This week I had the opportunity to interview Camila Venturino, a young woman, who encountered the challenge of becoming a mom in the heat of the Covid 19 pandemic and juggle it with studying for her degree program.
Her biggest fears and dreams are reflected in these questions. Here is her testimony:
1. First tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Camila Venturino. I am 27 years old, I'm married to Felipe. This year I became a mom for the first time. I am from Chile but I have been living in Argentina since I was 4 years old. At the moment, I am finishing my bachelor's degree.
2. Describe how you felt when you realized that you were pregnant?
It was shocking! At the beginning I couldn't believe it! It was all I have ever wanted! With my husband. We were looking for a baby and we were very happy when we knew it was definitely happening.
The funny thing is that I discovered I was pregnant while I was on a trip in Chile alone. My husband had to stay in Argentina due to his work and I was visiting my family in Santiago.
One night before coming back to Buenos Aires, I made a video call and told him to stay with me online because I was going to do the pregnancy test. I was so nervous!. When I saw the result that was ambiguous in the sense that two lines appeared initially on the pregnancy kit but one of the lines did not appear as intense as the other. Therefore, I was doubting if I was really pregnant. The following day I arrived in Argentina, that day was my mother -in -law's birthday. That night I took the test again and the result was the same (two lines) so definitely I was pregnant. Furthermore, the following day I had a blood test and the result was positive. I was going to be a mom!
Anyway, before traveling I actually felt I could be pregnant because one of my dogs (Aios) would sit on the tummy all the time, something that he didn't use to do. Whatsmore, I was having that feeling as if I was having someone inside me (very crazy to explain!) and definitely one of the most beautiful feelings ever.
3. How did you digest the fact that you were going to juggle pregnancy with studies?
I won't lie. It was hard. I was tired all the time. It was hard to concentrate in class as all I wanted to do was sleep. Thank God for the fact that I wasn't working at that time, so I could start studying with a lot of anticipation in order to be able to take the exams and finish my degree.
4. How did you feel when you realize you were going to have a baby in the middle of a pandemic?
I was very scared because I was almost on delivery date and COVID19 had arrived in the world. I was scared of getting infected or that my baby could get the virus. In addition, it was planned that my whole family would come to Argentina (as they are from Chile) in order to assist the birth. COVID19 made that impossible.
I was very scared, I even considered the option to put to birth at home due to this virus. I felt alone, I needed the support of my parents and siblings, I was isolated. I was just worried about my baby.
5. How did you feel when you saw him for the first time?
When I saw him for the first time my world stopped. I can't have words to describe how it feels like seeing your child for the first time. It is something unique. It was hard because afterwards, the doctors took him to neo, and I felt so lonely: without my family, without my baby, and I wasn't pregnant anymore!
6. How was the feeling like going back home with Bautista?
It was hard going back home with my baby. I was alone with my husband, our family couldn't come to help us, I couldn't have someone to help me with the dogs (I have two) or with cleaning the house or helping me with the baby. My husband as well had to work, so it was a really challenging. But I loved each part of it because it gave me the possibility to be with my son.
7. What message would you like to give to women who are pregnant and are studying simultaneously ?
I would tell them that it is POSSIBLE! That you can achieve everything that you aim at if you are passionate about it!
Camila with her son, Bautista.
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