A woman's date has been hailed 'man of the year' after he supported her during labour, despite the pair being on a Tinder date.
Alyssa Hodges, 20, and Max Silvy, 25, from Brisbane, were just about to go on their fourth date when Alyssa's waters broke at eight months. But Max was totally unfazed and stepped in to be her birthing partner as she welcomed her little boy Ollie, in September last year.
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The couple say the experience has 'bonded them', with Max by Alyssa's side during the first weeks of motherhood, too.
"I was about six and a half months pregnant when I went on Tinder, and I clearly stated that on my bio," said Alyssa.
"I didn't want to lead anyone on, so I was being open and honest. I wanted them to know what they were getting into right off the bat.
"Max travels a lot for work so we'd only seen each other three times before he ended up coming to my birth. On the day I went into labour, I was meant to be picking Max up from the airport as he was coming back from a work trip.
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"That was the plan, but I ended up texting him saying 'I'm so sorry, you'll have to get a taxi. I'm going into labour.'
"He hopped into a taxi when he got off the plane and came to the hospital and was there for me.
"My mum was also there supporting me, but she had a holiday so she was here and there. Max was there for me through the whole labour and birth.
"The labour lasted on and off for about a week. I'd be sent home and come back into the hospital for a period of four to five days.
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"I was contracting for those days and Max was with me the whole time. The birth itself was about seven hours."
After the birth, Max took a week off work to be with Alyssa.
"He took the week off afterwards when I had no-one to help me look after Ollie," she continued.
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"We both knew that we liked each other and had strong feelings for each other. But the birth was the peaking point of our relationship, it bonded us.
"Looking back, I know it was the best decision ever. I'm so glad he was there. Motherhood is a big adjustment for anybody, especially with me being younger. But Max taking a week off from work really helped.
"I had the baby blues. I was really upset and didn't know what I was doing. I felt alone and Max carried me through that week. Every time I couldn't do something, Max picked me up. He's set me up to succeed in motherhood.
"Even though I knew I liked him at the time, anything could have happened. I'd just been in a relationship where I thought it would last, and it didn't. So I did think 'What if this doesn't work out?', but it has and it was the best decision. I don't regret it."
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Max says Alyssa's pregnancy was never an issue for him, although he was a little anxious at the birth.
"There was something that caught my eye about Alyssa. Normally I wouldn't swipe right on a pregnant girl, but there was just something about her," said Max.
"I wouldn't say the experience was overwhelming but I was anxious. I hadn't prepared mentally the way Alyssa had, so coming in late [like I did] was a rapid process.
"Anxiety was the biggest thing. There were so many unknowns, so many things that I didn't know about becoming a dad. There's a lot of learning that comes with being a new dad, but me and Ollie are bonding quite well."
Alyssa says her mum was initially unsure about their relationship, but the family have now come around to the idea.
"My family were taken aback by our relationship. When I told my mum that Max was with me at the hospital, she was very hesitant about it," she said.
"She was saying 'What if you guys break up?'. She didn't understand why anybody would want to be with someone who was pregnant and take such a big responsibility on.
"She told me I needed to think carefully about it. But at the same time, she was saying Max was a lovely guy and she hoped it'd work out for us.
"On TikTok, everybody is asking if Max has a brother, calling him 'man of the year' and saying we were the cutest little family. It was a great reaction.
"These days, there are a lot of unfortunate stories about men who take off when the woman becomes pregnant. Then here's someone who comes in whilst you're pregnant and is very actively involved in raising the child. It's unheard of. I'm very lucky."
The couple are now in the process of moving in together, with Alyssa explaining: "Ollie loves Max so much. There'll be times where he won't want me, he'll want Max. He'll be crying and the minute Max takes him, he's happy and smiling. Max is definitely the favourite."
This is so cute - congratulations guys.
Topics: Life, Sex and Relationships, Parenting
Lucy Devine