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Halle Berry gave birth to her daughter Nahla prematurely in March 2008. Although Nahla was born a few weeks early, she was healthy and weighed 5 pounds at the time of her birth. In interviews, Berry has spoken about her struggle with infertility and how she had given up hope of becoming a mother before learning she was pregnant with Nahla. Berry has also said that having a child has been the greatest blessing of her life.
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When Beyoncé was pregnant with Rumi and Sir, the twins she had with Jay-Z, she had to undergo an emergency C-section, and she shared her experience in an interview with 'Vogue'.The mother of three remembers: "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." She added, "During my recovery, I gave myself love and self-care, and I accepted to be more curvaceous. I accepted what my body wanted to be."
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The son of Christina Aguilera, Max, was born several weeks premature and had to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before he could go home. Aguilera has spoken about the emotional toll the experience had on her, saying that it was difficult to see her newborn son hooked up to machines in the hospital. She also shared that the experience made her appreciate the importance of maternal and newborn care.
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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's twins, Moroccan and Monroe, were born prematurely at 35 weeks via C-section. The premature birth was caused by Mariah's high blood pressure due to preeclampsia. The singer was 40 years old at the time of their birth, which also happened to be the couple's wedding anniversary on April 30, 2011.
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The former Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima and her ex-husband Marko Jaric had to welcome their daughter, Valentina, earlier than expected due to Lima developing pre-eclampsia. Lima spoke about her baby's stay in the NICU and how she wished she could have taken her home earlier, but it wasn't possible due to the health condition. As a mother, she wanted to ensure the best for her baby and the experience was stressful for her.
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Proving yet again how common it is for twins to be born prematurely, Angelina Jolie and ex-husband Brad Pitt's twins, Knox and Vivienne, also arrived ahead of schedule. The actress told 'Hello! Magazine': "I knew that, like all twins, they would be premature, so when I saw that they were big and screaming with healthy lungs, I was calm."
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To celebrate Priyank Chopra Jonas' first Mother's Day, she and husband Nick Jonas shared the story of their daughter's premature birth, writing in a coordinated Instagram post: "
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."
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Although Anna Faris and Chris Pratt went their separate ways as a couple in 2017, they remain co-parents to their son Jack, who was born several months prematurely. Faris shared her preterm labor 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." She added, "I was in 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."
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Julia Roberts and her husband Danny welcomed their twins early on November 28, 2004, although they weren't due until January. Phinnaeus and Hazel weighed just over 3 pounds each, and there were no complications.
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Zoe Saldana and her husband Marco Perego's twins, Bowie and Cy, were born prematurely, and Saldana told 'People' about her experience: "When I was in the neonatal intensive care unit with my two children, I became like all the parents who were in that floor. My husband and I were at the mercy of the nurses and doctors: the lives of our children depended on their every move."
Preterm birth is a serious concern for many parents, although there are some known risk factors, it can occur without warning.
Many celebrities have also faced this challenge, and their stories can be both moving and inspiring. Here are some of the most heartwarming celebrity preterm birth stories.