The Block 2023 winners Steph and Gian Ottavio have celebrated being able to return home with their newborn daughter following a harrowing birth story.
“Bringing our gorgeous Ilaria home
” Steph captioned a sweet video, showing her journey from hospital to the couple’s Sydney home in Gian’s arms.
Watch the adorable moment in the video above.
It was the heart-warming end to what they had earlier labelled “one of the most challenging weeks of our lives”.
“But we left the hospital with an abundance of gratitude and perspective; and above all unwavering love
” Steph shared.
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Steph revealed her ‘traumatic’ birth story to the couple’s 76,000 Instagram followers, with her emotional post leaving some in tears.
She spent three nights in the ICU as she suffered a life-threatening blood-clotting disorder after an emergency caesarean.
“I woke up 12 hours later in ICU like this with no baby next to me,” Steph wrote.
Steph shared her terrifying journey following hours of labour. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
Thankfully, Gian was there to comfort baby Ilaria immediately after birth as doctors turned their attention to his wife.
She required 15L of blood in a massive transfusion.
“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.
She spent three nights in ICU and another three nights recovering before finally meeting her daughter, who thankfully was completely unaffected by her stressful beginning.
For Steph, the promise of seeing her daughter was the biggest motivator in recovery.
Finally, it was time for Steph to meet Ilaria. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
After finally being reunited, Steph said “it was all worth it”.
“The latch said it all, the pain began to fade, she is the light, we have been inseparable since.”
Steph and Gian have now brought sweet Ilaria home. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
Steph also had a special message to husband Gian, who was there for both his wife and daughter every step of the way.
“Healing mentally and physically from the trauma was something that felt impossible,” she said.
“I genuinely can’t talk about this without completely breaking down but this man, my husband, my soul mate – you kept me going.”
Steph said she couldn’t have done it without husband Gian’s support. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
Friends, followers and fellow Block alumni flocked to Steph’s post to show their support.
“What an absolute roller coaster for you both. You guys are amazing and so strong
” wrote The Block 2024’s Courtney and Grant.
“Bloody scary times. So glad both our girls are ok
” said Steph and Gian’s Season 19 besties, Eliza and Liberty.
“Steph you are an absolute warrior and I can’t even imagine the relief in finally meeting your beautiful girl. Gian – what an incredible husband and dad you are giving such strength in what would have been a truly difficult time. I’m glad you’re on the mend and home with your girl starting your new lives together,” wrote Tash Pavlou, who appeared on the renovation series with her dad Harry in 2020.
Steph, Gian and baby Ilaria. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
The story certainly brought out a lot of emotion too.
“I couldn’t read by the end it was so blurry with all the tears! Amongst the trauma – a beautiful love story
” one follower wrote.
“Me too… my eyes wouldn’t stop leaking
” another agreed.
Steph and Gian first announced the news of their pregnancy in May.
“The start of our little family, when two become three
We can’t wait to meet you our beautiful baby Ottavio
” the couple wrote, alongside an adorable video.
In the footage, Steph and Gian embrace while showing off her growing bump, share smiles from a scan and then celebrate the news by painting ‘baby’ on the wall behind them and posing for a family photo with their dog, Lumi.
Steph and Gian shared a sweet pregnancy announcement. (Instagram @stephjoottavio)
In June 2025, they confirmed they were having a girl with a sweet DIY paint reveal video shared to Instagram.
Of course, the couple’s gender reveal was reno related! (Instagram / @stephjoottavio)
Steph and Gian are childhood sweethearts who met on the school bus in year seven and have been together ever since. They married in April 2022, at a lavish ceremony in the Hunter Valley.
The couple became household names when they appeared on The Block Season 19. At 27 years old, they were the youngest contestants of the season.
Steph and Gian celebrate their huge Block win in 2023. (Nine)
The Sydney-siders quickly became known for their neutral colour palette and Japandi style and soon became competition frontrunners with five Room Reveal wins across the season.
It all came to a head at Auction Day when they took home a record-breaking $1.75 million win, the biggest profit in Block history.
As the couple win the 2023 season.
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