Priyanka Chopra Jonas details lengthy hospital stay after daughter’s premature birth

Priyanka Chopra Jonas has opened up about the difficulties her baby girl faced following her premature birth last January.

The actress and husband Nick Jonas, who wed back in 2018, welcomed daughter Malti via surrogate to the world on Jan. 21, 2022. However, the newborn spent her first 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Speaking with Vogue UK, Chopra admits she didn’t know whether her newborn would make it through the first three months given she was born a full trimester before her due date.

“I didn’t know if she would make it or not,” said Chopra. “I was in the OR [operating room] when she came out. She was so small, smaller than my hand. I saw what the intensive-care nurses do.

“They do God’s work. Nick and I were both standing there as they intubated her. I don’t know how they even found what they needed [in her tiny body] to intubate her.”

Chopra Jonas explained how her and husband Nick made daily visits to the NICU at Rady Children’s Hospital in La Jolla, California, and then Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

“We spent every single day with her on my chest, on my husband’s chest,” she added.

The couple celebrated Mother’s Day at home

Nick Jonas took to Instagram on May 8, 2022 as the couple celebrated Mother’s Day once Malti was allowed to leave the NICU and return home.

“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,” Jonas wrote. “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.

“Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers and care takers out there, but I want to take a minute to say a special Mother’s Day wish to my incredible wife @priyankachopra on her first Mother’s Day. Babe, you inspire me and every way, and you are taking to this new role with such ease and steadiness. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you. You are already an incredible mother. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.”

Malti recently celebrated her first birthday

Nick Jonas recently appeared on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ and shared that the family celebrated Malti’s birthday in style.

“We had to celebrate,” said Jonas. “She went through a pretty wild journey in the early part of her life, so we had to celebrate in style. She’s one. She’s beautiful. It’s amazing - the best.”