Dancer and TV personality Oti Mabuse has revealed the details of the premature birth of her tiny daughter who made it home in time to celebrate Christmas.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star and I’m A Celebrity contestant, announced the birth of her baby daughter on social media on Christmas day. However, the professional dancer has since revealed that her little girl, whose name has not been shared publicly, was born 10 weeks early, weighing under 3lbs, and only came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve.
Mabuse spoke recently on a podcast, revealing the details behind the birth announcement that she made last Christmas. Despite sharing a photograph on Christmas day of the family in matching festive clothes, Mabuse has since revealed that her daughter only made it home from neonatal intensive care on Christmas Eve after six weeks of treatment at London’s University College Hospital.
She said that she had a “beautiful” pregnancy and, as it was the birth of her first child, did not realise the milestones that would lie ahead for a baby born 10 weeks early.
Recalling the challenges that her little girl faced, Mabuse thanked the hospital for the care they gave her daughter who was very small at birth and could not breathe or eat by herself. Mabuse said “Those nurses deal with babies this size, with organs that are this tiny. They give them such beautiful care. They are protecting them”.
A long journey with a happy ending
Born at 28 weeks and weighing less than 3lbs, the little girl’s parents were not allowed to hold her for a week as she had tests carried out and had to be kept in an incubator.
Despite these challenges, Mabuse said that she felt reassured by medical professionals that her daughter would be fine, she would just have to go through a long journey to get there. The professional dancer spoke with pride about seeing her daughter in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “I saw her and I just felt like, there’s my baby. She’s a strong little girl, this is tough and scary right now for her because she’s not in the womb anymore, but she’s safe and she’s going to be OK”.
After six weeks in the NICU, Mabuse and her husband brought their little girl home on Christmas Eve. The 34-year-old star said that making it home in time for Christmas “felt like our Christmas gift”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson said “It’s heartwarming to hear about this little girl overcoming so many medical challenges and making it home for Christmas. Reading about Mabuse’s baby born at 28 weeks, who is now thriving, reminds us of the amazing advances in medical technology that allow such premature babies to get all the care they need to grow and develop. We hope they have a lovely Christmas together again as a family this year”.
