Iza Calzado is keeping it cool in her new mommy era

Fresh from giving birth just three months ago, new mom and one of the country’s most prominent actresses, Iza Calzado, emerged from her maternity “lockdown” and met up with the press — mostly mothers like me — for her first-ever endorsement as a mom, that is the app for parents called Edamama.

The Mama Mary-esque beauty, who was in a white dress, laughed so hard when we threw her a very Filipino opening line, “Parang hindi ka naman nanganak!” Iza said she doesn’t honestly know what to make out of it because “in my head, I’m like, what’s that supposed to mean? I’ll just take it as a compliment… I’ve been getting the compliment, but I try not to get attached (to it).”

Iza added that motherhood has made her more fully present in the moment, but during her event she could not help but think of her daughter. “In my head, kamusta si Deia? Gising na kaya siya?”

The actress with this columnist after the interview.

She gave birth last January to a beautiful baby girl named Deia Amihan, which she just shared with us three months after. As for her reason, she said, “There is a cocoon stage of the first three months, and it’s for the baby and mother. The first three months, it’s crucial also for the mother to regain strength and not just physical strength, but also emotional and mental strength. And for the baby, it’s quite fragile for the first three months and to be honest, I would’ve kept her a little longer to myself but it was weird to go back to social media and not share her.”

Iza also said that she was being cautious for her family amid the free speech on social media and decided on not sharing her daughter while she was still a newborn and fragile. “She was born 5.5 lbs, so hindi ko rin siya nilalabas.”

The actress also prioritized the celebration of welcoming a child when she announced that she had a baby rather than focusing on showing who her daughter looks like and what not.

Though the challenges as a new mom such as difficulties of breastfeeding and sleepless nights, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with being a new parent are so blatant for Iza as with any mom, she seems to be fluid with how she handles these things. Iza credited the challenges she had in her past for preparing her for the daily grind as a mom.

“I am a woman who has been through a lot and wisdom is gained through experience, my mistakes and all the other things,” said the actress, who also shared her lessons learned that show the selflessness that has developed in her.

“First wisdom about motherhood is, it’s not about me, it’s the baby and what is best for the baby. How I wanted to give birth to her didn’t work out that way, but that was what’s the best for her,” she said.

“Nice and slow” is how Iza wants to nurture her baby and even though maternity leave in the usual calendar ends at three months, it is very different for the actress.

“Before I gave birth, I said after three months, babalik ako agad sa pag-arte,” she shared.  “Nanganak ako tumawa na lang ako. Joke’s on me. Girl, you did not know! Tinatanong ako ni Noel (Ferrer, my manager) and sabi ko, ‘Kapatid, relax. Seven months? A year? I don’t know. Nanamnamin ko muna.’”

Iza’s candidness and honesty about her experiences have resonated with fans and have helped break down the unrealistic expectations that society often places on new moms, most especially those in showbiz.

Keeping it real is what Iza does best. Taking on the role day by day and not forgetting to love herself ground her and allow her to perform her best as a new mom.