BREAKING OUT THE BUB-LY
CELEBRATING NEW YEAR WITH A NEW ARRIVAL
MELANIE Stefanac had a pretty good excuse for ditching a friend’s New Year’s Eve dinner party — she was having a baby.
“We were actually planning on going to a friend’s house for dinner but Mila had other plans for us,” she said of the daughter she finally got to meet at 12.14am yesterday, cementing her place as the first baby born at Gold Coast University Hospital for 2018.
“(Being in labour) is probably not the most ideal way to see in the new year but the reward was definitely worth it.
“I was just overwhelmed with emotion. It was amazing to carry something for nine months and then finally get to see her.
“It’s everything you dream of being a female and getting to meet your baby for the first time.”
Mila Rose’s arrival capped a huge few weeks for Melanie and husband Shane.
As well as the usual festive celebrations, the couple only moved into their new home at Pimpama a fortnight ago.
“It has been full-on,” Melanie said.
“It was a very busy Christmas and everyone was obviously talking about the precious arrival of our little girl.
“We came in to the hospital for observation during the day (on New Year’s Eve) and they told us to stay.
“We were a bit thrown off because she was due on the fourth (of January) but she was determined to come early.
“We wanted her to be a 2018 baby and she just made it by 14 minutes.”
(BEING IN LABOUR) IS PROBABLY NOT THE MOST IDEAL WAY TO SEE IN THE NEW YEAR BUT THE REWARD WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT. STEFANAC
And how did Dad handle the big occasion?
“Oh, he was good,” Melanie said.
“He was a little panicked about making sure I was OK but he did really, really well.”
Befitting her status as the city’s first 2018 baby, Mila spent her New Year’s Day being photographed for stories such as this — and it would seem she’s already on track for a possible career as a diva.
“Five minutes ago she was crying and screaming and now you wouldn’t even know,” Melanie laughed.
“She definitely turned it on for the cameras.”