Alison Sweeney wasn't expecting to give birth on Jan. 12. But when she dropped into the hospital for a check-up in full hair and makeup after a long day on the set of NBC's “The Biggest Loser,” the host, then 9-months pregnant with a baby girl, recalls, “My doctor was a little concerned and said, 'I don't want to leave her in there one more day!'”
After having labor induced, Sweeney, 31, gave birth to Megan Hope Sanov at 11:48 that same night.
Sweeney describes her surprise — and her husband Dave Sanov's mad dash to the delivery room just in time for the birth — in the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
At home in Los Angeles, little Megan already has her dad, a California Highway Patrolman, “wrapped around her little finger,” Sweeney says. Not to mention her big brother, Ben, 4: “He pets her on the head and calls her cutie-pie!”
Pink and brown nursery
Megan's nursery is decked out in pink and brown tones with sage green accents, a feminine chandelier, and traditional Bellini furniture. Tradition, too, dictated Megan's name: “There have been a lot of quirky, unusual celebrity baby names. But we wanted people to be able to spell it. We wanted it to be more timeless,” Sweeney tells PEOPLE.
There's nothing old-fashioned about Sweeney's post-baby workout routine, however. The star was back on the “The Biggest Loser” set just eight days after the birth — and returned to her role as Sami Brady on soap opera “Days of Our Lives” just six days after that — has been turning to her Nintendo Wii for help. Sweeney is the proud owner of a new fitness program, called EA Active, and has been following its lead to help bust her baby weight.
“When do I have time to go to the gym?” asks Sweeney. “It really is like a personal trainer in a box. It's perfect. I recommend it to all mothers!”