EXCLUSIVE
The American mother of a girl at the center of an international tug-of-war dispute with the girl’s traditional Australian father has lifted the lid on her whirlwind romance.
Liv Pavlov gave birth to her daughter Ana in the US six weeks ago after she and Sydney carpenter Dan Gaut decided to have a child together just 10 days after meeting.
But Gaut has since flown home alone amid allegations of a bitter custody dispute over the child.
Now Pavlov, 31, has spoken to WhatsNew2Day Australia to give his side of the story and criticize heartless trolls who claim he is scamming money through an online appeal.
She first met Mr Gaut at a spiritual retreat in San Francisco in early 2023, and the couple decided to try to have a child within days of meeting before she flew to Australia.
Ms. Pavlov, a life coach, reiki teacher and tantric healer based in Austin, Texas, said they felt they were “spiritually called to create a baby together.”
And he insists that their relationship only became physical from that point on.
“I would say our relationship began on June 10, when we conceived Ana Rose,” Pavlov explained. ‘(The conception) was spiritual and practical.
“Then I remember Dan asking me if I thought it ‘worked,'” he added.
Dan Gaut traveled to Austin, Texas, to meet newborn Ana Rose, but bringing her back to Australia didn’t go as planned. She appears in the photo with Mrs. Pavlov and Ana.
Gaut met Liv Pavlov at a retreat in San Francisco before they were spiritually called to have a baby together.
Within weeks of becoming pregnant, Pavlov returned to the United States, rekindled a relationship with an old flame and planned to give her unborn child up for adoption, Gaut told A Current Affair last month.
“I will do whatever it takes to be the father and shower her with love,” he insisted.
But Pavlov insists that she and Gaut were never in love and only briefly raised adoption as an option when the couple could not agree on the future of their unborn child.
“A friend of mine had had an abortion and wanted nothing more than to be a mother,” Mrs. Pavlov said.
“At the time we weren’t on the same page about how to effectively raise her once she arrived, so I suggested that perhaps giving her to a loving family would be a better option.
“There was no formal investigation with the adoption agencies and we also did not reach an agreement for him to have exclusive custody rights.”
Gaut told WhatsNew2Day Australia the past 10 months have been a rollercoaster of extreme and devastating highs and lows.
‘Despite everything that has happened, Ana is the innocent one in all of this and just wants to be loved,’ she said.
And I think Liv loves Ana. How can you not?
Liv is a 31-year-old life coach, reiki master and tantric healer who offers services including a six-week, $499 self-study course called ‘F*** Like an Artist.’
Pavlov has revealed that he wants Gaut to be an important part of Ana’s life and share custody of their daughter. In the photo mother and daughter
Last month he traveled to Texas to meet his daughter with the plan of bringing her home to Australia to raise her himself, but that dream was dashed.
“I’m about to accept that if I want to play a meaningful role in my daughter’s life, I’ll probably have to move somewhere I don’t necessarily want to be and give up on my dreams of Ana growing up there.” beautiful Australia with her cousins,” she added.
Pavlov insists he still wants Gaut to be an important part of Ana’s life and for the couple to share custody of their daughter in both the United States and Australia.
“This girl is very loved by her parents and they both want to be in her life,” he says.
“I see a future where she spends time with both parents in the US and Australia.”
The couple have now sought legal advice in the US and are planning mediation in the coming weeks.
“I am so grateful for my incredible support team, who have organized everything, including fundraising, airfare, accommodation, transportation and even legal fees and documentation.” said Mr. Gaut.
Since the story broke, the newborn’s parents have come under fire online after each of them launched GoFundMe campaigns to support themselves while raising baby Ana.
Gaut said the last 10 months have been a rollercoaster of extreme and devastating highs and lows.
They named their baby Ana, from the Sanskrit word Anunta, which means forever and eternity. Above, with crystals on a bib.
This is all starting to sound a little dubious! said one skeptic online.
‘Who plans on getting pregnant after spending so little time together and there are plenty of single working parents who don’t create GoFundMe pages!’
‘Stand on your own two feet, both of you. Appalled at the nerve to seek GoFundMe,” added another.
‘So, the previous GoFundMe for legal fees actually provided her with a five-week vacation and future vacation, and hers is for vacation rentals and food?’ added another.
But Mrs Pavlov has defended her demands for cash.
“I hope we all learn to ask for help when we need it,” he said.
‘I would also say that this is the beauty of the way the world is changing. “Whoever has the resources to share can do so.” she says.
‘I donated hundreds of dollars worth of extra clothes, diapers, etc. that I received and I know Dan did too. ‘