Celebrity Parents Who Had Premature Births Babies
Did you know that, according to the CDC and the most recent data, 1 in 10 American babies was born too early in 2022? The health organization defines premature (or preterm) birth as “when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed” out of the 40-week term. The earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk is for serious disability or even, devastatingly, death.
Although there are some factors that can contribute to premature birth — being pregnant with more than one baby, tobacco and substance use, and becoming pregnant again less than 18 months after giving birth — it can still occur even with no known risk factors.
To help us reflect on the commonality of premature birth, we’re sharing premie stories from celebrity parents who’ve gone through the worrying experience and come out the other side with healthy, happy children. From Nick and Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, here are some of the most relatable and touching celebrity premie stories to remind you you’re not alone in your journey.
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Tan & Rob France
When Tan France introduced his son Ismail to the world in August 2021, he also revealed that the baby boy had been born prematurely.
Taking to Instagram to share a photo of himself, his husband Rob, and their newborn, the Queer Eye star wrote, “He came 7 weeks early, so he’s been in the NICU for the past 3 weeks. But, today, we finally got to bring him home. We love him so, so much. Like, fully obsessed.”
France and his husband Rob also share a second son, Isaac.
Nick & Priyanka Chopra Jonas
In celebration of Priyank Chopra Jonas‘ first Mother’s Day, she and husband Nick Jonas shared their daughter’s premature birth story, writing in a coordinating post on Instagram, “On this Mother’s Day we can’t help but reflect on these last few months and the rollercoaster we’ve been on, which we now know, so many people have also experienced. After 100 plus days in the NICU, our little girl is finally home.”
They continued, “Every family’s journey is unique and requires a certain level of faith, and while ours was a challenging few months, what becomes abundantly clear, in retrospect, is how precious and perfect every moment is. We are overjoyed that our little girl is finally home, and just want to thank every Doctor, nurse and specialist at Rady Children’s La Jolla and Cedar Sinai, Los Angeles, who were there selflessly every step of the way. Our next chapter begins now, and our baby is truly a badass. Let’s get it MM! Mommy and Daddy love you.”
Gordon & Tana Ramsay
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana welcomed their twins, Jack and Holly, seven weeks early, and have kept the experience close to their hearts several decades later by partnering with Pampers in 2020 to help parents of premature babies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tana told Hello! Magazine, “I remember the actual shock, how useless you feel when you go into labor early and suddenly you’ve got these two tiny little babies, so helpless and vulnerable whisked away from you into intensive care.”
She also spoke of the difficulties she and Gordon faced regarding caring for their 18-month-old daughter, Megan, while the twins were in the NICU, recalling, “We had to say, ‘OK, the most sensible thing is, I’ll be at the hospital with the babies and you look after the toddler’. You have to be practical as much as it pains you because you want to be everywhere. You have to focus.”
Zoe Saldana & Marco Perego
Zoe Saldana and husband Marco Perego’s twins, Bowie and Cy, were born prematurely, and Saldana told People of the experience, “When I was in the neonatal intensive care unit with my two sons, I became like every parent that was on that floor. My husband and I were at the mercy of our nurses and doctors — our children’s lives depended on their every move.”
The Marvel actress continued, “I was a parent and my children were the ones that benefitted from having excellent services from the hospital. And I want that for every parent. I want that for every child.”
Beyoncé & Jay-Z
When Beyoncé was pregnant with her and husband Jay-Z’s twins, Rumi and Sir, she had to undergo an emergency C-section, and she shared her experience in an interview with Vogue.
The mom of three recalled, “I was swollen from toxemia and had been on bed rest for over a month. My health and my babies’ health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU. My husband was a soldier and such a strong support system for me. I am proud to have been a witness to his strength and evolution as a man, a best friend, and a father.”
She continued, “I was in survival mode and did not grasp it all until months later. Today I have a connection to any parent who has been through such an experience.”
Chris & Morgane Stapleton
Parents of yet another set of premature twins, Morgane and Chris Stapleton’s sons, Macon and Samuel, arrived over a month early. After their birth, Morgane wrote in a message to fans, “Thank you for all the love! We’re so grateful to finally be home with our sweet family. We would like to say a special thank you to all the incredible nurses & doctors at Centennial Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Nashville.”
She continued, “At more than a month early, we had a week-long stay in the NICU & the incredible people there kept our boys healthy & happy. Words cannot express our gratitude for you all & what you did for our family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
Proving once again just how common it is for twins to be born prematurely, Angelina Jolie and ex-husband Brad Pitt’s twins, Knox and Vivienne, arrived ahead of schedule as well.
The actress told Hello! Magazine, “I knew that like all twins they’d be premature, so when I saw they were big and screaming with healthy lungs, I was at peace.”
