Jessica Marais Gives Birth

Marais & Stewart at the 2011 Logies

Jessica Marais has welcomed a baby girl with her fiancé James Stewart early this morning in Sydney.

“It is with much joy and pride that Jessica Marais and James Stewart announce the birth of their baby girl, Scout Edie Stewart,” a representative for Marais revealed in a statement. “Scout was born on Wednesday 9th May at 5:41pm. Baby, Mum and Dad are doing well.”

This is the first child for couple, who became engaged in October and announced their pregnancy in November, having first met as co-stars Seven’s hit Packed To The Rafters.

The loved-up new parents, who have yet to announce a wedding date, had last been photographed ahead of the birth soaking up the autumn sunshine at a their local inner-west Sydney park on May 6, where a glowing Marais flaunted her large baby bump and was all smiles as Stewart showered her with kisses.

Marais, courtesy of Facebook

Speaking to WHO in February, an “excited” Stewart, 36, told of his anticipation at becoming a first-time dad. “I am starting to get nervous. I just want to meet them!” he said. “I’m so ready to offer myself up to a completely new perspective in life.”

Logie-winning Marais, 27, who quit Rafters in early 2011, recently made her international TV debut in Magic City. Stewart has revealed last week will be taking time out from acting to be a stay-at-home dad as she heads Stateside to fulfil publicity commitments: “I think Jess will be fine, maternal is just a part of her,” he said. “I’ll have a bit of time off from rafters so I’ll go and hang out in her set caravan.”

Speaking to Today Tonight last week, “I come from a place where it’s not weird for fathers to stay at home,” he explained. “And I’ve got plenty of mates who are doing that, where the women are going to work.”

Stewart also revealed an inkling he was expecting a daughter: “I think it’s a girl, my mum thinks it’s a boy, and I think Jess thinks it’s a boy.”

Having welcomed a daughter, it seems Stewart, who plays tradie Jake on Rafters, wont be opposed to expanding their brood: “I always joke that I wanted a boy as my first, but boy, girl, gay, we just want healthy,” he told WHO in February. “I do think that if I have a daughter that looks like Jess, we’re going to need brothers!”