Having a baby is always an emotionally intense experience. The highs of welcoming a new life (plus, for some of us, the real joy of not being pregnant anymore) meet the lows of worrying about whether both mom and baby will be safe and healthy following the delivery. Happily for most families, the birth goes well, and everyone gets to leave the hospital or birthing center in a day or two. But for about 10% to 15% of babies, some extra help and support is needed to bring them home safely.
September is NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) Awareness Month, which is a time to reflect on what happens when the first days, weeks, and even months of a new life might just be the hardest. It’s also a time to recognize all of the brave families and caring medical professionals who work so hard to support sick and/or premature babies.
For better or worse, being a NICU parent is an unforgettable experience, and a number of famous moms and dads know that all too well. In honor of NICU Awareness Month, we’re sharing the stories of 15 celebrity parents (or couples) who’ve opened up about their own experiences with having a sick or premature baby who needed the extra care that only the NICU can provide.
Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas
Jill Duggar
Jill Duggar recently shared a tender photo from her son Freddy’s time in the NICU and gave kudos to one of the places that provided her family with much-needed support. “We had a little bit of a NICU stay because he was born a little early and needed some extra adjustment time … shout-out to the #ronaldmcdonaldhousecharities for all they do to support families!! Thank you!”
Anna Faris & Chris Pratt
Jack, the son shared by Anna Faris and ex-husband Chris Pratt, was born nine weeks early and weighed less than 4 lbs. at birth. Since his birth and time in the NICU — a period that Anna described in her memoir, Unqualified, as “emotionally exhausting” — Anna has been a vocal supporter of organizations that support premature babies.
Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña did double NICU duty when her twin sons, Cy and Bowie, spent time there in 2014. She shared her gratitude that her boys had excellent medical care. “My husband and I were at the mercy of our nurses and doctors. Our children’s lives depended on their every move,” she said of the experience.
Danielle Fishel
Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel and husband Jensen Karp’s son Adler spent three weeks in the NICU as a result of a rare medical condition called chylothorax, which affected his lungs. The actress shared on Instagram her joy when Adler was finally well enough to go home.
“Adler is 3 weeks old today and officially a NICU graduate! Thank you to everyone at @childrensla and especially our primary nurses @cassiejosharrod and @quyenlyyy. We never wanted to know this hospital and its staff so well but now that we do, we can say with certainty there is no better place for children with medical needs. Now we hope to never be back. 🙂 Finally, our love and hugs to every single parent who has ever spent time in the NICU, and especially those we left behind today.”
Chris & Morgane Stapleton
Country music artists Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s twin boys, Macon and Samuel, arrived more than a month ahead of schedule, but thankfully they only had to spend a short time in the NICU. After their birth, which was announced during an awards show by none other than country legend Reba McEntire, Morgane posted a rare picture of her babies on Instagram.
“We’re so grateful to finally be home with our sweet family,” she wrote. “We would like to say a special thank you to all the incredible nurses and doctors at Centennial Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Nashville. At more than a month early, we had a weeklong stay in the NICU, and the incredible people there kept our boys healthy and happy. Words cannot express our gratitude for you all and what you did for our family.”
Beyoncé & Jay-Z
Although Beyoncé and Jay-Z have largely kept their twins, Rumi and Sir, out of the public eye, Beyoncé has shared some details about their early days in the NICU. In her essay for Vogue, she recounted the experience, which began with her suffering toxemia and being put on bed rest.
“My health and my babies’ health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU,” she wrote. “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. 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.”
