Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, the daughter of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, was born at 28 weeks gestation, classifying her as "extremely" premature. This means she arrived 12 weeks before her anticipated due date.
Understanding Malti Marie's Early Arrival
Malti Marie's birth at 28 weeks places her in the category of babies born significantly early. At the time of her birth, she was so small that her mother described her as "smaller than my hand." Priyanka Chopra Jonas was in the operating room when her daughter was delivered.
What Does "Extremely Premature" Entail?
A typical full-term pregnancy spans approximately 40 weeks. Any birth occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation is considered premature. The term "extremely premature" is used for infants born particularly early, often before 28 weeks of gestation. Malti Marie's arrival at exactly 28 weeks falls squarely into this category.
To provide context, prematurity is generally classified as follows:
- Late Preterm: Babies born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of gestation.
- Moderately Preterm: Babies born between 32 and 34 completed weeks of gestation.
- Very Preterm: Babies born before 32 completed weeks of gestation.
- Extremely Preterm: Babies born before 28 completed weeks of gestation.
Babies born this early typically require extensive medical care, often including a prolonged stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), due to their underdeveloped organs and systems. Malti Marie's journey home after her early birth involved a significant period in the NICU, highlighting the specialized care required for extremely premature infants.
