Head veterinarian to the Canadian Eventing Team Dr. Christiana Ober DVM, 39, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on June 25 at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, Va., after two days of labor.
Ober and husband Andre Buthe DVM, who serves as head veterinarian for the British Dressage Team, welcomed Luca August Buthe, 8 pounds 9 ounces, into their family at 8:17 p.m.
“[Labor] was long. I was induced Monday night and labored for two days, so I was exhausted, but [Luca’s] doing great, and I feel really good,” said Ober. “Now it’s a combination of being incredibly excited and trying to take in all of the information.”
Ober previously served as Dr. Brendan Furlong’s assistant veterinarian for the U.S. Eventing Team and has worked with the Canadian team for the past 14 years.
“My clients are just being amazing,” said Ober. “I was getting texts about x-rays and coming to see horses, and then I’d get a text back that said, ‘Never mind, you’re in labor! We’ll talk later.’ Just seeing how they respond and how excited they all are for me is amazing.”
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Ober, Ocala, Fla., is also an accomplished Ironman triathlete and has competed in six Ironman races, including the 2006 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. But she admits that being a mother has been more difficult than any race.
“I thought, ‘How tough can [childbirth] really be?’ ” said Ober. “I can tell you, it was exponentially tougher! I have new respect for every woman who has had children. I think I would do another Ironman before I would go through labor again!”
Ober and Andre, 46, met three years ago at an equine veterinary convention and married in August 2012. Andre is originally from Germany, where his family still resides.
“He told the baby that he needed to come out in time for Thursday [June 26]’s World Cup Germany versus United States game, because he had a little Germany jersey for him to wear. Luca did his best to come on Wednesday night so he could watch the World Cup game with daddy on Thursday,” said Ober.
