Lovi Poe on Becoming a Mom: “Now I Know Exactly What Love Means”

The actress talks about raising daughter Sloane, navigating privacy, recovering after childbirth, and how motherhood has changed the way she sees life—and her own mom

Motherhood may be a new chapter for Lovi Poe, but it is one she is clearly embracing in her own way.

The actress recently dropped by Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, where she gave updates on her career, the projects keeping her busy, and life at home as a first-time mom.

Last year, Lovi welcomed her first child, a baby girl, with her husband, Monty Blencowe. Since then, she has also signed with Star Magic, worked on several projects, and continued running her own production company, Cestlovi Productions.

But amid all the work and new opportunities, motherhood has given the actress an entirely new perspective on life, love, and even the woman who raised her.

Introducing baby Sloane

During the interview, Boy Abunda asked Lovi how life has been since becoming a mother.

He also asked whether she and Monty had plans to publicly show their daughter’s face. For now, Lovi said they have chosen to keep that part of their lives private—a decision she and her husband continue to discuss.

“This is what works for us at the moment,” she said, adding that the realities of the internet and privacy have made it something they are carefully considering together.

Still, Lovi said she hopes that someday, they will be able to introduce their daughter to the public.

And for the first time, she also revealed her little girl’s name: Sloane.

Lovi explained that she and Monty went through different names, but only one felt right for both of them.

“Sloane kasi means warrior,” she shared. “And it’s not common.”

More than simply liking the name, the new mom said she wants her daughter to grow up knowing what it represents.

“I want her to grow up thinking that she’s a warrior—that she’s a tough cookie,” she added.

When her mother’s instincts kicked in

Lovi also opened up about the first few hours after giving birth and why she was not able to hold Sloane right away.

She shared that she was groggy and experiencing high blood pressure after delivery. It took a few hours before she was finally able to hold her newborn daughter.

And when she did, the worries of motherhood seemed to come rushing in.

One of the first things on her mind was feeding her baby. Thankfully, a nurse reminded her to stay calm, which eventually helped her produce milk.

For Lovi, it was one of those moments that made her realize just how instinctive motherhood could feel.

“Doon mo makikita na yung mother’s instinct, iba,” she said.

Still, the overwhelming love she felt for her daughter did not necessarily arrive all at once.

It was only days after giving birth that Lovi found herself experiencing a kind of love she could not fully put into words.

“The certain love that you can’t even explain,” she shared. “Parang, this is no joke—now I know exactly what love means.”

For someone who has spent years singing about love and portraying it on screen, becoming a mother gave the word an entirely different meaning.

“I’ve been singing so many songs and have fallen in love with so many things, but this is different,” she added.

And perhaps that is one of the things new parents often discover: There are some emotions you can prepare for, read about, or watch other people experience—but only understand once they become your own.

There is no one way to “bounce back”

Lovi also addressed a viral video taken weeks after she gave birth, with many people commenting on how quickly she seemed to have returned to her pre-pregnancy body.

The actress joked that good lighting certainly helped, although she also credited the years she had spent working out.

But while she acknowledged that she was fortunate with her own experience, Lovi was quick to remind fellow moms not to use her journey as a standard for their own recovery.

“I want women to know that this should not be the basis of how women—or mothers—should be,” she said. “We all have our own ways of bouncing back, our own ways of recovering.”

It’s a reminder worth repeating, especially at a time when postpartum bodies are constantly being compared online.

There is no deadline for healing. While some women may return to work, exercise, or their old routines sooner, others may need more time.

Motherhood and ambition can go together

Becoming a mom has also changed how Lovi sees her career.

Before motherhood, she said, much of her world revolved around work. She remains career-oriented, but she has found that being ambitious and being a mother do not have to be opposing parts of her identity.

“I think ambition and motherhood go well together,” she said.

Like many women, Lovi admitted there was a time when she considered delaying having children. It was something she had discussed with her husband as they thought about the future.

Eventually, however, she realized she also had to listen to what she wanted for herself—and that included having a family.

Now, as she learns the ropes of motherhood herself, Lovi has also found a deeper appreciation for her own mom, former actress Rowena Moran.

“It’s only when you become a mother that you will truly understand and empathize with your mom,” she said.

It’s a realization many parents eventually come to. Motherhood has a way of making you look back at your own childhood differently. Suddenly, the sacrifices, worries, and quiet acts of love you may not have noticed as a child begin to make more sense.

For Lovi, motherhood may have added a new role to an already busy life. But it has also given her something else: a new understanding of love, a greater appreciation for her mother, and a new little person at the center of her world.

More on first time moms

Patch Magtanong Cordoves: Embracing Motherhood With Grace and Gratitude
Kate Alejandrino Juan: The Privilege of Motherhood and Returning to Theater
Mila Gulfan: On Life as a New Mom and Rediscovering Herself After Birth