Preeclampsia Can Develop After Pregnancy, Too

Preeclampsia, or dangerously high blood pressure related to pregnancy, is mostly thought of as something that happens while a woman is still pregnant. Though less common, preeclampsia can also develop after the baby is born – and may lead to serious health complications if not treated promptly.

Called postpartum preeclampsia, it can occur in women who had otherwise healthy pregnancies and childbirth experiences. These women may return home thinking everything is normal before developing any symptoms.

“It’s important to recognize the signs and seek medical attention right away if you suspect something is wrong,” says University Hospitals OB/GYN physician Karen Ashby, MD.

What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a common hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. It’s characterized by very high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. Though it can affect anyone, it is more common in women with:

• Preexisting high blood pressure
• Diabetes (type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes)
• Obesity
• Other underlying medical conditions

Preeclampsia is also more common in women of color and in women at the beginning or the end of their childbearing years – teens and women 35 and older.

When preeclampsia develops during pregnancy, it can be treated with anti-hypertensive drugs and magnesium, but it typically resolves on its own once the baby is delivered.

Signs to Look For

With postpartum preeclampsia, a woman usually develops symptoms within 48 hours of giving birth, but they can sometimes occur up to six weeks later. Women who had preeclampsia during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of developing it during the postpartum period. The most common signs and symptoms include:

• Severe headache
• Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
• Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
• Swelling in the legs, hands or face
• High blood pressure before or after delivery (greater than 140/90 mm Hg)

If you experience any of these symptoms you should be evaluated by a medical professional right away. Left untreated, postpartum preeclampsia can lead to serious health problems such as seizures (eclampsia), stroke, kidney disease and other complications of high blood pressure.

Staying Vigilant with Follow-Up Care and Blood Pressure Monitoring

Like preeclampsia during pregnancy, postpartum preeclampsia can be treated with blood pressure medication and magnesium. You will likely need to continue to take medication throughout the postpartum period but may eventually be weaned off under a doctor’s supervision, says Dr. Ashby.

Though postpartum preeclampsia can’t be completely prevented, there are some helpful strategies such as eating a healthy diet during pregnancy and taking low-dose or baby aspirin after 12 weeks gestation if you have risk factors for preeclampsia. You should always speak with your provider before starting a baby aspirin regimen to make sure it’s appropriate for you.

Women who have preeclampsia during pregnancy or postpartum have a higher risk of developing chronic hypertension later in life so it’s important to stay vigilant about your blood pressure, says Dr. Ashby. This means regular visits with a primary care physician and continuing to monitor your blood pressure over your lifetime.

Related Links

The women’s health providers at UH provide expert prenatal and postpartum care and a variety of resources to help guide new parents, including childbirth and parenting classes, breastfeeding support, our pregnancy handbook and more.