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Holly’s Little Charmed One

Baby Finley has woven a magic spell over new mum Holly Marie Combs

Fans of Network Ten’s witchy hit Charmed are on tenterhooks waiting for this week’s finale, when the show’s resident mum, Piper, gives birth to her second child. For Piper’s, alter-ego Holly Marie Combs, it was a dress rehearsal - just nine days after the cast wrapped the episode, she was in hospital giving birth to her real-life son, Finley Arthur Donoho.

Finley was born in Los Angeles on April 26, weighing 3.5 kilos.

Delighted Holly and her husband David Donoho have chosen to introduce him to the world exclusively through Woman’s Day.

Finley arrived by caesarean - it wasn’t Holly’s preference, but her doctor insisted. At 24, she had a massive fibroid tumour removed from her uterus.

"The surgery created a weak spot and the doctors were afraid that it might tear with labour and contractions," says Holly, 30.

With these complications, Holly feels lucky to have fallen pregnant at all. "They told me it might be really hard for me to get pregnant, but it was really easy for me - it was literally the first time we tried!" she laughs.

Holly was seven months pregnant when she and David eloped and wed last Valentine’s Day. They knew they were having a son and had plenty of time to set up Finley’s nursery at their ranch house outside LA.

"I wanted the room green, because I didn’t want it to be the typical boy-blue. I also wanted to keep it neutral in case we have more kids," she says.

But Finley will spend most days on the Charmed set with Holly as she shoots series seven.

"When we were interviewing nannies, most just assumed they would stay home with the baby. I said ’No, you’ve got to come with me - and I leave at 6am!’

"As well, our crew is mostly women, so I have so many babysitters there. No-one’s going to get any work done!"