They thought their husbands would be coming home.

But that was before a court in Myanmar sentenced Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to seven years in prison - a verdict criticized globally for undermining press freedom.

Now Pan Ei Mon and Chit Su Win face years apart from their loved ones: (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) WIFE OF JAILED REUTERS REPORTER KYAW SOE OO, CHIT SU WIN, SAYING: "I am very proud of him.

I will also teach my daughter to be proud of her father.

I hope the state will have mercy on them.

I want to have a happy family." Chit Su Win has a three-year-old daughter with Kyaw Soe Oo.

Wa Lone's wife Pan Ei Mon gave birth to their first child while he was incarcerated, awaiting trial.

(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) WIFE OF JAILED REUTERS REPORTER WA LONE, PAN EI MON, SAYING: "Since I was pregnant I tried to strengthen myself with the fact that my husband would be released.

But my hopes did not come true.

I tried to keep positive with the hope that he would be released.

But my hopes were broken with the conviction, it hit me hard." The reporters were investigating the killing of villagers from the Rohingya Muslim minority by security forces and civilians when they were arrested in December.

The judge ruled the pair breached the colonial-era Official Secrets Act when they handled documents related to security forces.

In testimony, the reporters said two policemen handed them papers at a restaurant in December - moments before other officers arrested them.

Leaving the courthouse in Yangon on Monday (September 3), Wa Lone said they had done nothing wrong.

(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) REUTERS JOURNALIST, WA LONE, SAYING: "We will calmly face this situation with our best efforts in the appeal.

Since we didn't do anything, we have no fear." Global reaction to the sentence has been swift.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres labeled the decision "unacceptable" and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called for the reporters' immediate release.

Myanmar's government will only say that the country's courts are independent.

At the news conference with the family on Tuesday (September 4), defense lawyers said they would pursue all avenues to secure the journalists' release.