Life Imitates Art 'I Gave Birth Twice In A Month'

Laurel’s Tv Birth Was a Dress Rehearsal for the Real Thing

- Amy Prebble

Shortland Street star Laurel Devenie answers the door with a huge smile and her sleeping six-week-old baby Lyra strapped to her chest.

The actress looks absolutely radiant, despite operating on considerably less sleep than she’s used to. “I’m feeling really good. Right now, I’m full of energy – but wait until 3pm,” she says with a laugh.

She credits her family and friends with making her first six weeks of motherhood “a really joyful experience”.

“I’m just really loving this, although there are definitely tough times,” she confides.

“I’m certainly not saying she’s the perfect baby or I’m the perfect mother. It’s a big learning curve, but I think I’m just really enjoying the learning curve.”

Her partner Matt Keene, who has three daughters from a previous relationship – Kait (22), Sophie (18) and Finn (12) – has switched to working from home so he’s on hand to help with nappies and settling Lyra.

“I work in IT and I’m pretty flexible,” tells Matt (47). “I love that I can be here to help Laurel. I think people forget that it can be really lonely when it’s just you and a baby – especially when the baby is having a meltdown!”

Though it’s been 12 years since he was last dad to a newborn, Matt says it all came back pretty quickly.

“From the first time I picked her up, I went straight to the shoulder hold and the gentle pat on the back.”

Big sister Finn, who spends half her time with the couple, is also smitten with the new arrival.

“From day one, she’s been changing nappies and dressing her,” says Matt with a smile. “We call her ‘the baby whisperer’. She can just get Lyra to sleep. It’s really gorgeous.”