Oti Mabuse has spoken for the first time about the “traumatic” birth of her first child.
The Strictly Come Dancing star announced the birth of her baby daughter in a Christmas Instagram post, but has now explained that she gave birth in the autumn.
Oti explained that her baby daughter was born “very prematurely” and had to spend six weeks in hospital before she was finally discharged just before Christmas.
The dancer described her 16-hour labor and said her daughter was taken away for tests immediately after birth.
Oti, whose husband is fellow dancer Marius Iepure, was diagnosed with sepsis during birth and her daughter suffered infections as a result, leading to a six-week stay in the NICU.
Oti Mabuse has spoken for the first time about the “traumatic” birth of her first child. The Strictly Come Dancing star announced the birth of her baby daughter in a Christmas Instagram post, but has now explained that she gave birth in the autumn
“She was a very early birth, she came really, really early – an unexpected premature birth, which was a big, big shock,” she told the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast.
“It was really nice to go through the emotional trauma that you go through when you have a premature baby, and then being in the hospital with the little one for six weeks and finally having her home with friends and family for Christmas.”
Oti said her baby, who was born in a British hospital last fall, was in a “traumatic” condition for the first six weeks.
Despite an initially smooth pregnancy, during which she felt “sexy,” “empowered,” and saw her skin “glow,” she was told at 28 weeks before the premature birth that she had gestational diabetes.
“When I first saw her I was shocked that I had done it and she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life – beautiful,” she said.
“The moment you're so happy and excited and it's lasted 16 hours and then they're taken away.”
“Because now that she was born really tiny, really small, they had to check for infections, whether her lungs were okay, whether she could eat on her own, whether all her organs had developed and she was doing well enough.”
While the birth itself was “incredible, calm and everything she wanted,” she added: “The last part wasn't what I wanted, where you see your child for two minutes and then surrounded by a group of people.” ten midwives and doctors are picked up.” .
Oti explained that her baby daughter was born “very prematurely” and had to spend six weeks in hospital before she was finally discharged just before Christmas (pictured last week with her husband Marius Iepure).
The dancer detailed her 16-hour labor and said her daughter was taken away for tests immediately after birth
“The last ten weeks have been hard but her life has changed,” she said as she revealed how the true celebration of her baby's birth began when they bought her a house for Christmas
“That's when things start to change and things start to hit you and you don't get as much skin on skin and you can't hold your baby anymore.”
“I think we didn't hold her for about a week because she was still in an incubator with wires and jaundice, so she was under blue light.”
“She had infections because it turned out I had sepsis and that was something that was missed or not tested for.”
However, she was very grateful for the care her baby received.
“The NHS, midwives, doctors and consultants were amazing,” she added.
“Being in the hospital and discovering this new world, the world of newborns that as a mother you don't think you'll ever end up in until you're in it – my emotions were so high because it's Christmas time.
“It's not what you imagined.” I was brought down in a wheelchair, you can't get up. The first thing you want to do is hold the baby, but you can't, you just have to look at it.
“And I remember crying because I couldn't get the wheelchair close enough to her bed, and that was traumatic and very emotionally draining.”
The Strictly Come Dancing star announced the birth of her baby daughter in a Christmas Instagram post, but has now explained that she gave birth in the autumn
It's been a busy start to the year for Oti, who returned to her role on the Dancing On Ice judging panel just three weeks after announcing the birth of her little girl (pictured with Ashley Banjo, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean).
The new mother has also openly shared the reality of balancing parenthood and work, explaining in her regular Instagram updates what Marius is like at home with her daughter
Oti revealed that her “really, really good friend” Steph McGovern had given us her apartment to live in, she gave up her home and said: “You and Marius can use this apartment as long as you want. So we could have one at home and not be far from the hospital.'
Meanwhile, Oti's parents flew in from South Africa to support the couple and her sister Motsi Mabuse also spent Christmas with them.
“The last 10 weeks have been hard but life-changing,” she said.
“I haven't really talked about it publicly because we went through it and as hard as it was, there were so many learning curves and things to be grateful for.”
It's been a busy start to the year for Oti, who returned to her role on the Dancing On Ice judging panel just three weeks after announcing the birth of her baby girl.
Oti wowed on the live show every Sunday night with a series of stunning looks as she delivered her critiques to the celebrity skaters.
The new mother has also openly shared the reality of balancing parenthood and work, explaining in her regular Instagram updates how Marius is at home with her daughter during her DOI commitments.