Sofia Grainge: Pregnancy, Postpartum Complications, Life-Saving Advice, and PCOS

Join Dr. Thais Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney as they sit down with special guest Sofia Grainge for a personal and heartwarming conversation. In this episode, Sofia shares her pregnancy journey, from dealing with potential preterm labor to navigating the challenges of postpartum preeclampsia. 

In addition, the discussion dives into Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects millions of women. Dr. Aliabadi shares advice for those who suspect they might have PCOS, emphasizing the importance of recognizing symptoms such as irregular periods, elevated testosterone, acne, and fertility challenges. The episode also covers ways to treat PCOS, from lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to medical treatments that regulate hormones.  

Through her story, Sofia and Dr. Aliabadi give invaluable advice on trusting yourself and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right—during pregnancy and beyond. Doctors, this one’s for you, too: listen to your patients when they say they don’t feel well. They’re often right! This episode will leave you feeling informed and inspired.

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Key Takeaways From Sofia's Pregnancy Journey: 

1. Don’t Hesitate to Call Your Doctor:  Many women feel embarrassed or don’t want to “bother” their doctor. If you are feeling bad or notice other changes in your body, call your doctor. When you think you feel something, say something. If something feels off, speak up!
2. Preterm Labor Is Unpredictable: It can happen for many reasons, including stress, infection, or unknown factors. The critical decision is to contact your doctor immediately if you go into preterm labor.
3. The Goal in Premature Births: Extending the pregnancy just one week at a time can be critical for a baby’s lung development. Bed rest is essential! Set a goal of one week at a time.
4. Postpartum Preeclampsia Is a Serious Risk: It can strike any time after 20 weeks, even after delivery. This is a dangerous condition that can put you at risk for a seizure or stroke. Don’t wait until you have obvious symptoms, as preeclampsia does not always present that way. Seek medical care if you aren’t feeling well. 
5. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Can Be Misdiagnosed. Here Are Just A Few Symptoms To Look For: You don’t need to have them all, but irregular periods, elevated testosterone symptoms, acne, hair loss, mood disorder, anxiety, depression, or fertility issues could point to PCOS. Get checked!

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In This Episode:‍

• [05:11] Sofia and Elliot’s wedding and how she met Elliot
• [07:33] Sofia Grainge’s pregnancy and the complications 
• [08:46] Complications arise when Sofia goes home, and she alerts Dr. Aliabadi. Plus, What are symptoms of Preeclampsia
• [26:00] Discussion about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the advice Dr. Aliabadi gives to anyone suspecting they may have it 
• [30:32] Ways to treat PCOS 
• [40:51] The impact of PCOS on future fertility 
• [45:25] Sofia’s for mothers advise and the most surprising part of motherhood

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‍Resources:

Sofia Grainge Instagram

Sofia Grainge TikTok

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Connect With SHE MD:

Mary Alice Haney - Instagram

Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi - Instagram

SheMD Podcast - Instagram

SHEMD - YouTube

SHEMD - Podcast

SHEMD - Website

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Quotes:‍

“It was an easy pregnancy until it wasn't. I'm excited to be here with you today just because now that I have my child, I feel like people don't talk about all the things that go wrong after you give birth that are so hard. So, I'm excited to be here to talk to you about that and make people feel less alone.” Sofia Grainge

“With all my previous relationships, I found myself changing to be the right person for that person. And with Elliot, I knew he was the one because I could be 100% myself, and he loved it. He magnifies me as a person rather than trying to change me as a person. And same with him. We're such big personalities, both of us, and we both are each other's cheerleaders. There's nothing about each other we want to change. We're completely, and authentically ourselves.” Sofia Grainge