Miss World 2013 Megan Young recently opened about a health scare that deeply affected her early days of motherhood. On January 19, the actress revealed that she was stricken with dengue, an experience that took a toll on her body and significantly impacted her ability to produce milk.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue, also known as break-bone fever, is a “viral infection that is spread from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical than in temperate climates.”
The revelation came months after Megan and her husband, actor Mikael Daez, welcomed their first child, Leon, in May 2025. As she navigated life as a new mom, Megan shared that the illness, which she had in November, was something she only fully realized when she was already on the road to recovery.
READ: Megan Young says she experienced intense emotions in the first two months after giving birth
In her Instagram broadcast channel, “Diary ni Mama Bonez,” she described how difficult the experience was.
“Hi mommas, soon to be mommas, mommas in making and everyone else that just wants to chill! I haven’t had an update in so long because right after my previous messages, I got sick 🤒 little did I know, I had dengue!! Only found out when I was recovering na (i had itchy patches all over my body 😭),” she began.
While she assured followers that she has since recovered, Megan admitted that the illness had lingering effects, especially on her milk supply.
“All is good now but getting sick affected my milk supply so much 🥺 I had such a struggle with my milk that during the holidays when I got sick again, I decided to start weaning,” she expressed.
Screengrab from Megan Young’s Instagram broadcast channel/@meganbata
READ: Megan Young opens up about birthing experience with first baby
She went on to share how emotionally and physically challenging the process of weaning was, but also how it eventually helped her regain a sense of balance.
“It’s been sooooo hard weaning but after slowly doing so for 1.5 months, I’m starting to feel more like myself, less stressed, less snacking (nakakagutom mag pump!!), and less pressured.”
Megan also offered reassurance to fellow mothers, reminding them to trust themselves and their decisions, saying: “Always remember that fed is best. We mommas know what is best for ourselves and our bebes 🫶🏻”
Following this, on January 26, the beauty queen shared through an Instagram reel that she has decided to wean Leon moving forward because they noticed that he was drinking breastmilk 90% of the time and reiterated that Dengue that took a toll on her ability to produce milk. She also shared that she felt guilty of not being able to give the full nutrients to her son with this change but emphasized that this step is for her mental well-being. Apart from baby formula, she has also started introducing solid foods to Leon.
“My breastfeeding journey has come to an end 🫶🏻 I can’t believe that I am officially done with pumping,” part of her caption wrote.
“Happy to celebrate this chapter as we move on to a new one - the world of baby led weaning and solids 😅,” she added.
READ: Mikael Daez and Megan Young welcome first baby: 'An explosion of overwhelming emotions'
Throughout her journey as a first-time mom, Megan has remained open about the realities of motherhood. In a report by Bandera last October, she shared that she experienced intense emotions during the first two months after giving birth.
"During the first two months siguro, naramdaman ko 'yung intense sadness, intense emotions, intense happiness," she said, as reported by Bandera. "Lahat extreme eh so hindi ko napipigilan na parang intensely sobrang saya ko. Sa sobrang saya ako, naiiyak talaga ako."
She also admitted that these emotions sometimes affected her interactions with her husband Mikael Daez. "Nag-joke siya, pumitik ako sa kanya, 'Hindi mo ba alam na ganito-ganyan?' Tapos, after kong masabi 'yun, parang, 'Sorry ha,' kasi hindi ko talaga napipigilan ang emotions ko," she recounted.
Despite these challenges, Megan shared that Mikael has been a constant source of support as she learned to navigate motherhood and her emotions.
"Mikael helps me emotionally. Tinutulungan niya ako na i-process ang lahat ng extreme emotions na na-mention ko kanina. So, if there's something that I have a problem with, before I would hide it from him. But now, I learned from him na, 'Hindi, mag-usap tayo kasi paano magiging maayos ang problema natin kung di natin pag-uusapan, kahit na mahirap,'" she previously shared.