Ruffa to breastfeed baby

LOS ANGELES, California – It’s March 31, Sunday, almost 5 p.m. The baby shower for Ruffa Gutierrez, due to give birth by natural means second week of August, is scheduled at 4 o’clock. Guests have started filling up the garden at the third floor of the New Otani Hotel on Los Angeles St. The host, Monet Lu (in cooperation with Maryann Pagsibigan), is busy fixing the huge cake specially designed for the occasion by Goldilocks. It’s the fourth baby shower for Ruffa, and hopefully, the last.

Soon, the very pregnant 1993 Miss World Second Princess arrives with a wide smile, accompanied by her parents, Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, and Ruffa’s brother Raymond. She’s not supposed to be wearing heels, but just the same, the mother-to-be is standing on two-inch-tall shoes.

Beautifully-wrapped big boxes are piled in one corner, many of them gifts for Ruffa’s baby (pillows, bedsheets, things that a baby needs, etc.) and the others to be given away as "prizes" in the baby games that will be played in a while – you know, quizzes like, How many pounds will the baby weigh at birth?

But first, an "exclusive," interview with Funfare:

"My doctor will kill me for standing so long," smiles Ruffa, holding a shawl around her. It’s getting somewhat chilly, you know. "My baby is suhi (inverted, with the feet facing the ‘exit’) and everytime I move, the baby goes lower and lower. My doctor said that I might give birth earlier, maybe as early as end of July."

Yes, it’s a girl. It could have been fraternal twins (one boy, one girl) but Ruffa bled during the first few months of her pregnancy and she lost the boy. So far, Ruffa and her husband, Yilmaz Bektas, have come up with more than 15 possible names for their child but haven’t decided which one.

"The name changes every day," says Ruffa. "Today, she is Princess Bektas. Tomorrow, who knows what name she will have?"

Yilmaz is not around; he’s in Cyprus and other places nearby, busy putting up new businesses (including a casino).

"But he calls me 25 times a day," says Ruffa whose ubiquitous companion is her cellphone (guess how much her monthly bill is). "He’ll be here in a week or two in time for my delivery. It will be the first time he’ll be in L.A. since our weddding (last March 25 in Manila). He wants me to give birth in Istanbul but it’s not advisable for me to travel at this time. Otherwise, sabi ng duktor ko baka sa eroplano ako manganak. I told Yilmaz, ‘You have to be beside me when I give birth. I want you to cut the baby’s umbilical cord.’ Sabi niya baka daw himatayin siya."

Yes, Ruffa has opted to deliver by natural means instead of Caesarian section.

"If my Mom did it six times, dapat ako rin, di ba? I’m praying that my baby will be healthy and normal."

Anytime now, Ruffa is moving to a condo unit in Marina del Ray, facing the sea.The pad, which the Bektas are renting for $6,000 a month (good for six months), is fully furnished, equipped with the latest line of appliances, and linen and curtains done in baby pink. Later, Ruffa and Yilmaz will buy their own house depending on where they decide to settle down (L.A., London or Istanbul?).

"I love this pregnant feeling," laughs Ruffa as she caresses her tummy. "Yilmaz nga was telling me that he wants another baby as soon as possible. Sabi ko naman, ‘Will you let me give birth to this one first?’ He can hardly wait."

Annabelle is amazed by the preparations Ruffa is making for the baby.

"She attends child-bearing seminars at kumukuha pa ’yan ng Yoga lessons. Lahat ng ginagawa niya ngayon never kong ginawa noong nagbubuntis ako."

During her early months of pregnancy, Ruffa "infanticipated" (naglihi) on garlic noodles, Philippijne mango and crabs, prompting Mama Annabelle to remind her to slow down on crabs because it’s ma-cholesterol.

Now, Ruffa eats anything; she weighs more than l50 pounds and stands to gain more before she gives birth. "Ang takaw-takaw ko," she bursts into laughter. "Kasi naman I’m feeding two people, e. Myself and my princess."

Every now and then, the Gutierrezes hie off to Red Lobster, a specialty restaurant a few blocks away from their house in Beverly Hills.

Annabelle flew in two nights ago purposely to accompany Ruffa to the series of baby showers their friends can’t stop giving Ruffa. After attending Donita Rose and Eric Villarama’s wedding on June 9 (tomorrow, L.A., time) at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, a few miles from L.A., with Annabelle and Eddie among the principal sponsors, Annabelle will fly back to Manila and come back in time for Ruffa’s date with the stork.

Ruffa and Yilmaz plan to go home to the Philippines in December to spend Christmas with the Gutierrezes and for their baby’s baptism. As a gesture of gratitude, Ruffa will donate a mosque and Yilmaz, a chapel. They plan to push through with their planned second wedding in Istanbul sometime middle of next year.

I ask Ruffa if, just like most mothers, she’s going to breastfeed her baby. "Of course, I will!"

Hearing that, Mama Annabelle butts in. "You should not. Your boobs will sag."

Protesting, Ruffa says, "But Mom, mother’s milk is good for the baby’s health."

Mama Annabelle will hear nothing of that.

"Bakit ako, hindi ako nag-breastfed pero healthy kayong lahat na mga anak ko," adding in jest. "Isa lang ang na-breastfed ko..."

I look at Papa Eddie. He’s blushing!

As I leave the New Otani Hotel, I hear mother and daughter arguing over the breastfeeding "issue."

I’m not sure who wins.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])