Sofia Richie Opens Up About Postpartum Health Scare and Emotional Struggles After Birth of Daughter
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Sofia Richie recently revealed details about a health crisis she faced just two days after welcoming her daughter, Eloise, with husband Elliot Grainge. During an appearance on the She MD podcast, Richie shared that she had been hospitalized after developing postpartum preeclampsia, a rare but serious condition that can affect new mothers shortly after childbirth.
Reflecting on the frightening experience, Richie described how the condition came on suddenly, causing severe swelling and dangerously high blood pressure. “I went home and I blew up like a balloon. Quite literally, just swelled,” the model and daughter of music legend Lionel Richie shared candidly on the podcast, as reported by Page Six.
“I felt very ill … So [the doctor] sent over her wonderful nurse, and my blood pressure was 165 over 103,” Richie explained. Dr. Thais Aliabadi, co-host of the podcast, interrupted to clarify what Richie was going through, noting that postpartum preeclampsia is a condition that can arise after giving birth, causing high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine.
This rare but serious condition can lead to seizures, strokes, or organ damage if left untreated, making Richie’s swift return to the hospital essential. As she recounted the ordeal, it became clear how emotionally overwhelming it was for her, especially since it required her to leave her newborn daughter behind so soon after giving birth.
“I hid in the closet and cried,” Richie admitted, reflecting on the difficulty of the situation. The emotional toll of being separated from her daughter, combined with the urgency of the medical situation, made the experience particularly challenging.
Richie’s husband, Elliot, played a critical role in ensuring she received proper care. “My poor husband was like, ‘I have to get you to the hospital because the doctor is saying it’s just not safe. It’s not safe that you’re home,’” Richie recalled. Despite her reluctance, she was admitted to the hospital for 24 hours of monitoring and treatment.
While medically necessary, the separation from her newborn was extremely difficult. “It was really, really, really hard,” Richie confessed, adding that during her time away from Eloise, she was overwhelmed by feelings of “mom guilt,” a sentiment many mothers know well.
The anxiety of missing her daughter’s first moments weighed heavily on her, as Richie felt torn between prioritizing her health and wanting to be there for Eloise. “I didn’t want to miss a moment,” she shared, expressing how painful it was to leave her baby, even for a short time.
“I didn’t want someone else raising my kid,” Richie said, a feeling she explained further during her hospital stay. She expressed gratitude for the support system she had, but also her deep personal need to care for her child herself. “Yes, I feel so blessed and fortunate to have people help me and to have support, but I also am not interested in someone raising my kid,” she added.
Richie emphasized her commitment to motherhood, saying, “I wouldn’t have had a kid if I wasn’t ready to take that on.” Balancing her recovery and her role as a mother was no easy task, but Richie made it clear that she was determined to be there for Eloise every step of the way.
