In the inaugural episode of her podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan,” Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, bravely shared her experience with postpartum preeclampsia. The duchess, who is the mother of two young children—5-year-old Archie and 3-year-old Lilibet—discussed this rare but serious condition during a heartfelt conversation with Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.
During their discussion, Meghan revealed, “We both had very similar experiences, though we didn’t know each other at the time, with postpartum, and we both had preeclampsia. Postpartum preeclampsia.” Herd responded in astonishment, “Can you believe we both had that? It’s so rare.” The duchess emphasized the severity of the condition, remarking, “It’s so rare ... and so scary.”
Meghan elaborated on the struggles of navigating motherhood while dealing with such a daunting condition. “And you’re still trying to juggle all of these things, and the world doesn’t know what’s happening, quietly,” she explained. “And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people. And in the quiet, you’re still just trying to show up mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares.”
As a critical health issue, postpartum preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and can occur up to six weeks after childbirth. If left untreated, it poses risks such as stroke, brain damage, and seizures, and can even be fatal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Notably, this condition is distinct from preeclampsia, which typically arises during pregnancy and can occur even in those who did not experience preeclampsia while pregnant.
Herd reminisced about the moment Meghan introduced Archie to the world, saying, “I’ll never forget the image of you after you delivered Archie, and the whole world was waiting for his debut.” She expressed admiration for Meghan’s strength, stating, “I was either just becoming or about to become a new mom, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, how is this woman doing this? How is this woman putting on heels and going and debuting a child in this beautiful outfit in front of the entire world?’”
Meghan candidly responded, “Postpartum is wild, it’s so wild. It’s almost like one foot in one world and one foot in another world, and it’s a very confusing place to live in.” This poignant exchange highlights the complexities of motherhood and the hidden struggles many women face, particularly those experiencing postpartum preeclampsia.
