Priyanka Chopra shares her baby girl ‘Malti Marie’ spent 100 days in NICU; brings to light the rollercoaster journey of many parents

Not all parents get to go back home with their babies immediately after birth. Some babies spend longer time in the hospital owing to certain health conditions that need expert care. And when these parents are told that the baby will have to spend more time in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), it is crushing and terrifying for them. Many families have to endure the pain of leaving their baby in NICU for more than a few months.So when Priyanka Chopra Jonas, in her Mother’s Day post shared a picture of her and Nick Jonas with their newborn baby Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, sharing that after spending more than 100 days in NICU, their baby is finally home, it was reassuring for many parents whose babies are in NICU as I type this.
In her post, Priyanka Chopra shares, “On this Mother’s Day we can't help but reflect on these last few months and the roller coaster we have 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. 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…”
While there is nothing that can fully prepare a parent to deal with the news, we try to help you with ways to get through the tough period.
First of all, allow yourself to feel the range of emotions. Most people will urge you to be strong and be positive but it’s ok to feel sad, it’s ok to cry. No level of positivity or strength will help you take this phase easily - you will be overwhelmed and learn to accept it.
Second, take a stock of things. Do you research, talk to the doctors and find the best facility and care for your newborn. Find out when you can visit, when the sibling can visit, how many times can the mother feed, how often you can talk to the doctor for updates - all this information will make you feel more equipped and confident.
Find support. You will find many support groups and communities where parents who have been through a similar ordeal or are experiencing them at the same time as you, will be able to support you and suggest ways to take this in a better manner.
Parenting advice from celebrity moms
Familiarize yourself with doctors. There will be several faces you will see of doctors and nurses and knowing them is a good way to be able to ask the right questions. Also find about the shift timings of the nurse on duty so you can get fresh stock of the situation.
Below are some commonly asked questions