Gold Coast’s Hayley Bateup and April Zekulich celebrate arrival of second child

FORMER champion ironwoman Hayley Bateup and her long-term partner April Zekulich are celebrating the arrival of a second child after the birth of a son at Pindara Private Hospital.

Former Ironwowan Hayley Bateup and partner April Zekulich celebrate the birth of their second child Banks Archie Bateup, pictured with their first child Baxter Bateup, 2. Picture: Jerad Williams

FORMER champion ironwoman Hayley Bateup and her long-term partner April Zekulich are celebrating the arrival of a second child after the birth of a son at Pindara Private Hospital.

The couple welcomed Banks Archie Bateup, a younger brother for Baxter, 2, yesterday afternoon.

Bateup, a three-time winner of the Coolangatta Gold, said she and Zekulich had initially wanted just one child but had relished motherhood and were blessed to have April fall pregnant with their final fertilised egg.

Former Ironwowan Hayley Bateup and partner April Zekulich celebrate the birth of their second child Banks Archie Bateup. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We’ve got two little boys now, so we’re done,” Bateup said of her family, which also includes dogs Juanita-Rose, Teea and Stevie-Nix.

“Five years ago we went down the path of IVF with Dr Michael Flynn and it all happened with Baxter.

“We used my eggs for both boys, it was the same catchment, and Banks was actually my last egg and we would have had to do the whole process again, so we were very lucky.

Former Ironwowan Hayley Bateup and partner April Zekulich celebrate the birth of their second child Banks Archie Bateup, pictured with their first child Baxter Bateup, 2. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Michael and Pindara have been awesome.”

Bateup said she and Zekulich were looking forward to the opportunity to marry if the upcoming postal plebiscite eventually delivered change.

“We’d just like the right to be able to do that for Baxter and Banks as well, to be the complete family unit,” Bateup said.