Sofia Richie Grainge opens up about the pregnancy challenges she encountered from an unexpected active labor six weeks before giving birth to dealing with postpartum preeclampsia following delivery.
- Oct 16, 2024
AceShowbiz - In a candid conversation on the "She MD" podcast with her OBGYN, Dr. Thais Aliabadi, Sofia Richie Grainge revealed the turbulent journey she faced during her pregnancy and postpartum period. At just 26, Sofia, a new mom to daughter Eloise, experienced medical complications that transformed what should have been a joyous time into an endurance test.
"At 32 weeks, I woke up and I was like, 'Hey, I woke up and I'm really tired today. My back really hurts. I feel a little crampy,' " Sofia recounted. What seemed like routine pregnancy discomfort escalated quickly. Directed by Dr. Aliabadi to see a fetal specialist, Sofia soon learned she was in active labor. "I was really terrified," she admitted, reflecting on the moment.
Sofia spent six days in the hospital, pleading with doctors to let her return home. "You can go home, but you're on bed rest. We have to monitor you," she was told. For the remaining six weeks leading up to her delivery, Sofia endured consistent contractions until she was induced at 38 weeks. "I had a fantastic delivery," she recalled. "I gave birth and I was like, 'Wow, I really did that.' "
However, just two days after bringing Eloise home, Sofia's condition took another alarming turn. "I went home and I blew up like a balloon," she described. A nurse assessed her condition and found her blood pressure to be dangerously high at 165 over 103. She was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia, a rare but serious condition.
The experience of returning to the hospital and leaving her newborn behind was heart-wrenching for Sofia. "I actually hid in the closet and cried," she confessed. She spent 24 hours in the hospital while grappling with intense mom guilt. "My poor husband was like, 'I have to get you to the hospital because the doctor is saying it's just not safe.' "
Sofia's narrative underscores the difficult balance many new mothers face between managing their health and being present for their newborns. "Yes, I feel so blessed and fortunate to have support, but I also am not interested in someone else raising my kid," she emphasized. "I wouldn't have had a kid if I wasn't ready to take that on."