Vanessa & Nick Lachey
Vanessa and Nick Lachey’s son, Phoenix, arrived 11 weeks early, and while she was competing on Dancing With the Stars, Vanessa opened up about how scary the experience was for her.
The mother of three shared, “I was in the hospital on bed rest, and then my water broke. I was only 29 weeks.” She continued, “I was on the operating bed and I looked up and I didn’t know a single face and I remembered thinking, ‘I hope the baby’s okay, and don’t worry about me. Just make him okay.'”
Anna Faris & Chris Pratt
Although they went separate ways as a couple in 2017, Anna Faris and Chris Pratt still co-parent their son, Jack, who was born several months early.
Faris shared her preterm birth experience with Redbook, explaining, “My water broke in the middle of the night at seven months. We rushed to the hospital, and they were able to halt active labor with magnesium. I was at the hospital and the goal was to be in bed for four weeks… But on the seventh day, I went into labor again. I was in denial. For hours I was like, ‘I’m just having indigestion.’ Chris and I were so scared, but when Jack came out, even though he was so tiny, he looked so good to us.”
Adriana Lima & Marko Jaric
Former Victoria’s Secret Angel Adriana Lima and ex-husband Marko Jaric welcomed their daughter, Valentina, early due to the model developing pre-eclampsia. Lima spoke of her baby’s NICU stay, telling People, “I wish I had her at home, but it wasn’t possible in my case. As a parent you really want to give your best and you don’t want [anything] to happen with the baby, so it was stressful.”
Sarah Drew & Peter Lanfer
Actress Sarah Drew and husband Peter Lanfer welcomed their daughter, Hannah, nearly four weeks early after Drew had spent the day filming her birth scene as Dr. April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy.
She spoke to Access Hollywood of her preterm birth experience, explaining, “[Hannah] had a lung infection and so she had to be put on antibiotics. She was in the NICU for 11 days, which was really hard. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
Drew continued, “Being discharged without your baby is sort of the worst thing in the world and you don’t really — with a NICU baby — you don’t have time to recover.”
Fetty Wap & Alexis Skyy
Rapper Fetty Wap and his girlfriend at the time, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star Alexis Skyy, welcomed their daughter Alaiya three months early. In an Instagram Live video recorded at the hospital, Skyy explained that both she and the rapper were premies, adding, “They’re gonna have me in the hospital for a long time and I just pray that everything do good. She’s okay, she’s fine.”
After Alaiya’s birth, TMZ reported that the little girl suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition that causes bleeding and fluid in the brain. Her condition led to emergency brain surgery in 2019 to “repair a malfunctioning implant in her brain that helps drain blood and fluids,” but she appears to be happy and healthy today.
Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw welcomed their daughter Audrey nearly eight weeks early. In honor of her 18th birthday, McGraw shared two videos of her as a little kid on Instagram, writing, “I woke up this morning and thought a long time about this day 18 years ago. This little angel came to us 7 1/2 weeks early.”
He continued, “Faith and I did a lot of praying and stayed all day every day for 2 1/2 weeks in the NICU at Baptist Hospital with such incredible nurses. And now she is beautiful, vibrant and the most remarkable young woman who lights up the life of everyone she knows.”
Danielle Fishel & Jensen Karp
Danielle Fishel and husband Jensen Karp’s son, Alder, was born a month in advance of his due date, and like many premie babies, he had to endure a lengthy stay in the NICU until he was strong enough to go home.
The actress told People, “It’s a real long, slow process in the NICU. If we have one thing to tell people about, if someone is going into the NICU with their child, it would be: Do not think you’re only going to be here for 48 hours or 72 hours. Maybe you will be and that will be great, but just think about this as being a marathon and not sprint. You’re here for a while, and nothing moves quickly.”
Sherri Shepherd & Jeff Tarpley
The View’s Sherri Shepherd and then-husband Jeff Tarpley became pregnant with twins in 2004, and her journey was anything but easy. Shepherd experienced a miscarriage with one of the twins at 11 weeks, and the surviving twin, Jeffrey, was born 15 weeks early and endured a three-month-long hospital stay. The talk show host recalled, “My son was fighting for his life… I remember saying, ‘I will never laugh again.'”
Bethenny Frankel & Jason Hoppy
Real Housewives of New York City star and SkinnyGirl founder Bethenny Frankel gave birth to her and ex-husband Jason Hoppy’s daughter, Bryn, five weeks early. Once the family was able to settle at home after their NICU stay, Frankel told People, “We were in this dark little room with our baby. It was almost like Survivor — where we were fending for ourselves. We couldn’t stop staring at her.”
