Rebecca Lim more 'peaceful' & 'positive' for 2nd childbirth experience

Local actress Rebecca Lim has welcomed her second child, a baby girl.

Speaking to Mothership on May 15, the 39-year-old actress said she has been "surprisingly very positive" about her second pregnancy and childbirth.

"The first time I was just a woman giving birth, but now I'm a mother giving birth," Lim said, adding that the difference is "exponential".

Her positive mindset is especially remarkable given that her daughter was born two weeks overdue and had to remain in the hospital for three extra days.

While Lim admitted she was naturally anxious and worried, she reflected that the strength of a mother cannot be "underestimated".

Adjusting her mindset

Looking back on the birth of her son, Lim said the experience was "a lot more gloomy" and "pretty traumatic" for her.

This time around, however, she surprised even herself by remaining "positive" and "peaceful".

Although she was initially worried about her newborn having to stay longer in the hospital for observation, Lim said she adjusted her mindset.

Instead, she chose to see it as three additional days she could spend with her son.

"So that shift in mentality helped me to alleviate a lot of worry and anxiety about my daughter being in hospital," she said.

Even before going into labour, Lim said she tried not to dwell too much on the pain or her previous childbirth experience, focusing instead on staying "peaceful".

Husband rushed back on the soonest flight

In fact, Lim shared that her husband, Matthew Webster, was the more anxious one this time around as he had to rush back from a work trip to make it in time for the birth.

According to Lim, he would have missed the delivery had he taken his original flight, but rushed to the airport immediately after work in hopes of catching an earlier flight.

He had committed to the work trip before they realised the baby would be overdue.

Fortunately, he arrived just in time and was able to be there for the big moment.

Since then, Lim said he has been taking care of her by preparing surprise chocolates for her and ferrying her to and from the hospital.

"He's been very supportive and I believe he's going to like being a girl-dad," she laughed.

Mother's presence

For Lim, however, the possibility of her husband missing the birth did not make her overly anxious because her mother was by her side.

"My mom was always like my pillar of strength in my life, so her being there that day was also an invisible strength for me as well," Lim recounted.

The two of them even joked around and chatted while waiting for her husband to arrive.

"It'd also be nice to have three generations of girls in the same room, so that kind of gave me quite a bit of peace," Lim added.

Firstborn gentle with sister

On how her son has been adjusting to becoming a big brother, Lim said she does not know what to expect as it is also her first time with two kids.

Sharing that her son is similar to her in being slower to show emotions and warm up to people, she added that she is allowing him to adjust at his own pace.

"I'm sure eventually he will be the best big brother to his sister, but for now he's just very sweet and very tender to me, which is also important, and very gentle with his sister," Lim said.

Having grown up with siblings herself, Lim said she knows that, at the end of the day, siblings will always have each other's backs.