Abo announced on Wednesday she had been forced to depart early on maternity leave in a fresh blow for the embattled morning show.

The heavily pregnant Abo shared the news on her Instagram story on Wednesday morning, saying she had “copped a curveball” and would not be returning to the show before going on leave.

“Sorry I’ve been a bit MIA – copped a bit of a curveball on Wednesday afternoon with high blood pressure and have been in and out of hospital since,” she wrote.

Abo shared the health update on Instagram. Picture: Instagram

Abo was due to go on maternity leave soon.

“Thankfully I am in the safe hands of magnificent health professionals taking incredible good care of bub and me.

“They have ordered me rest as they monitor me though! Which means I won’t make it back to (the Today Show) to say goodbye to you wonderful people before so abruptly heading on maternity leave.”

Abo thanked her followers for their “beautiful messages of love and support”.

“I seriously pinch myself when I think about how many good people there are out there. So special,” she said.

“(A reminder to make sure you look after yourself – pregnant or not! Xx.”

Abo shared a picture of her in hospital. Picture: Instagram

While former co-host Stefanovic remains overseas after being dumped by the network last month, his wife Jasmine took to social media to send Abo her best wishes.

“Sending love to you and bubba beautiful Sarah,” she posted.

Presenters Sylvia Jeffreys and Charles Croucher shared the update with Today viewers later on Wednesday morning.

“We have a little news to share with you at home this morning, because, of course, many of our wonderful Today show viewers have been wondering where the beautiful Sarah is,” Jeffreys said.

“She wanted us to share that while her little man isn’t here just yet, last week she received a bit of a curveball with high blood pressure, and she’s been in and out of hospital.”

Presenter Jayne Azzopardi then joined to share kind words to Abo.

“I wish we could have done a proper maternity leave, baby shower send-off for Sarah,” she said.

“She hasn’t had the easiest pregnancy and I wish it had been different for her because she deserves that.”

Today sports presenter Danika Mason, who announced her own pregnancy two weeks ago, was one of the first to comment on Abo’s post, writing “Rest up we can’t wait to meet the little man”.

Sarah Abo is expecting her first baby later this year. Picture: Instagram

While former co-host Karl Stefanovic is yet to comment publicly, his wife Jasmine Stefanovic sent Sarah Abo a message of support. Picture Instagram

Azzopardi later posted on Abo’s social media post, saying “we miss you already, but you have more important things to do right now”.

“Hopefully tough pregnancy means dream baby. you deserve it! Little CJ is already a very lucky boy,” she wrote.

The show’s weekend news reader Lizzie Pearl also sent well wishes, saying “love to you and the family Sars … can’t wait to meet the little one”.

60 Minutes executive producer Kirsty Thomson, where Abo used to work as a reporter before being tapped for the Today hosting role, also sent her best wishes, urging Abo to “take care, SA. Lots of love to you and the family x”, while Melbourne news reporter Christine Ahern also sent her well wishes writing “Sending lots of love! Rest up, can’t wait to meet your little boy”.

Reporter Mia Glover also shared her well wishes, posting “we love you and that little bubba already! Keep resting we’ll miss you!!”

Former Today co-host Deborah Knight urged Abo to “look after yourself and your bubba”.

Abo revealed her much-longed for pregnancy during an emotional on-air segment in March and spoke to the “bumpy ride” involved in her IVF treatment.

Sarah Abo and husband Cyrus Moran at their baby shower. Picture: Instagram

Today colleagues have inundated Abo with support. Picture: Christian Gilles

“It hasn’t been the easiest journey to get here, which a lot of people I know have gone through and will go through,” Abo said.

“I know that a lot of our viewers will be going through this too, and it’s not as easy as a lot of people think that it will be. It has been a bit of a bumpy ride but here we are … we’re almost halfway now, and things are going well, it’s good.”

She also revealed she suffered two miscarriages while trying to get pregnant with her husband of 13 years Cyrus Moran.

“Obviously I’m so thrilled to be sharing with you all, but I’m still terrified,” an emotional Abo said.

Co-hosts Sarah Abo and Tom Steinfort while Stefanovic was on leave.

“I’m still finding it hard to believe that it’s happening and I will lean in and enjoy it, but a lot of people understand what it’s like to have this cautious optimism.”

Abo’s abrupt exit comes shortly after Stefanovic’s controversial departure from the Nine Network, following his podcast episode with British far-right figure Tommy Robinson.

Abo fought back tears as she announced Stefanovic’s “immediate” departure from the show late last month, calling her long-time co-host “a mate”.

“We wish that it wasn’t ending like this, and we could say goodbye to you Karl, our friend, in a different way.”

Musical chairs

The beleaguered morning show was thrown into chaos after host Stefanovic and Nine parted way in late June after his controversial podcast interview with UK right-wing influencer Tommy Robinson.

Stefanovic had taken leave from the show to travel to the UK for a series of interviews for his personal podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, with the fallout of his Robinson interview led to crisis talks with Nine management.

By week’s end, Stefanovic’s decades-long career with Nine was over.

An announcement from management would later reveal Stefanovic was due to leave the network by the end of the year.

A series of fill-in hosts have since taken his seat including Melbourne 6pm news reader Tom Steinfort, former Canberra political reporter Charles Croucher and Brisbane news reader Joel Dry.

Abo’s abrupt departure will also cause management a headache, as a replacement had yet to be announced.

It had previously been reported former Today news reader Sylvia Jeffreys – who was in the chair on Wednesday – and Samantha Armytage are rumoured to be favourites to replace Abo.