The Birth of Baby Raphael
A photo essay on the birth of Baby Raphael Anthony Uy Diaz...
Proud Mom Rache and the Diaz Musketeers: Ahiya Aidan, Dihya Joshua, and Syoti Raphael
We decided to have the birth take place in Makati Medical Center on the 5th floor of the new wing. The doctor opted to confine us on Feb. 9, around 10pm, when Rache was already in active labor.
We were debating naming BB5 as Raphael Isidro vs. Raphael Antonio. We wanted the second name to be the name of a saint. For Aidan, it was St. Dominic; for Joshua, it was St. Francis Xavier; and for Raphael, St. Anthony, who is also my patron saint. :)
It was a very smooth delivery -- the natural Lamaze way. No anesthesia, no epidural. Just good ol' hee hee hoo and push. I'm so proud of my wife, Rache, for bearing all the pain and for pushing just once.
Thanks to our OB, Dr. Lilibeth Genuino!
The first photo of Baby Raphael Anthony Uy Diaz... What an angelic face! :)
First photo of Mommy Rache and Baby Raphael. :)
Baby Raphael spent his first night in the nursery for proper cleaning and observation.
Our dearest pedia physically examined Baby Raphael for the first time for any abnormalities and to check if everything is in place.
Thanks to Dr. Vienne Saulog for checking up on Baby Raphael!
Probably a birth mark?
Joshua was so happy to see the baby!
He was trained to take care of Diego (given by his ninong Rommel), so he was excited to be a kuya already.
Aidan was a bit clingy when we saw him. He missed us and was also happy to see his youngest brother.
Lola Emy and Ama Imelda with Rache and a smiling Baby Raphael. :)
Tita Lot was Baby Raphael's first visitor outside of our immediate family. :)
My Awesome Pilipinas partners -- Maribel and Dedet -- visiting us and the newborn baby. They brought a nice bouquet of flowers and 3 blue balloons (in the background).
It was painful to see the baby being pricked for blood for the newborn screening test.
Mommy Rache recovered fast. After 36 hours, we were ready to go home. :)
Thanks to the nurses and staff of Makati Medical Center -- very professional and very caring! We were deciding whether to give birth in the new St. Luke's Hospital in Bonifacio Global City or Makati Med. We are glad that we made a great choice. :)
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder and Digital Publisher
www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph
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P.S. Thanks also to Geiser Maclang for the lovely bouquet of flowers with balloon when we got home. It was designed by no other than Michi Calica. :) Thanks so much!
congratulations! what a wonderful blessing! =)
Posted by: docgelo | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 11:38 PM
congratulations, anton and rache! :)
Posted by: Rain | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 01:06 AM
Congrats. Three boys, lakas talaga ng s**rm ni Sir. One more and you'll have 4 evangelists na. :)
Posted by: earl | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 01:45 AM
Wow... another baby boy! Congrats Rache and Anton! :D
Posted by: Littlemisswanderlust.blogspot.com | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 02:43 AM
congratulations! cute bunch =)
Posted by: Pauline Dela Cruz-Torralba | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 03:09 AM
congrats! pareho tayo with naming the 3rd baby Rafael . lolz.
Posted by: belle | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:08 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Esvimin Faelnar | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:17 AM
Anton! Congratulations! Im an avid reader and you've answered an email or two in the past. It's funny - our kids are all the same age but I have three girls! I also just gave birth (although prematurely) to my third... Plus we have the same pedia :) Vienne is very nice :) Hope your wife will recover well :)
Posted by: MrsKookie | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:18 AM
Congratulations to the both of you! I admire Rache for giving birth the Lamaze way.:)
Posted by: Joanne-k | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:52 AM
Congratulations on the new baby! Rachel is a goddess for giving birth without painkillers :)
Posted by: jillsabs | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:13 AM
congratulations!
Posted by: ezra | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:28 AM
Congratulations! Hawig ng mommy! :)
Posted by: Mark | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:44 AM
Wow, same pedia :) Ang galing! we should meet up with the boys and your girls one of these days, hehe.
