Meghan Markle has opened up about her “scary” experience with postpartum preeclampsia in the first episode of her new podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made the candid health revelation during a conversation with her friend and Bumble dating app founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.
During the first 50-minute episode, released Tuesday, Markle detailed the health struggle she endured during her pregnancy.
The “Suits” alum, who shares son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet with husband Prince Harry, said dealing with the health condition was “so scary” while having to navigate public responsibilities.
“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,” Markle revealed. “It’s so rare and so scary.”
The duo, who have been friends for years, discussed the serious condition that’s responsible for over 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths around the world each year.
“And you’re still trying to juggle all of these things, and the world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly,” the former actress said. “And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people mostly for your children but those things are huge medical scares.”
“I mean life or death, truly,” the dating app founder chimed in.
Wolfe Herd also talked about the moment the Sussexes introduced baby Archie to the world in a photocall at Windsor Castle in May 2019 — just two days after his birth.
“I’ll never forget the image of you after you delivered Archie, and the whole world was waiting for his debut,” Wolfe Heard said.
“I was either just becoming or about to become a new mom, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, how is this woman doing this? How is this woman putting on heels and going and debuting a child in this beautiful outfit in front of the entire world?’ I could barely face a doorbell delivery for takeout food in a robe,” she added.
Elsewhere in the episode, the former working royal opened up about balancing her business — her newly-released lifestyle brand, As Ever — while being a present mom to her two kids.
Markle revealed that Lili, 3, still enjoys frequent naps and only goes to pre-school for half days.
“If she wakes up and wants to find me, she knows where to find me, even if my door is closed to the office,” she said.
“She’ll be sitting there on my lap during one of these meetings with a grid of all the executives… I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to miss those moments. I don’t want to miss pickup if I don’t have to. I don’t want to miss drop-off.”
“What I do love the most about having young kids in this chapter while I’m building is the perspective that it brings,” Markle added. “Because you’re building something while your child is going through potty training.”
Wolfe Herd chimed in, “Technology is a beautiful tool for parents because you can dial in and be present and do a great job on the call while you sit in the carpool line outside school. Like, why do I need to be at a desk? I have the same mental opinion in a carpool line.”
Markle celebrated the launch of her new podcast by sharing a series of throwback snaps on social media of her selling cookies as a Girl Scout.
“Being an entrepreneur can start young. (By the way, all these years later and I’m still selling cookies!) 🍪,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Tune in for the premiere episode of ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’ featuring my dear friend, @whitney, now streaming wherever you get your podcasts! @lemonadamedia.”
The duchess unveiled her rebranded podcast to the world last month after inking a deal with Lemonada Media in Feb. 2024.
The new deal took place after Spotify decided not to renew the steep $20 million contract for a second season of her now-defunct podcast, “Archetypes.”
The new podcast will run for eight episodes and will focus on Markle and her guests’ journeys as an entrepreneur.
Lemonada will be distributing her previous Spotify podcast series to all platforms.
