When The Block's Steph Ottavio woke up after birth, her baby wasn't beside her.

Steph and Gian Ottavio became household names in 2023 when they came away with a record-breaking auction result on The Block.

The beloved young couple from Sydney have since become beloved TV personalities and set up their own company, Japandi Estate.

But their greatest achievement to date is welcoming their daughter, Ilaria Ottavia, on November 9.

Watch the hosts of Well discuss how pregnancy and birth physically change a woman's brain and body. Post continues after podcast.

"We can't wait to meet you, our beautiful baby Ottavio," the couple said when Steph's pregnancy was announced.

However, the birth of Ilaria did not go smoothly. In fact, Steph has shared exactly what unfolded in the couple's "two-week rollercoaster of emotions" in harrowing detail on Instagram.

This is their story.

A few hours into labour, Steph's temperature started to spike, which forced the doctors to pivot away from a vaginal birth to do an emergency cesarean.

As Steph's condition worsened, she was put under general anaesthesia. "I look back at the theatre door, told Gian I loved him and closed my eyes," she wrote.

"I woke up 12 hours later in ICU… with no baby next to me."

Ilaria was born, she was healthy, and the doctor's concerns quickly shifted back to Steph.

The new mum faced a series of life-threatening complications, as Steph developed DIC, a rare but dangerous blood-clotting disorder. She suffered severe haemorrhaging and required a massive transfusion of 15 litres of blood.

"I haemorrhaged from my placenta and caesarean cut and without the supply of blood from blood donors, the incredible practitioners that worked tirelessly on me, modern medicine and the technology available in hospitals today, I wouldn't be here," Steph wrote.

Image: Instagram/@stephandgian.

Steph would spend three more nights in the ICU and then in a separate ward for another three nights — all without ever meeting her baby.

"I chose not to see photos of our gorgeous Ilaria and as the swelling went down and the bruises faded… it dawned on me that I still hadn't met her."

As Steph recovered, Gian was juggling caring for his wife and newborn daughter, moving back and forth between different hospitals. Thankfully, none of the stress from birth transferred to Ilaria.

"Healing mentally and physically from the trauma felt impossible," Steph penned. "I genuinely can't talk about this without breaking down."

And finally, Steph got to meet her newborn daughter — and with the reunion, Steph was left with a new feeling of peace.

"I had this overwhelming certainty that everything was going to be okay," she said. "She gave me time to recover for us to come together again, stronger."

Image: Instagram/@stephandgian.

As soon as Ilaria latched, Steph knew everything would be okay. "The latch said it all, the pain began to fade, she is the light, we have been inseparable since," she wrote.

Steph and Gian could finally go home, and for the first time, they would return as a family of three.

The couple thanked the staff at Mater Private Hospital who guided them through "one of the hardest weeks of our lives," they wrote.

"We left with an abundance of gratitude and perspective—and above all, unwavering love."

Steph credited her husband Gian, who she met on the school bus in year seven, for being her rock during her darkest hours.

"There's something beautiful about labour and the connection I felt with Gian in those moments," she reflected.

"This man, my husband, my soul mate – you kept me going."

We've reached out to the couple about sharing their story. Read Steph and Gian's full post here.

Feature image: Instagram/@stephandgian.