We might bump into each other in the clinic, just say hi :) Thanks for the comment and the congratulations!
Anton
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:45 AM
Congrats.
Posted by: Jinoe | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:49 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: peachkins | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:54 AM
just wondering do you guys opt for circumcision when they are young or let them decide when they are older?
Posted by: Andre | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:06 AM
oh and congrats again! how long pla yung labor?
Posted by: Andre | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:07 AM
Congratulations, Anton & Rache! =D
Posted by: mbsl | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:13 AM
Joshua is sooo cute! =)
Posted by: mbsl | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Yes we opted for circumcision immediately after birth. The labor was very easy... after 8cm and when the bag broke, lumabas na kaagad yung baby... we did it the lamaze way :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:15 AM
CONGRATULATIONS & God Bless...
Posted by: Che | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:26 AM
congratulations. i'm a regular reader of your blog, saan mang bansa ako mapunta. :)
my son's name is also raphael. i love that name! :)
Posted by: pao | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!
Posted by: Beth | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Cute! Cute!
Congratulations Sir Anton! =)
Posted by: Ian Papasin | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Congratulations Anton! What a cutie! And galing ni Rache...wooohooo!!!
Posted by: joey | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Congratulations Anton and Rachel on your new baby Raphael. Same here we also have 3 boys.....
I'm an avid reader of your blog.
Posted by: Jaydee | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 11:22 AM
congratulations... i'm in awe of any mother who can give birth without anesthesia. been there twice and di talaga kinaya ng powers ko :)
Posted by: browneyedgirl | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Congratulations on the beautiful baby boy! :D
Posted by: Bea | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:22 PM
4 boys!
Your wife is truly WONDERWOMAN!
Congratulations! =)
Posted by: marj | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Haha :) oo nga 4 boys and 1 queen :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Yes, thanks for the comment ! Galing nga ni Rache :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Thanks Joey for the greetings :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Life is just A W E S O M E! congratulations anton and rache!
Posted by: robby | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Ganda nga ng name na Raphael :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Hey Robby, Thanks so much for the greetings man :)
Bukas na ba Ristras sa Mckinley Hill?
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Congratulations Anton and Rache :)
Posted by: Tina | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 01:01 PM
Congrats Anton & Rache! =)
Posted by: dweebi | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 01:24 PM
congratulations to you and Rachelle...i can only imagine having 3 boys could be such a riot! BOW ako to Rache for going through Lamaze! Will you try for a girl pa? (",)
Posted by: Mom-Friday | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 02:33 PM
baka hindi na... give up na... but tingnan natin sa Year of the Dragon :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 02:35 PM
congrats Anton. wow 3 boys. Girl naman :)
Posted by: upto6only | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Congratulations to the family, and welcome Raphael Antonio! God bless you all!
Posted by: Babe Erese | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 03:24 PM
Congrats Anton :)
Posted by: Mon | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 03:41 PM
Congratulations to your new baby!
Dra. Lilibeth Genuino is the OB of my wife, too (and her mom the Pedia of our son)! Indeed, MMC is the better choice -- value for your money.
Posted by: Bob Reyes | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 04:15 PM
Yes thanks so much for the confirmation and the comment :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 04:24 PM
Congrats Rache and Anton! God bless your growing family :)
I admire Rache for doing it the natural way sans anesthesia/epidural. Such a brave momma.
Posted by: shaui | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Congratulations =)
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 06:53 PM
Congrats to your new bundle of joy! My mom sends her best wishes as well. :)
Posted by: pilar | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:09 PM
Thanks for the best wishes and also to your mom :)
Posted by: Anton | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:11 PM
Congratulations to you and Rache! :) Cheers to more awesome family adventures.
Posted by: Vyanini | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 07:28 PM
Rache looks terrific! I look more harassed from a day's work! Raphael or Rafael was in Jeopardy today!
Posted by: 22loy | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 09:46 PM
me birth pains pa siguro ang St. Luke's Global. hindi pa nga gawa ang mga clinic.
Posted by: 22loy | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 09:47 PM
congratulations anton and rach!! :)
Posted by: frannywanny | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Congratulations Anton and Rache!
