the hardest thing about sickness is it forces us to come face to face with our own fragile existence — and even worse, the fragile existence of those we love.”
8. Keep in touch with friends who are on the same boat as you.
Bianca also advised those who are in isolation to keep the communication lines open to friends, especially those in the same situation as you are. “Keep in touch with batchmates. It was oddly comforting to be messaging with friends who were also isolating. Makes you feel like you are in it together,” she wrote.
9. “Please wear your mask, be kind, drink your vitamins, eat healthy & love yourself.”
Actress Sofia Andres, who has a daughter who just turned two in November, shared that she finally tested negative for the virus after 10 days in quarantine. She reminded everyone to observe safety and health protocols such as wearing masks and boosting your immune system, and to be kind to others and to oneself.
