Former actress Rica Peralejo's son suffered from ankyloglossia or most commonly known as lip and tongue tie.
It was only last June when actress Rica Peralejo gave birth to her second son Manu through unmedicated labor at their home. While she got her OB-GYN's seal of approval, little did she know that her baby would encounter complications along the way.
READ: Rica Peralejo gives birth to her baby at home, unmedicated
In an Instagram post last June 6, Peralejo revealed that her newborn son had to undergo surgery after getting diagnosed with lip and tongue tie or ankyloglossia.
"Here we go with the normal newborn schedule, with added challenges for us because we had lip and tongue tie revision that brought us back to square one of our nursing journey, and lots of reassuring actions and therapy, communicating that we love him and that we are sorry he had to get the surgery," she wrote.
Peralejo admitted it wasn't easy for her, but seeing her child's smile makes the pain and stress go away.
"Not easy tho. Especially when Mama is sleepless in Taguig. But we try and we try, bleary-eyed, we try. And then one day I notice him trust me and smile at me and find refuge in me all over again and that’s a win! That’s enough to propel me forward. That’s my dose of oxytocin, to combat the cortisol of rejection and overall stress," she added.
According to health website Mayo Clinic, Tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue's range of motion.
In a lengthy post last June, Peralejo defended her decision to give birth at home - especially with a lot of people getting worried about her for its possible risks and side effects.
“Kasi kung akala ng madami na sa home lang may risks, hindi po, sa ospital meron din. All we need to do is check the stats to see deaths and complications that also arise in the hospital, and not only the ones at home. Katulad na lang ng repeat CS, highly medicated birthds where mother is under powerful drugs to help the birth. May mga pinipirmahan tayong waiver nun for risks and side effects ‘di ba? So lahat MAY RISK. Hindi pwedeng wala. Ospital man o bahay,” she stated.
With more mothers wanting to give birth at home, she also gave them a piece of advice should they decide to go with the same process.
“Also, do not go without getting the best healthcare providers. Hindi pwede mag-isa lang gawin ang ganitong mga bagay, lalo na sa dami ng information out there. Make sure someone guides you through it all and for me, that was my ob gyn, doula, and midwife. All reputable and can be trusted. I listened to all of what they have to say and made my own mind about the matter. It wasn't done in haste and ignorance," she added.
READ: Rica Peralejo defends decision to give birth at home
Rica Peralejo welcomed her first son with husband Joseph Bonifacio named Philip Nathaniel back in 2014.