Posted by: Perks | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Yeah and we heard the birthing room alone costs P30,000 na. Pag-Natural delivery mas less harrassed, but masakit lang nga...
Posted by: Anton | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 08:25 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: FEMA | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Congratulations, Anton!
Posted by: Ronald Cagape | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Hi Anton. Congratulations on your third bundle of joy!
This is a gem of a photo essay. Glad to know that it was a successful Lamaze delivery sans anaesthesia. My wife and I wanted the same thing fourteen years ago with our firstborn - we went through all the requisite training and preparation for that much anticipated moment. But halfway through the labor process, our yet unborn son exhibited fetal distress - his heart rate dropped to less than half that of normal. The next thing we know, it was a flurry of activities straight out of the TV series ER as an emergency caesarian operation was in order. Everybody was so focused on both mother and child that nobody noticed the expectant father gleefully clicking away with his trusty camera - inside the über strict delivery room of Saint Luke's Hospital at that! Indeed one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life! Unfortunately the ordeal rendered my wife practically incapable of undergoing a Lamaze delivery again with out younger son.
We pray that both Rache and Raphael will continue to do well. Wishing all the best for your family!
From Ted and Joyce Capacillo
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1185841568 | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 12:57 PM
congrats on the new bundle of joy...and is that lot gayao? hya lot!! havent seen you since san miguel days!
Posted by: charmaine dela luna | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 04:55 PM
Yes, that's Lot Gayao :) Thanks for the greetings!
Posted by: Anton | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 05:15 PM
Thanks Ted for the sharing your own emergency caesarian experience... it was a funny now and I can imagine what was happening at that time. Thanks for the greetings and the prayer :)
Anton
Posted by: Anton | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 05:17 PM
C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!!!!!
He is really adorable! God bless your new baby.
Posted by: Laurie | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 09:03 PM
Congratulations Anton! The OAP family is expanding...
If my second child had been a boy, we would have named him Rafael as well. We had a princess instead, and we named her Rachel (another lovely name, wouldn't you agree? :)
Posted by: Chinachix | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Indeed it is an amusing priceless story worth retelling countless of times over. Just imagine - the doctors and nurses even forgot to hand me a face mask while inside the delivery room to which I was supposedly off limits! When somebody did notice, I was already taking pictures of my newborn son, hehe...
Oh, just an erratum...
Unfortunately the ordeal rendered my wife practically incapable of undergoing a Lamaze delivery again with our younger son.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1185841568 | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 02:44 AM
Congratulations! Another beautiful angel :)
Posted by: B'ley | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 02:02 PM
congratulations to the Diaz Family :) looking forward to seeing more of baby raphael in OAP :)
Posted by: kate | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 05:30 PM
Wow, I can't help but be at awe in what Ms. Rache did.... she is your one awesome wife!
She looks like a complete miniature Ms Rache =)
Look at all of us, not just being avid readers of your food reviews, we are literally being part of your family too.. well in one way or another... =)
Congratulations Sir Anton and Ms Rache, I am also looking forward to seeing this third kid running around your next events... you've got good genes, they all look soooo cute! =)
Posted by: KUMAGCOW | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Sorry for the typo,
*He looks like a miniature of Ms Rache! =)
Posted by: KUMAGCOW | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Hi Anton! WOW! I was very impressed with which method rache used in giving birth..She is a very brave! Congratualtions to both of you!
Posted by: Yasuko | Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:19 PM
Thanks Yasuko! She is indeed very very brave indeed :)
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 08:00 AM
Yeah he looks like really chinese and white :) thanks for the greetings and the comment :)
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
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Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 08:06 AM
congrats to both of you. take care.
Posted by: Victoria Carlos | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 10:28 AM
congratulations! it will be interesting who'd he look like! aidan is mini-you. josh is after rache. in-between kaya??? :)
Posted by: boilingice | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 10:47 AM
hi, anton, so sorry, i interchanged the names! ngek! josh is your mini-you and aidan is the mini-rache :)
Posted by: boilingice | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Congratulations. I admire Rache for doing it the natural way. Having given birth 2x already under anesthesia, I don't know how she manages the pain.
