She and her husband have been trying for a baby for at least five years.
TV presenter, actress, and influencer Millicent Mashile (33) and husband Pontsho Mashile finally fell pregnant this year with their miracle baby.
On 25 November 2021, Millicent gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Kganya Mashile.
“My husband was obsessing over us getting a girl, but I just wanted a healthy baby,” she tells Drum.
“When I found out it was a girl, it was a bonus, and it created a good balance.”
The twin sister of Skeem Saam actress Innocent Sadiki is mom to 10 years old twins Kamogelo and Karollo Mashile.
“The boys are super excited about the new member of the family. They got a chance to look through the window at the hospital to welcome their sister.”
Still at the hospital and recovering, Millicent is in no rush to go back to work. She wants to take time to enjoy her newborn.
“I will be home for two or three months, but I will continue to do influencing work from home,” she says.
Millicent’s pregnancy was a walk in the park, she says and she enjoyed every minute of it.
“Everything was going smooth, I had no complications at all,” she says.
“I wanted to do a natural birth but my gynecologist advised that I needed to do a C-section because I was already 38 weeks. Even that went well,” she says.
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While they were patiently waiting for their bundle of joy, a tragedy struck the Mashile family and Millicent lost her mother-in-law to lung cancer.
“This was the hardest time of my pregnancy,” she says.
“My mother-in-law passed away from cancer in October while I was heavily pregnant. It was emotionally strenuous. She started getting sick only three months before her death and watching her deteriorate and eventually pass away was emotional.”
Millicent says her mom-in-law had been healthy and once complained about pain in her body.
“She had a pain, and we took her to a few doctors who could not find anything. Eventually, one doctor ran a few tests and saw a tumour on her lung. They removed the tumour, and it came back on the spine and we learned that it had spread through most of her organs and we lost her,” she says.
“It was an incredibly difficult time because my sister-in-law and I were both pregnant at the same time and it was emotionally and physically draining.”
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However, her family has been supportive throughout her pregnancy and grief.
Millicent's twin sister and Skeem Saam actress Innocent is supportive and is happy to be an aunt again.
“She has been extremely hands-on and supportive from the beginning of my pregnancy and through the rough patch. She was here when I gave birth, she came with flowers and all my favourite snacks. They don’t usually allow visitors at the hospital, but they saw our bond and allowed her to see me,” she says.
“When I get back home, she will move into my house for a few weeks to help me. I don’t think at this point my baby can differentiate between the two of us.”
Millicent’s children consider Innocent as their second mom.
“We don’t even think of the word aunt. She is a mom to my kids and I’m a mom to her two girls,” she says. “We co-parent our children and raise them as one big family. Her kids are currently at my house now."
They also help each other out with work duties when required.
“I had voiceovers booked this week, I told the client I couldn’t make it and they let my sister do them because they know we look and sound alike. It’s difficult to turn down work at this time in this industry.”
Every holiday season, the Mashile family spends time in Mpumalanga at Millicent’s mother in-laws’ home.
“Although she is not around this year, we will still go. We have a new family member, and we will continue the tradition and create memories for the kids,” she says.
“My kids are still young, I still like to do fun things with them, putting up Christmas light and baking. It’s our tradition to watch my show on One Gospel. We shot a Christmas special and it’s our time to bond. I am already planning the Christmas menu and then from there enjoy new Year with my twin sister,” she says.
