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AJ Rafael welcomes first child with wife Alyssa through a ‘rough’ and ‘little traumatic’ birth experience

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Filipino-American singers AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro-Rafael are now officially parents after announcing the birth of their first child.  </p><p>AJ shared the happy news on May 19 through a series of photos taken following Alyssa’s successful delivery. The images captured tender family moments, with the “We Could Happen” singer-songwriter embracing Alyssa and their newborn son.  </p><p>“Welcome to the world, Anderson ‘Sonny’ June Rafael ☀️,” he wrote in the caption. </p><p>The couple welcomed their baby boy shortly after Mother’s Day, a moment AJ revealed came with unexpected challenges, which he described as a &quot;rough birth day.&quot; While the birth experience proved difficult, the new parents remained grateful for the safe arrival of their child. </p><p>“We spent Mother’s Day in labor and our son was born on 5/11 at 5:15 pm. He came a little early and we had a rough birth day that I’m sure we’ll share about sometime, but we are so thankful and relieved to be on the other side of it all with the most precious child we could’ve ever dreamed of,” he stated. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYfnoUtAeSi/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=813&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A391324.3000000119%2C%22ls%22%3A391056.5%2C%22le%22%3A391315.8000000119%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="825" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Though AJ did not elaborate further on the details of the delivery, he made sure to express appreciation to the medical team who stood beside them throughout their hospital stay, describing them as their “rock” during the experience. </p><p>The singer also poured out his affection for their newborn son, sharing how deeply Sonny has already changed their lives. </p><p>“We love you, Sonny Boy!!! You’ve already made our world a million times brighter ✨,” he wrote.  </p><p>For Alyssa, the journey into motherhood came with its own emotional weight. On her Instagram story, she candidly described her birth experience as a ‘little traumatic’.  </p><p>“My birth story was a little traumatic and I’m still processing a lot of it, but will share someday soon,” she wrote.  </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779192310204702144409_18611922124030488_4864162207690830632_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite the challenges, Alyssa credited AJ for being her source of calm and strength throughout labor, adding: “Throughout all of the craziness, @ajrafael kept me calm and steady, hence me smiling through the pain.” </p><p>In another photo, Alyssa expressed how she cherished the first few moments with her baby boy as she proudly announced that she is now a mom.  </p><p>“I’m a mommy!!!” she wrote.</p><div>  </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779192330783702094716_18611922100030488_2249851943555709938_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The couple first revealed they were expecting their first child in January. Staying true to their musical roots, AJ and Alyssa shared the news through a cover of Phil Collins’s hit song, “You’ll Be In My Heart.” </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT-2RwgicFi/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=813&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A594754.2000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A391056.5%2C%22le%22%3A391315.8000000119%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="786" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Their announcement video featured intimate snippets from their journey, including the moment they discovered the pregnancy, scenes from the baby’s sonogram, and Alyssa proudly showing her growing baby bump. </p><p>AJ and Alyssa tied the knot twice in 2022, first in an intimate ceremony in Hawaii before celebrating again in a traditional church wedding in Los Angeles.  </p>

<p>Filipino-American singers AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro-Rafael have embraced a new chapter in their lives after welcoming their first child, a baby boy they lovingly call Sonny. </p>

Filipino-American singers AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro-Rafael have embraced a new chapter in their lives after welcoming their first child, a baby boy they lovingly call Sonny.