Laura Lehmann: The Countdown to Motherhood
Beauty queen and host Laura Lehmann and her husband, PBA player Von Pessumal, await the arrival of their baby
Miss World Philippines 2017 and host Laura Lehmann created a buzz among pageant fans in January when she and her husband, PBA player Von Pessumal, announced they were expecting their first child. Now in her third trimester, Laura is taking things slowly as she and Von prepare for the arrival of their baby.
In an exclusive interview with Modern Parenting, Laura and Von share how they’ve been preparing themselves for the new chapter of their lives and the lessons they learned as parents-to-be.
The Moment of Truth
“We were so thrilled! It’s something that we’ve been praying for for a very long time,” Laura Lehmann said of the pregnancy news. “When we found out, we were 3.5 years into marriage and just finished a big year traveling through Europe and Asia – so we felt like it was the perfect time to start a family. It’s true what everyone says – there’s a reason and perfect timing for everything, and most times you will only realize that in hindsight.”
The news was not only joyful for the couple. Von’s reaction was priceless which was caught on the video Laura shared during his birthday. Her good friends, Sophia Senoron, Thia Thomalla, and Winwyn Marquez, also celebrated upon hearing the news in a separate video.
Despite the bodily changes pregnancy has brought about, Laura is relieved she’s done well during the first and second trimester. Though there was some morning sickness and vomitting, it only happened and lasted up to the first trimester. Other than that, the rest have been just “small” things to deal with.
“I think I just feel so happy and blessed that the changes in my body don’t affect me at all! I understand that it comes with the territory, and so all the joint pains and headaches are just small and very worthwhile sacrifices for me.”
But what about the terrible mood swings? Laura jokes that she’s not sure if she’s had any. “As for the mood swings, well, I like to think I don’t have any! But maybe my husband can be the judge of that!”
The Hubby’s Support
These moments haven’t gone unnoticed by Von, who — of course — fully supports his wife. With pregnancy tiring Laura out, he’s taken over some of the tasks such as cooking. It’s a sight she adores and wholly appreciates him for it.
“I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but now, since I get tired more easily, my husband has been preparing some of my meals, and it’s so cute to watch! It makes me feel so loved,” Laura gushes.
Even with him being on call as one of Barangay Ginebra’s top basketball players for crucial games and practices, Von remains determined to take over some of the tasks and keep his schedule workable. It greatly helps that the PBA, shares Von, is “very family-friendly” so long as he communicates the changes.
“I am just ready to do whatever she wants and whatever she needs me to do, at any time or place!” Von shared. “My wife is quite literally the best, and until now, she is still shy to ask me to do things for her. She is just shy [in nature]. But I know how hard pregnancy is. I’ve been studying all the Reddit posts and daddy blogs I’ve come across!”
He elaborated, “Being a father will always come first. Obviously, there is a professional obligation to my team that I have to uphold, but most coaches, managers, and players are fathers of their own and would certainly understand if I have to divert my time and attention towards my family.”
Preparing for the Baby’s Arrival
Now that she is in her third trimester, Laura and Von’s time includes organizing their home to accommodate the baby and last-minute shopping. Friends and brands have also chipped in for their needs.
“We are having the house renovated to accommodate a nursery. My husband will lose his mancave for now,” she laughed. “But he was more than willing to give it up for the baby!”
Aside from the nursery, Laura and Von have also talked to friends about their experiences as first-time parents. “They are all telling me to prepare early because once the baby comes out — my hands will be so full!” Laura shared. “They say that with a newborn, I won’t have the energy to go out and buy things at the last minute, so it’s best to prepare the nursery and everything while it’s still early! I’ll thank my past self later on.”
Laura and Von are dedicated to instilling the values they’ve learned from their parents. But like any first-time parents, they also have worries and plans for raising their child.
“With Gen Beta [babies], I guess we worry a lot about things like screen time and overstimulation, so these are some things we have to consider as parents,” Laura said. “ For example, we will make extra effort for outdoor play and daily walks, as well as reading books that we can hold in our hands and not just read off a screen!”
Exciting Times Ahead
With their baby’s arrival (and the gender yet to be revealed) fast approaching, what have they learned about the journey?
“I learned that everyone’s journey is different. It’s so easy to compare ourselves with others, but we have to remember that each of us is unique and each of us has our own path,” Laura reflected. “A lot of people will try to give you advice when you’re pregnant, and while we welcome it all wholeheartedly, at the end of the day, you need to know what to filter in and what to filter out.”
Decision-making is also something that has given Laura a different perspective now that she’s going to be a mother.
“You are the mother of your baby, you have the right to decide, so go with your gut and always stay true to your values no matter how much judgment you get for that!”
And as for the upcoming adventure called parenthood, Laura and Von are in for the ride.
“We are so ready and so excited! We are so worried and so scared, too,” Laura said. “But the excitement and joy outweigh everything.”
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