It's been six weeks since wee baby Iggy was born and he's just done his first interview with his mother, broadcaster Heather du Plessis-Allan.
As she talks on the phone, Iggy can be heard gurgling and fussing, as six-week-old babies do, and occasionally Heather, 37, will talk to him and settle him expertly.
"He's been a really good baby,” she says in the voice she uses to talk to him – soft, gentle and smooth. She is obviously very in love.
“When I looked at him after he was born, I thought, 'Of course you look like that because that is what you are supposed to look like! You're just beautiful,” she recalls.
“When you baby and he looks like you and the person you love the most, you just can't imagine that he should look like anything else." The person Heather loves most in the world is her husband, political journalist Barry Soper. He has five adult children, but this is Heather's first and she says she feels so lucky to have him helping her.
“I remember after Iggy was born, it was such a marathon and I was pretty wiped out. I watched Barry dealing with the midwife and weighing him, and he was cleaning him and dressing him, and I thought, 'Thank God you are here because I couldn't do this without you.' I just knew that he was in safe hands and I could relax.
"I love that we are doing this 50/50. I feel really blessed that he's had all that experience so that I can leave Iggy with him, knowing that Barry's there and has been from the very beginning for our boy." Iggy arrived into the world on February 26 at 8.15am, weighing 3.58kg or about eight pounds in the old system, after a labour which started the night before at 10.30pm. Heather was induced at 40 weeks and the labour was 10 hours and fairly smooth, she says.
This story is from the May 2, 2022 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2, 2022 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills