On the netball court, former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu was called the “smiling assassin” because she always greeted opponents with an infectious grin. Now she’s become a first-time mum to gorgeous daughter Bibiana, after struggling for years to get pregnant, her signature smile is bigger than ever.
“Being a mum is the best feeling in the world. It’s been a long time coming,” says the Fijian-born sports star.
“When Bibiana was born, I couldn’t wait to hear her cry. When I heard that sound, I just knew that everything was going to be okay. I couldn’t hold back my own tears.”
Cradling her eight-week-old daughter in her arms, admiring her big brown eyes, the netball star says she is truly blessed to be a mother.
Vilimaina had the support of former team-mates during her difficult pregnancy.
“We both love children and it was only natural for us to want to have kids of our own – but it wasn’t easy,” she explains.
It took five heartbreaking years for her and husband, Aporosa Tamaniveli (34) to become parents. The couple got tested regularly and found there was no medical reason why they couldn’t conceive.
Vilimaina (36), a former spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, admits her weight gain may have been an issue. She also thinks that she wanted a child so badly, it was causing distress to her body.
“I was thinking there was something wrong with me. One day I looked up to the sky and asked God if I was ever going to have a baby.”
Vilimaina moved to New Zealand from Fiji 14 years ago to pursue her sporting career. She met Aporosa in 2004 when she returned to her home country on a holiday. The couple have settled in West Auckland and have no family in New Zealand, so starting their own was very important to them.
Desperate for a baby, the couple explored their options, including IVF. Just when they were about to give up, a true miracle occurred – Vilimaina discovered she was pregnant.
“I had a feeling my body was changing. I visited the doctor for a blood test and he confirmed that we were having a baby. When they checked to see how far I was, I had past my first trimester,” explains the netball defender.
Vilimaina and Aporosa were so overjoyed, they couldn’t help but cry.
“We both prayed for it – and when it happened, it was literally a dream come true,” Vilimaina admits.
Just as their journey to conceive was challenging, so was Vilimaina’s pregnancy. She struggled during her term and experienced a number of complications, including a breech birth.
When it was time to deliver, Vilimaina endured a dramatic Caesarean at the North Shore Hospital in Auckland.
“It was a worrying and stressful time – such a big operation with many doctors. It was touch and go, and pretty serious,” she remembers.
But she wasn’t about to give up, and with her husband’s loving support, Vilimaina was determined to be a mother.
Miraculously, the brave sportswoman gave birth to her precious and bonny daughter, who weighed a healthy 4.15kg (9lb 2oz).
Desperate to hear her baby’s first cries, as soon as Bibiana made a sound Vilimaina was able to relax.
Holding Bibiana in her arms, the netball star says her new arrival was ‘worth everything we went through’.
“Holding her in my arms for the first time was just a magical moment,” the proud mother recalls.
The first people to offer congratulations have been many Silver Ferns, who shared the court with their mate “Vili”.
“I’ve had lots of support from the girls. They were thrilled for me – most saying, ‘About bloody time!’” she laughs.
Vilimaina is taking time off from her job in recruitment to care for her daughter. She will continue working in netball as a coach for local Auckland teams.
She loves being a mother, and compares the joyous feeling to when she helped the Silver Ferns win the Netball World Championships in 2003 and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2006.
“Being a mother is like receiving another gold,” Vilimaina explains.
“There are many stories to tell Bibiana when she gets older. I will share with her what I went through and remind her just how special she is.”
Photos: Caren Davis • Hair, Make-up & styling: Luisa Petch
