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 8,500+ 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 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wax lyrical SHINE BRIGHT
We're not blowing smoke! These easy projects will light up your rooms in a jiffy
Mum's hero team GIVING GIGI A FLYING CHANCE
Twice her daughter has needed life-saving treatment
Call the midwife AROHA'S SPECIAL DELIVERIES
The maternity carer wants more pregnant mums to have the traditional Māori birth experienc
Winning his Queen back FRED & MARY'S TOUR OF LOVE
There's a lot riding on the royal couple's anniversary cruise
The winner TAKES IT ALL!
Five decades on from Abba's Arrival, we're still saying Thank You For the Music
The show must go on! TAYLA'S LIVING HER DREAM
From opera to operations, the young Kiwi performer is unstoppable
From Russia with love 'ADVENTURE'S IN MY BLOOD'
Victoria's glad she took the leap of faith, even though it was a desperate act
Marata's supporting role 'NIKKI'S THE REAL WARRIOR'
The league star pays tribute to his soulmate who lives with a painful condition
Stronger than ever WILLS & KATE'S ENDURING LOVE
Through all life's challenges, the royal soulmates are there for each other
Four kids and a party JESSE'S BRINGING THE FUN!
The TV host is dancing to his own beat when it comes to fatherhood and fame