Seven AFL commentator Abbey Holmes opens up about birth of son Braxton and life as a new mother

Seven AFL commentator Abbey Holmes has opened up about her pregnancy journey and the birth of her first child after having to undergo an unexpected C-section.

The 34-year-old and her husband Keegan Brooksby welcomed their son Braxton into the world on June 6.

While the pair had been trying for a baby, Holmes told 7NEWS.com.au she thought falling pregnant might be challenging given her athletic career and the gruelling conditions she had put her body through on several reality TV shows.

However the ex-AFL star discovered she was 12 weeks pregnant just a few weeks after returning home from running the New York Marathon in November last year.

“It certainly came as a shock,” she said.

“Keegs and I, we had been trying and hoping that it was going to happen, but to be honest, I thought that that we were going to have a little bit of trouble given my sporting background and even doing Survivor twice and (SAS Australia), I’ve kind of put my body through hell over the years.

“I was working like a Trojan last year, it was the busiest year of my life.”

Holmes said the first inkling she had that she was pregnant was when the thought of having coffee made her feel sick.

“I love my coffee and I genuinely couldn’t think of anything worse,” she said.

“It does blow my mind now looking back going, far out I ran the New York Marathon eight weeks pregnant with zero idea.”

The rest of Holmes’ pregnancy was smooth sailing and she managed to continue working all the way up until five days before Braxton was born.

She was induced at 38 weeks as Braxton was measuring quite large, with her obstetrician breaking her waters at 7am.

Holmes said she laboured all day but it got to about 5pm and she was still only 2cm dilated.

Along with her obstetrician she made the decision to undergo a C-section.

“I didn’t have a birth plan. I kind of went into that just saying to (my obstetrician), you’re the expert, we just want a healthy baby. So whatever’s best,” Holmes said.

“If I can go natural, great. If I can’t, great. I’m neither here nor there. I just want him to be safe.”

Holmes said the entire experience was a blur.

“We went straight into theatre and had a very happy, healthy little boy.

“It was just such an amazing experience.

“Whilst it was such a long day, (with) labour and whatnot, it just goes so quick.”

Holmes said being with her husband during the birth and him being able to help bring their son into the world was something she’d never forget.

“You can see the emotion in Keegan eyes as well, that was so special for me to be able to see because I can’t see anything that’s going on obviously below the curtain.”

Braxton has always been a favourite baby name for Holmes, who said she’d kept a list of potential names on her phone for years.

His middle name John is a tribute to her late grandfather who died about the same time Braxton would be been conceived — timing which Holmes believes was no coincidence.

“I’m not an overly spiritual person, but I still believe that my Papa had something to do with that,” she said.

“He was my biggest fan, my biggest supporter. I was really close with my grandfather.”

The ex-AFLW star announced she would be returning to Seven’s AFL coverage just seven weeks after giving birth, with her news stirring public opinion.

Some online trolls called her selfish for coming back to work so soon after her son was born, however Holmes said her decision was largely due to how well Braxton was doing.

“I think that if he didn’t take a bottle or was really unsettled and only slept on me, or whatever it might have been, then I certainly would have been hamstrung and certainly not come back seven weeks after having him,” she said.

Holmes said one of the comments that annoyed her the most related to her husband Keegan, who she refers to as a “super dad”.

“(Someone said) ‘oh dad’s on babysitting duty’. I’m sorry, but dads don’t babysit their own children, they’re 50 per cent of the parenting duo,” she said.

“That’s one thing that really gets to me.”

Now three months into motherhood, Holmes said the experience has been “absolute bliss” and that she’s loving every second.

The first couple of weeks were a shock to the system as she navigated the lack of sleep that comes with being a new parent, but watching her son hit those early milestones has been extra special.

“It’s honestly been in the best time of my life,” Holmes said.

“He’s just started to smile now, making small noises like he’s trying to talk to us.

“Keegs and I always look at each other on the couch and just go ‘we made a baby. We have a child’.

“It’s very weird but so beautiful.”

Catch Abbey Holmes on Seven and 7plus on Friday night for the blockbuster semi-final game between the Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn.