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Sofia Richie recently opened up about the terrifying ordeal she faced during her pregnancy and postpartum period. Richie, who welcomed her daughter Eloise Samantha Grainge with husband Elliot Grainge in May, largely kept her pregnancy private but has now revealed the serious complications she encountered.
Speaking on the She MD podcast with Dr. Thais Aliabadi and women's rights advocate Mary Alice Haney, Sofia shared that her pregnancy was smooth until 32 weeks. One morning, she woke up feeling unusually tired, with cramps and back pain. Initially thinking it was normal, she contacted Dr. Aliabadi, who advised her to see a fetal specialist. Sofia recalled, "Thank God she said that because they hooked me up to the monitor and they were like, 'You're in active labor.'"
Sofia was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where she stayed for six days while doctors monitored her condition. She was eventually sent home on bed rest but remained in labor for six weeks before being induced at 38 weeks. Reflecting on the birth, she said, "I gave birth and I was like, 'Wow, I really did that.' I did six weeks of contractions, and I have my beautiful daughter. I'm healthy, I'm safe, she's healthy, she's safe."
However, just two days after returning home, Sofia experienced alarming post-birth symptoms. "I went home, and I blew up like a balloon," she shared, describing her sudden swelling and feeling unwell. Her blood pressure had spiked to 165/103, leading to a diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia.
Sofia was rushed back to the hospital for 24 hours. "The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave my daughter two days postpartum," she admitted. "I hid in the closet and cried. My poor husband was like, 'I have to get you to the hospital because it's not safe that you're home.'"
Despite these challenges, Sofia expressed gratitude for the outcome, noting that both she and Eloise are now healthy. "It was intense, but I have my daughter, and we’re both safe," she said, reflecting on the emotional journey of motherhood.