Melissa Ricks now a busy mommy

“It was tough in the beginning. I needed a lot of support. I cried a lot,” said actress Melissa Ricks, who admitted having suffered post-partum depression shortly after she gave birth to daughter Keira.

The former “Star Circle Quest” alumna gave birth via normal delivery on Jan. 12 to Keira Kelly, her first child with boyfriend Charles Togezaki. Keira is now 7 months old.

“I take my hat off to every mom out there, especially those who single-handedly took care of their newborns and didn’t have any help to assist them,” said the 25-year-old actress. “I was the youngest in the family and was used to depending on my family. Now, I’m taking care of somebody else. The support from family and friends meant a lot.”

Melissa said Keira’s first month was the most challenging. “She cried nonstop. I didn’t have milk for the first couple of days so she would really throw a fit. I also didn’t know how to bathe her. It was good that my mom arrived (from the United States) shortly after.”

SHE IGNORES haters who mock her weight gain, the actress says.

The new mom said she also got a lot of support from fellow celebrity moms. “Sharmaine Arnaiz gave sound advice. Ara Mina gave birth only a few months ahead of me, but she really helped me a lot,” said Melissa, adding that they would sometimes go out on play dates or schedule counseling sessions.

“This is what I want moms my age, or younger, to see on my YouTube channel,” said Melissa of her channel dedicated to parenting. Her first video documented her experience with Keira when the baby joined a pictorial contest. Melissa is one of the 90 creators included in “Chicken Pork Adobo,” ABS-CBN’s multichannel network.

“I want to teach them how to handle their baby. I remember feeling so terrified in the beginning and so I asked other moms how it was like to give birth to a child. They were great at helping me calm down,” she said.

Melissa and Charles are still adjusting to their life as parents to Keira. “It used to be that everything was about me. Now, everything I do revolves around my baby…I’ve become more responsible, a more patient person,” she said.

Melissa said Charles approved of her returning to work. “He’s not the jealous type—that’s a good thing. We haven’t discussed kissing scenes yet, but I don’t think that will be a problem for him. He knows it’s part of my job as an actress.”

Melissa was last seen in an episode of the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” titled “Pagkain” opposite her former onscreen partner, Matt Evans. “I don’t say yes to all offers for guest appearances because Keira doesn’t have a nanny. It’s hard to leave her with just anyone,” she explained.

Better than before

“I want to be better than before. A lot has changed in me, including my appearance. I want to get rid of the extra weight that I gained during pregnancy—maybe in a year. “

She said she used to feel hurt whenever online bashers posted comments about her weight, but not anymore. “It has been a struggle for me for the past four to five years. I gained 40 to 50 lbs when I was pregnant. I’ve been blessed with such a beautiful baby. Why would bashers affect me now?”

Six months after giving birth, Melissa said she has started dieting. ”I’ve lost a couple of pounds. I’m determined to continue to do that. After a month, I will start exercising. When I return to show biz, I want people to be able to notice the difference. This is also what people will see on my channel.”

“Chicken Pork Adobo” has channels on YouTube that tackle a variety of topics: toys, fashion, comedy, music, lifestyle, vlogs, entertainment, arts and crafts, food, parenting, and inspirational stuff. It is the platform where creators who may not have a chance to go on TV are empowered, according to Donald Lim, head of ABS-CBN Digital Media Division.

Lim added that “Chicken Pork Adobo” was meant to help online content creators make a mark in the digital space and help them become superstars “in whatever way or form.”

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