I'm A Celeb's Oti Mabuse gives emotional update one year on from bringing baby daughter home from hospital
Dancing on Ice judge Oti Mabuse has shared an emotional Instagram post to mark the one year anniversary of the day she and husband Marius Lapure brought their baby daughter home from the hospital for the first time. Oti, who recently returned from the Australian jungle after appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! marked the date with a lovely collection of photos featuring their daughter and their family celebrating her first Christmas in 2023.
Oti also wrote: “One year ago today, we brought our baby girl home from the hospital, and it still feels like a dream. After weeks of incredible care from the midwives at UCLH (thank you doesn’t even cover it), she was finally ready — breathing on her own, eating on her own, and at the right weight.”
“I remember that first car ride home, holding my breath the whole way, overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief. The world suddenly felt brighter — Christmas lights twinkling, our family waiting to welcome her, and the darkest days behind us. From that day, December 23rd, until forever, she’s been our greatest joy. Today, she’s sassy, hilarious, full of energy, and fills our home with laughter and love,” she continued.
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“This journey has taught us so much about strength, hope, and family. We’re so lucky to have her, and we’ll never stop being grateful for this miracle.”
Celebrities including Sam Quek, Dianne Buswell and Fleur East were among those who liked the post, while Oti’s sister Motsi, who appears in some of Oti’s Christmas photos, commented: “Our angel she brings so much joy to the family!!! Time flies! We love you sunshine!”
Earlier this year, Oti shared the dramatic story of how she and Marius welcomed their daughter early when she was born prematurely and had to spend six weeks in an incubator.
On Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, she said: “I think we didn't hold her for about a week, because she was still in an incubator with wires, with jaundice, so she was under blue light. And she had infections because it turned out that I had sepsis. And it's something that was missed or was not seen or was not tested for.”
Oti also expressed her gratitude towards her close friend Steph McGovern, who generously offered her flat for Oti and her husband, Marius, to stay in during this difficult time. "My really, really good friend Steph McGovern had given us her flat to live in, she gave up her home and said 'you and Marius can use this place for as long as you want,'" Oti revealed. "So we were able to have a home and not be far from the hospital."
