SIBUSISIWE AWAITS MIRACLE BABY

THE Queen actor Sibusisiwe Jili is defying the odds with her second miracle pregnancy.

Jili, also known for playing Zanele in Isibaya, is expecting her second child after she was told by a doctor that it was near impossible for her to deliver a full-term baby.

After losing her first baby at the age of 17, Jili was diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and oligohydramnios, which makes it difficult for a baby to grow at a normal rate in the uterus.

But at age 28, Jili had a premature birth, at seven months, to her now healthy five-yearold son, Onke.

“I have a problem with carrying to term. This is why I’m so excited because I’m past my son Onke’s arrival time and I’m experiencing a whole new pregnancy. I have never been this far in any of my pregnancies,” Jili said.

“My first-born was stillborn and then my second one had to be induced and was premature. This is the first time I’m able to do a pregnancy shoot.

“I was told with my case that I will never carry children.

“I was diagnosed with a condition that meant I have a small womb and that any of my kids won’t survive past five months.

“But I thought you can’t be playing God with people’s lives and this was after I had lost my first baby at seven months. They had found out that she had stopped growing at five months.

“We are all spiritual beings, so I tapped a lot into that. I went within and prayed a lot. Believe in your path. It really hurt and getting to where I am now was a struggle.”

Jili is due in March and it’s the first pregnancy that she has carried past seven months.

“I’m not nervous, but I’m in a state of peace and with this pregnancy I’m calmer. I feel like I’m more present and just going with the flow. It’s just a matter of listening to my body.”

Jili’s pregnancy will not be written into her storyline on The Queen, where she plays slay queen cop Georgina Zulu.

“I’m going to make a quiet exit for the duration of my maternity leave.

“We had to shoot a lot of the scenes in Georgina’s casual clothing, when she’s not in her police uniform, ahead of schedule,” Jili said.

“With the police uniform it was easier to get away with it but very difficult with everyday clothing.”

Jili joins a long list of celebrities that are either expectant parents or have welcomed their bundle of joy recently.

These include Skeem Saam actor Pebetsi Matlaila, singer Loyiso Bala and Generations: The Legacy star Manaka Ranaka. - Sowetan.