Premature birth can be incredibly lonely, says Princess Beatrice

Premature birth can be incredibly lonely, says Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice has opened up about the feelings of isolation that can accompany a premature birth, drawing from her personal experience in an interview ahead of World Prematurity Day. Her reflections form part of a wider campaign by Borne, a charity dedicated to premature birth research, which she began supporting as a patron shortly after her daughter arrived several weeks earlier than expected.

Speaking on the podcast, Beatrice shared, “I think so often, especially as mums, we spend our lives, you know, feeling we have to be perfect to do this. And sometimes, when you are faced with that moment of learning that your baby’s going to come a bit early, it can be incredibly lonely.” Her candid remarks highlight the emotional challenges faced by many parents during such unexpected circumstances.

The announcement of Beatrice’s second pregnancy was made public by Buckingham Palace in October of the previous year. She welcomed her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, in January. Originally expected in early spring, Beatrice, who is 37 and the eldest daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York and brother to the King, received medical advice in December to avoid long-distance travel. As a result, she adjusted her plans for the holiday season and stayed closer to home, attending Christmas Day service in Sandringham with her family while being cautioned that her baby might arrive prematurely.

In a March piece for British Vogue, Beatrice reflected on the unpredictability of premature birth, noting, “Nothing quite prepares you for the moment when you realise your baby is going to arrive early… there’s so little control.” Since becoming a patron of Borne, she has expressed enthusiasm for supporting its innovative research programs. Recently, she visited their labs at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as part of the Every Week Counts initiative. According to Borne, 15 million babies worldwide are born prematurely each year, including 60,000—or roughly one in thirteen—in the UK. Prematurity-related complications remain the leading cause of neonatal death and long-term disability. The princess described a “sense of life changing relief” upon learning about the charity’s involvement in vital research and voiced her hope that her advocacy would encourage others with similar experiences to share their stories, fostering a community of mutual support and learning. World Prematurity Day is observed annually by the World Health Organization

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