A new mum invited her husband's ex-wife to be her birth doula - and says she even helps her breastfeed, changes the newborn's nappies and is the tot's 'third parent'.
Summer Trent Garcia, 28, hasn’t always had a close relationship with her husband’s ex, Dani Walsh, 29.
Summer met her husband, JJ Garcia, 32, a professional fighter, just a few months after he split from his 10-year on and off relationship with Dani, an officer manager.
Dani - who shares daughter, Lydia Garcia, eight, with JJ - felt "resentment" for Summer at first and blamed her for their break-up at the time.
But when JJ proposed to Summer, she convinced Dani to go for a drink and the pair hit it off - realising they had lots in common and a shared love for Lydia.
Now they count each other as best friends and go for drinks, dinner and get their nails done together.
Summer fell pregnant with her baby boy, Sage, now two weeks old, in January 2023 and says Dani was there for her throughout the pregnancy – rubbing her shoulders and answering her questions.
The whole blended family were there when Sage was born on September 13, 2023, weighing 7lbs 15oz and Dani is now on hand to help Summer breastfeed, change nappies and cook dinner.
Summer, a person trainer, who lives in Sarasota, Florida, US, said: “In the beginning it was really bad between us.
“Now she’s one of my best friends.
“She’s had a baby with JJ – she knows what it’s like to carry his child as well.
“She was giving me tips, answering my questions. She’d rub my shoulders.
“The minute I went into labour her, and Lydia came to the hospital.
“It was beautiful.
“Now Dani helps me breastfeed and changes diapers.
“She’s basically another parent for Sage as well.”
Dani said: "I helped her with labour.
"I was her doula. I wanted to be there to help with contractions."
Summer met JJ in the gym in May 2018 and struggled to get along with Dani at first.
She said: “Her and JJ had been broken up for a couple of months, so it was really fresh.
“They’d been on and off for years.
“In her eyes for a while I was the reason they broke up.”
Dani said: "It was hard for me to have someone enter into the picture.
"I wanted to reject her love. There was resentment."
JJ popped the question to Summer on Thanksgiving 2020 and his new fiancé knew she wanted to keep trying to forge a relationship with Dani – for Lydia’s sake.
She said: “By the time we got engaged – I said 'we’re going to have to talk if you like it or not'.
“Lydia deserves to have people who communicate.
“We met up for a drink and realised we had lots in common.
“Our friendship took off.
“We have similar views on spirituality and wellness. Our personalities meshed really well.”
The pals started meeting up and now consider each other best friends.
Summer said: “We go for drinks, dinner, and get our nails done.”
