'It Could Have Taken My Babies': Celina Jaitley Recalls Battling Rare Liver Condition During Pregnancy Which 'Broke' Her
Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley took to social media on Thursday (June 19) to share a story about her battle with cholestasis of pregnancy, a rare and potentially dangerous liver condition she faced during both of her twin pregnancies.
In a post titled "When the Itch Could Have Taken My Babies: My Battle With Cholestasis", Celina revealed that she was born with a rare genetic tendency to hyper ovulate, which led to two spontaneous twin pregnancies.
The trait, she shared, has been passed down through generations in her family, often with tragic consequences. "My mother too had carried twins after my brother and me - babies she tragically lost after a fall in Ranikhet. Even my great-great-grandmother died from complications during a twin pregnancy," she wrote.
Celina described both her pregnancies as overwhelming, marked by gestational diabetes, severe SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), and cholestasis - an under-recognised condition more common in twin pregnancies. "It starts with itching palms, soles, sleepless nights and a deep fear for your baby's safety. Cholestasis isn't 'just a pregnancy itch.' It's a warning from your liver that something's wrong," she explained.
She credited her gynaecologist for an early diagnosis and recalled a moving moment with her hepatologist, a Jordanian doctor in Dubai, who prayed with her during treatment. "A man of science and faith. That moment of compassion stayed with me and reminded me of how important compassion is to a patient," she said.
Urging pregnant women to take symptoms like persistent itching seriously, she advised, "Ask for a bile acid test. Early detection can save lives."
Celina concluded her Instagram post with a powerful message. "Pregnancy is sacred, but vulnerable. That's why I want to keep speaking openly about maternal health. Because silence never saved a mother. But awareness just might," she wrote.
In March 2012, Celina and her husband Peter Haag welcomed twin boys in Dubai. They named them Winston and Viraaj. In 2017, Celina welcomed her second set of twin boys, however, one of the boys passed away shortly after birth due to a congenital heart condition, while the other one survived following a critical stay in the NICU.
The actress, who made her debut in Bollywood with the film Janasheen in 2003, has appeared in several films, including Apna Sapna Money Money, Zinda, Tom, Dick, and Harry, Golmaal Returns, and No Entry.
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