Meghan Markle has revealed a ‘scary’ health issue she experienced after giving birth, during the debut episode of her brand-new podcast.
On April 8, the Duchess of Sussex launched Confessions Of A Female Founder, where she unexpectedly opened up about a post-pregnancy health scare.
This new podcast is part of a wave of recent projects from the mother of two, which also includes her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her lifestyle brand As Ever.
In the first episode, Meghan sits down with Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of the dating app Bumble, to discuss the struggles of being a CEO and the path she took to reach success.
The two connected over a shared health struggle they had both faced after giving birth—an experience Meghan described as a particularly “scary” period in her life.
“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,” Meghan shared.
She added: “It’s so rare and so scary.”
The 43-year-old opened up about managing a serious health condition while continuing to live under the public spotlight.
She shared: “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.”
Her guest acknowledged just how serious the situation was, adding: “I mean life or death, truly.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, postpartum preeclampsia is “a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth.”
It’s a condition that demands “prompt treatment,” as leaving it untreated could result in seizures and other serious complications.
Some common symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia include:
- Elevated blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or higher)
- Excess protein in the urine (proteinuria)
- Severe headaches
- Visual disturbances like blurred vision, temporary vision loss, or sensitivity to light
- Upper abdominal pain, particularly under the ribs on the right side
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Reduced urine output
Meghan’s new podcast will span eight episodes, each featuring a different female founder. The series explores their personal paths in entrepreneurship—as well as Meghan’s own journey.
The podcast’s launch came just as Prince Harry returned to the UK yesterday to continue legal proceedings related to his taxpayer-funded security.
His security arrangements were revised back in 2020, following his decision to step down as a working member of the Royal Family.
His lawyer claims he has been “singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment.”
Prince Harry and Meghan have made a conscious effort to shield their two young children—Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three—from the spotlight, mainly due to concerns over their privacy.
Still, the couple has recently begun sharing small glimpses into their family life. This includes posts on Meghan’s new Instagram account and a Christmas card that sparked some controversy.
During an earlier court hearing regarding security arrangements, Prince Harry stated: “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US.
That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.”