ABs couple welcome their prem ‘princess’
All Blacks rookie Tamaiti Williams and his partner Alice Weir have become parents to a baby girl born more than three months early.
Kaea Kate Williams was born nearly two weeks ago at 27 weeks gestation and weighing “only . . . 1.4 pounds [0.63kg]”, wrote Williams and Weir under a photo of their new daughter they posted to Instagram late last week.
“We welcomed our little princess Kaea Kate Williams on
07/04/24”, the Crusaders tighthead prop and his partner wrote, accompanied by a heart emoji.
“Alice and baby are doing really well! But we have a long road ahead!”
The black-and-white image shows the 24-year-old Ma¯ori All Black’s hand resting across his daughter’s tiny body inside the incubator.
“We appreciate all the prayers, love and support,” the couple wrote on the joint post.
The Herald asked Williams via his Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific franchise if he wanted to comment further about Kaea’s arrival.
“Tams is keen to hold off for a couple of weeks before talking publicly about it”, a Crusaders’ spokesman said.
“As you can imagine it’s a tender time for him and his family.”
Several All Blacks were among those posting words of support to Wha¯nga¯rei-born Williams and Weir.
Ardie Savea offered his best wishes. “Congrats usoo — prayers and love fams”, wrote Savea, the All Blacks’ 70th test captain.
Dalton Papali’i and Sevu Reece also left heartfelt messages for their All Blacks teammate.
“Congrats my brother! Sending all love”, wrote Papali’i, while Sevu Reece offered “blessings and prayers to you and the girls”.
In New Zealand, about 7 to 10 per cent of babies are born early — before the 37th week of gestation. They are among an estimated 15 million babies born prematurely each year worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation.
The youngest age at which babies can be looked after is about
23 weeks’ gestation.