Lea Michele is sharing her deeply personal journey through infertility struggles as she prepares to welcome her second child. The “Glee” alum recently spoke candidly about her emotional battle with multiple miscarriages before conceiving again.
In an emotional appearance on Katherine Schwarzenegger’s podcast “BDA Baby,” Michele, 37, discussed the heartache of experiencing “two back-to-back very early failed pregnancies.” She revealed that, prior to these losses, she had never encountered a miscarriage, which made the experiences even more distressing.
“I had never had a miscarriage before,” Michele admitted. “The first one, I was like, ‘That was weird.’ When it happened again right away, I was like, ‘Wait a second. Something is wrong.’”
More Read
The actress, who married Zandy Reich in 2019 and welcomed their first child, son Ever, in 2020, took a break from trying to conceive while working on the Broadway production of “Funny Girl” in 2022. This period of her life was marked by significant emotional strain as she tried to balance her professional responsibilities with the personal pain of miscarriage.
“It wasn’t until a little bit later [that] I had another [pregnancy loss]. I was actually working at the time. It was super challenging to be working and having to…process what we were experiencing at the same time, which was very painful,” Michele reflected.
Michele also shared that she was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition characterized by painful periods and severe abdominal discomfort. Initially, she attributed her symptoms to stress from work. Her diagnosis required a significant medical intervention involving numerous treatments and medications to support her pregnancy journey.
In a previous interview, Michele had discussed her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects many women. She revealed how, despite their challenges, she and Reich remained hopeful and persistent in their efforts to conceive.
“We had given up a little bit, my husband and I,” Michele told ET in 2021. “But they say when you give up and when you stop trying is when these little miracles happen. But it wasn’t just for nothing. We did work really hard with my doctor and in the process of doing all of those surgeries, to help my body have a baby, which is all I’ve ever really wanted.”
In a heartwarming update earlier this year, Michele announced the gender of her and Reich’s second child via Instagram, celebrating the news on Mother’s Day. She shared a photo of her growing belly with the caption: “The most beautiful Mother’s Day today, holding my son who made me a mama…and carrying my daughter. 💕💐”
Michele’s full interview on “BDA Baby” provides an intimate look into her journey and the resilience she has shown through her struggles.
