Bendigo’s first baby of the year arrived with fireworks in the background last night.
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Ashleigh Grace Messfeldt came into the world at 12.16am and weighing 3.16kg (or just under 7 pounds in the old measure) with the city’s fireworks show still echoing around the area.
It was a quick arrival as well with parents Adrian and Corrina Messfeldt arriving at the hospital at 11.15pm only for Ashleigh to be born an hour later.
“It was all very quick and straight on the dot of her due date,” Adrian said.
“It was the due date and I told my mate it would be 12.01am but it was quarter past, so it was pretty close.
“You don't really expect it until it happens. We were expecting it to be the next day but we could her the fireworks in the background, which was pretty special.”
Adrian was at a mate’s house and thankful he wasn’t drinking when Corrina called him with the news she had gone into labour.
“Luckily I stayed off the turps. Corrina said she would be fine but she had a couple of contractions and then they quickly got to 10 minutes apart,” he said.
“Corrina called me and I got home and we came straight here from Elmore, which is about a 45 minute drive and I was thinking I just want to make it (to the hospital).
“Mum’s doing great and the baby is perfect. She has ten fingers, ten toes and is healthy which is all you can ask for.”
Ashleigh is Adrian and Corrina’s third child. Adrian said he was rapt to be a father again.
“It's our third but we might have a fourth yet. I have always wanted to be a dad. I have two others who I love and (for me) it's what life is all about.”
Brother Jordan, 8, and sister Genevieve, 4, were excited to meet their new sister on Monday morning.
“I have been looking forward to meeting her,” Jordan said. “We stayed at nan and pop’s last night. We didn't think it would happen today but it turns out it did.”