MEGHAN Markle has opened up about the realities of becoming a mum – including her “scary” experience with a rare and serious condition that occurred after childbirth.
In the debut episode of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, the , 43, revealed details of suffering postpartum .
In a powerful conversation with her first guest and close friend, founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, 35, the pair discussed how they'd both experienced the the rare and potentially life-threatening condition.
Postpartum pre-eclampsia is similar to pre-eclampsia that happens during , but develops after the baby is born.
It occurs when you have and excess protein in your urine.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including seizures, and organ damage.
“We both had very similar experiences — though we didn't know each other at the time — with postpartum, and we both had pre-eclampsia. Postpartum pre-eclampsia,” Meghan shared, in the episode that launched April 8.
She didn't clarify whether the condition occurred after the birth of her son , 5, or her daughter , 3.
While Wolfe is a mum to two sons.
“It’s so rare and so scary,” Meghan continued.“And you're still trying to juggle all of these things, and the world doesn't know what's happening quietly.
“And in the quiet, you're still trying to show up for people – mostly for your children — but those things are huge medical scares.”
Wolfe replied: “I mean life or death, truly.”
Symptoms of postpartum pre-eclampsia
The symptoms of pre-eclampsia and postpartum pre-eclampsia are largely the same.
Early signs of pre-eclampsia are listed by the NHS as:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Protein in urine (proteinuria)
These symptoms can be difficult to spot as they don't necessarily make you feel unwell.
But doctors can and do pick up postpartum pre-eclampsia after birth, often through monitoring blood pressure and other related symptoms, and may require further testing and treatment.
It's important to note high blood pressure alone doesn't suggest pre-eclampsia.
But if protein in the urine is found at the same time, it's a good indicator of the condition.
Five other symptoms of pre-eclampsia that can occur as it progresses include:
- Severe
- Vision problems, such as blurring or seeing flashing lights
- Pain just below the ribs
- Vomiting
- Sudden swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands
If you notice any symptoms of pre-eclampsia, including after birth, you should get medical advice immediately by calling your GP surgery or NHS 111 to avoid life-threatening complications.
While the symptoms of pre-eclampsia and postpartum pre-eclampsia are largely the same, the key difference is the timing of their onset.
Several well-known celebrities, including, , and , have publicly shared their experiences with pre-eclampsia.