Posted by: bon | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Yeah, mukha kang mixed si baby Raphael.. it would be interesting how his face develops hehe
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:06 AM
congratulations anton and rachel! your growing family looks awesome :) good job Rachel for going through the birth without an epidural! I know what that feels like! :P
Posted by: sabby | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:43 AM
It's really painful according to her and she can't explain it because there's nothing more comparable to it.
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: Masawa Hong Butuan
Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:48 AM
three boys! congratulations!
Posted by: cheery | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 12:37 PM
di ko rin nga alam, how she did it...
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: Masawa Hong Butuan
Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Congratulations! Another beautiful baby boy :) I loved seeing the face of Dihya Joshua, he looks excited to be a Kuya!!!
Kudos to your wife for giving birth via Lamaze!
Posted by: Crissy | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 02:39 PM
Yes he seems to be excited to be a kuya, haha.
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: Masawa Hong Butuan
Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 03:27 PM
Wow! Congratulations!
Posted by: shalum | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Congrats Anton and Rache!
Posted by: Rizza | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 04:30 PM
omg! kudos to your wife for opting for the lamaze way and for pushing just once. congrats on your new lovely son. God bless!
Posted by: eRLyN | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 08:08 PM
I just heard about this last night. Congratulations, Anton and Rache! I hope to see you with your new baby soon. :-)
Posted by: Katrina | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 03:50 AM
Thanks Katrina for the greeting! Yes, we have 3 boys na! how time really flies...
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: Secrets of North Luzon Travel in 2010
Posted by: Anton | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 09:10 AM
Oh congratulations !! wow three boys!! im glad rache recovered fast for giving birth is not that easy :-)
Posted by: dhanggit | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Congratulations!!! :)
Posted by: Jigs Abad | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 09:05 AM
Congratulations Anton and Rache! Raphael, I like that name. Very masculine. I wanted to name our second child Raphael but we opted to name him Francesco after the boy in Fatima since his older sister's name is Giacinta. Galing ni Mommy Rache, ang tapang!
Posted by: Ruel | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Thanks Ruel! Yeah, ang tapang nga ni Rache -- bilib rin ako :)
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Posted by: Anton | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Congratulations! I like the second name - Antonio. If ever my wife and I decide to have another baby and it turns out to be a boy, Antonio will be the second name.
Btw, I find it surprising that your wife allowed you to take her pics after giving birth. Women normally hate it when you take their pics after delivering a baby, more so when you post them for the world to see.
God Bless and more power (and kids)!
Posted by: Pinoyexexpat | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Yeah, Antonio name is really name :) It is named after St. Anthony de Padua :)
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: OAP Team Manila Shirt!
Posted by: Anton | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Congratulations Anton on your new bouncing baby boy! I still remember reading your blog entry when baby #2 was born. How time flies!
Posted by: Marissa | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 05:16 PM
Congrats Anton and Rache! :) You have such a lovely family! :) An addition to the cast of OAP :)
Posted by: Sophie | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 07:08 PM
Tagal na non. Thanks so much!
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Posted by: Anton | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:15 PM
What a gorgeous brood! Congratulations, awesome family :)
Posted by: Mia | Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 08:29 AM
Congratulations! Wow... 3 boys, just amazing!
And oh, thank you for the Ocean adventure discounted tickets we got from your wife. :)
Posted by: Sheryll | Friday, February 19, 2010 at 05:31 PM
You're Welcome Sheryll!
Live an Awesome Life,
Anton Diaz
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Latest Blog Post on Our Awesome Planet: Romeo and Bernadette
Posted by: Anton | Monday, February 22, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Sam | Friday, February 26, 2010 at 01:40 AM
omg 3 boys na pala kayo! congrats to you and rache. we were schoolmates in HS, batch mate ko si jencctan. i don't know if she remembers me but we were emailing each other maybe a year or so ago. regards nalang kay rache...one more baka girl na! :)
Posted by: lesley | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 12:22 AM