The Block’s Steph has revealed she “wouldn’t be here” if it weren’t for the incredible doctors and nurses who “worked tirelessly” on her.

The Block’s Steph and Gian Ottavio have revealed their terrifying birth experience after announcing the arrival of baby Ilaria. Photo: Instagram/stephandgian

The Block winners Steph and Gian Ottavio have revealed the brutal reality in welcoming their baby girl, Ilaria. The pair revealed last week that their newborn had changed their lives “forever”, but Steph has explained how the birth was actually quite traumatic.

She shared that she “wouldn’t be here” if it wasn’t for the incredible medical team supporting her during the birth. After labouring for hours, the pair made a “quick decision to do an emergency caesarian” as Steph’s temperature was rising rapidly.

The hospital decided Steph would need to go under general anaesthetic for the procedure, and the last thing she remembered was telling Gian she loved him and then closing her eyes.

She woke up 12 hours later in the ICU without her baby girl.

“Our beautiful Ilaria was born shortly after I was put under,” Steph wrote. “Gian was there to comfort her as the doctors’ attention was directed to me.

“I ended up suffering from DIC [disseminated intravascular coagulation]. I had a mass transfusion, receiving 15L of blood to help bring my clotting factors back up.

“I haemorrhaged from my placenta and caesarian 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 suffered a very traumatic birth, but baby Ilaria made it all worth it. Photo: Instagram/stephandgian

DIC is a very serious condition where blood clots form abnormally throughout the body’s small blood vessels.

Because the body is sending clotting factors during this condition, there’s nothing to stop bleeding in other places, which can lead to a state of uncontrolled bleeding.

Steph spent three nights in the ICU away from Ilaria and chose not to see photos of her baby girl in that time.

Gian, meanwhile, was between hospitals looking after Ilaria and visiting Steph.

“She was having tests done separately to ensure no stress was transferred onto her prior to the delivery,” Steph wrote.

“Thank God she was completely unaffected, our angel!”

Steph said that the “biggest motivation” for her own recovery was that she would be meeting her daughter, adding that healing both mentally and physically from the trauma felt “impossible”.

In a video of their reunion, Steph said that it was “all worth it for you”, referencing Ilaria.

“The pain began to fade, she is the light, we have been inseparable since,” she added.

The Block fans in tears over Steph’s birth story

Many of their friends and followers have praised Steph and Gian for getting through a very tough few days. Photo: Instagram/stephandgian

Many of Steph and Gian’s friends and followers were overcome by emotion reading her journey.

“I couldn’t read by the end, it was so blurry with all the tears!” one person commented.

“So much love and happiness to you both and baby. Amongst the trauma – a beautiful love story.”

“Crying reading and reliving this,” one friend said. “You are such a strong, resilient woman and now Mumma. Couldn’t be prouder of you, the most inspirational super woman.”

“Steph – our hearts ache for you to have had this experience but so incredibly amazing to have had this support and keep such a positive mindset,” someone else added.

Courtney and Grant, who competed on The Block last year, said Steph and Gian are “amazing and so strong” for going keeping up with the “absolute roller coaster” of life.

Many also praised Gian for being an “incredible husband” and “giving such strength”.