Cindy Obeñita and Henri Lopez Prepare for the Arrival of Their Son
Miss Intercontinental 2021 Cindy Obeñita and fiance Henri Lopez talk to Modern Parenting ahead of the arrival of their son this month.
Longtime couple Cinderella “Cindy” Obeñita and Henri Lopez announced that they were engaged early this year. But if that was not enough, the beauty queen and her fiance also dropped another surprise. They were expecting their first child together, making their families giddy with excitement.
As they wait for the arrival of their baby, Modern Parenting was able to interview Cindy and Henri online on preparing to become parents this month.
The pregnancy came at the right time
Cindy and Henri have long discussed their future, and the baby has been in the talks for a long time. So when they found out about the pregnancy, they were both excited. “[It’s] like we’d won the lottery,” Cindy recalled. “We wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Being together for more than half a decade, we had some initial talks already about getting pregnant. But Henri was so respectful of my dream to become an international titleholder and fulfill my duties as Miss Intercontinental. And so a year after I crowned my successor, the parenthood dream was finally coming true.”
She adds: “It was literally one of the greatest moments of our lives but we were also filled with trepidation. After all, a lot can go wrong; especially in the first trimester. Waiting for my first ultrasound seemed never ending. But when I was assured that I was carrying a healthy baby, we were both on cloud nine.”
Henri for his part already knew what to expect as Cindy navigated the pregnancy journey ahead of them. “I was with her the entire time she competed in national and international pageants. So I am already aware of the possible outcomes when she is under stress or experiencing breakdowns,” he shared.
“Also, I do not mind if her body changes while she is expecting. I don’t care if she’s fat or fit because I love her not for how she looks, but for who she is.”
He adds: “Her remarkable change serves as a constant reminder of the marvel she is nursing inside. I have always made it clear to her that I am willing to be by her side through every step of this great journey. And I am eager to do so.”
Photo by Raymund Saldana
Embracing the body changes
In the past months, Cindy has grown accustomed to the changes in her body. In the beginning, it was just natural for her. Until she started vomiting.
“I could barely notice anything different, it just felt like a ‘fat’ day. By the 8th week, I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum. It was so bad that I was vomiting every time I put something in my mouth. At about four months, the nausea and extreme vomiting eased off and I started eating like a regular person,” she narrated.
“During the first trimester, I really had so many changes going on with my body, and was just so grateful that my wonderful and supportive partner was literally with me providing emotional support during this significant time. I’m also very thankful to my mom for all the tips and for always checking up on me ensuring a smooth pregnancy journey.”
On top of the changes, Cindy admitted she and Henri had to comb through the many suggestions as first-time parents from people.
“It felt very overwhelming and my mind was racing with so many questions,” Cindy said. “One of our ways to manage it was really to take things one step at a time. Of course, we have so much trust in our healthcare professionals so we always consult them for personalized advice.”
They have also been reading books and websites as well as joining different seminars to gain insights. Moreover, they look into videos available online.
“Funny also how Henri and I keep on sending videos and reels to one another about pregnancy hacks that we can apply soon.”
Photo by Raymund Saldana
Coming soon: Baby Boy Lopez
Anytime this month, Cindy and Henri are set to meet their son. And like any parent, they’re ready for the adventure of nighttime.
“We know every parent would agree with us that the answer would have to be – sleepless nights. Parenthood can be truly emotionally and physically overwhelming especially if you have a newborn. But you just have to look at the bright side of it,” Cindy said. “There may be a lot of sleep disruptions, crying, and diaper changes. But we really look forward to the joy and fulfillment that come with raising a child. Henri is an only child and I only have one sister, so we have a small family, [and] bringing our little boy into this world is truly magical and a one-of-a-kind adventure.”
And although the baby has yet to arrive, Cindy and Henri already know the values they want to instill in their son. “We want him to learn the importance of kindness, generosity, and empathy so that he will be able to care for and understand others. In addition, we want to help him develop resilience by training him to resolutely overcome obstacles and failures. We hope to foster a passion for learning in him through fostering his insatiable curiosity and a lifetime interest in learning.”
For the couple, the journey to parenthood has been a ride. And as they await their bundle of joy, all they want is just to hold him.
“Every step we’ve taken has led us to this moment, and soon we will be holding our little one in our arms,” Cindy Obeñita smiled.
Check out more stories of beauty queens like Cindy Obeñita:
Miss Asia Pacific 2018 Sharifa Akeel Reveals Her Baby Girl
