By Melissa Meehan
In a day and age when the average Aussie family boasts two children and a dog – a family of eight turns heads.
It’s a feeling Kew mum of six Natalie Batsakis knows all too well.
She has spent the last decade bearing children.
And has just given birth to her six child, a son, Ares.
And after having that many children it’s no surprise she has a few stories to tell.
Her oldest child, eight-year-old daughter Alyssandra and third child, son Evangelos share a birthday – three years apart.
It’s something Alyssandra isn’t too pleased about but Evangelos thinks it’s wonderful and is already planning all the parties they can share.
Three-year-old Philip, number four, was born on the bathroom floor at home 10 minutes after the ambulance arrived.
“I thought I had heaps of time – I called my parents and told them I was having contractions and I went downstairs to put my thongs on and get read and felt the urge to push,” she said.
“I thought I can’t go anywhere now.”
By the time Natalie’s parents arrived the ambulance was directing her husband to warm towels in preparation for a home birth.
“My dad was losing it, he’s from Sudan and was saying that even when he was born he got delivered in a hospital,” she laughs.
“So we sent him upstairs to make sure none of the other kids woke up and came downstairs.”
Within 10 minutes of the ambulance arriving Philip was born.
“It was pretty scary actually, they don’t have all the monitors like they do in the hospital and when I didn’t hear him cry at the start I just panicked, but everything was OK.”
Natalie says that by baby number four, it isn’t a bad thing to go into labour at home.
“It’s not like it’s your first baby and you don’t know what you are doing,” she said.
“That said, I think that was too quick – it’s a lot of stress on the body.”
And Ares was also keen to meet his brothers and sisters, bursting into the world just 20 minutes after Natalie arrived at hospital.
“My obstetrician reminded me that women who have birthed so many children can go from 1cm-10cm in 2-3 strong contractions,” she said.
“Thankfully we made it and baby Ares arrived safely and is healthy and well.”
Having a large family was always on the cards for Natalie who was one of two kids.
She always thought two wasn’t enough growing up and knew she would have at least three kids.
“But I don’t like odd numbers, so four seemed like a good number,” she said.
“But once we got to four, I thought it’s not that stressful – I’ve got things under control.”
Natalie and her husband stopped trying after baby number four, and decided to let it happen.
She realised she was pregnant with Ares in the week leading up to her 40th birthday.
“If I was younger I’d probably keep having kids, they are beautiful and crazy,” she said.
Now she battles the balance between having an eight-year-old with attitude and a one-year-old who takes any nappy-free opportunity to relieve himself wherever he likes.
“It’s really nice to have a big family – historically that’s what people did and I just love it.”
And if having six kids wasn’t enough to keep her and hubby busy – they’ve just bought children’s party venue Fairy Cool Parties in Balwyn North.
But the two older girls like working at the venue whenever they can – especially the second oldest – Emmanuelle who is only 7 but will dry dishes and help set up for parties.
Who is who:
Alyssandra aged 8
Emmanuelle aged 7
Evangelos aged 5
Philip aged 3; and
Elysion aged 1.
Ares, newborn
