Macdonald and wife Willow celebrated the birth of their first child, daughter Juno Rose Macdonald, at Dunedin Hospital at 9.35am yesterday.
By mid-afternoon, the new parents were home with their 3.1kg baby.
"I think I'm the proudest father in the world at the moment," he said.
"It's a pretty special feeling. I can't take the smile off my face.
"Both Willow and Juno are doing outstanding. It was an awesome effort. I'm extremely proud of Willow."
Macdonald said his wife was admitted to hospital just over an hour before the baby arrived.
He will not travel to Napier with the Otago team for Saturday's game against Hawkes Bay.
"It's our first child, and I want to be here to support Willow as much as I can," Macdonald said.
"It works out all right because I will hopefully get to play my 50th game for Otago at home next week."
Macdonald said he would be delighted if his daughter could watch him raise his half-century for Otago against Bay of Plenty at Carisbrook next week.
"That would be nice. We'll get her a wee blue and gold hat and scarf and she'll be right."
