Matt & Ellen's baby Bree SHE'S OUR LITTLE TREASURE

The delighted couple share the joy of finally welcoming a daughter into their boisterous family of boys!

- Wendyl Nissen

For a family with a new baby, things seem pretty relaxed at Matt and Ellen Chisholm’s house in Omakau in Central Otago.

TV presenter and journalist Matt, 45, sits on the couch grinning as Ellen turns on our Zoom call with one hand while the other holds fi veweek-old baby daughter Bree, who is busy breastfeeding.

“We’re doing really well,” says Ellen, 37, with a huge smile. “We’re good mates, Bree and I. She has slept through twice now, so that makes a big difference. Mum’s well rested and has her sanity.”

Ellen holds Bree up to the camera and shows a chubby, contented little dark-haired girl, happily fed and satisfi ed.

It is a dream come true for the couple, with their daughter joining her brothers Bede, fi ve, and three-year-old Finn to complete their family.

But the birth was not such a dream. Living in the idyllic town means that the nearest hospital is Alexandra, some 30km away, but the birthing facility there is unable to give Ellen an epidural and if anything went wrong, she’d be transferred to Dunedin Hospital.

Ellen had a scan on Monday, September 27, which revealed her unborn baby had the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck.

“I was pretty nervous about that until I found out that it happens to about a third of all babies,” tells Ellen. “But it’s important you know about it before labour so midwives and doctors can decide the right course of action.”

Following the scan, the couple decided they would be induced on Thursday night, with Ellen travelling to Dunedin on the Tuesday in case she went into labour naturally – a high possibility as she was already overdue.