Many women are familiar with preeclampsia, but are you aware that in rare cases, it can strike you AFTER delivery as well?⁣ In many cases, it develops within the first 48 hrs after birth but can develop up to six weeks postpartum. ⁣

Preeclampsia happens usually happens during pregnancy. It means your blood pressure is at or above 140/90.

Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth. Preeclampsia is a similar condition that develops during pregnancy and typically resolves with the birth of the baby.

Postpartum preeclampsia is more commonly found in women who experience preeclampsia (or eclampsia) during pregnancy, but it can strike any woman, at any time. ⁣It’s super important to know that delivery is not a cure for preeclampsia. Any woman can develop preeclampsia after her baby is born, whether she experienced high blood pressure during her pregnancy or not. Moms need to continue to monitor their health after delivery. Recognizing these warning signs can save your life!

Postpartum preeclampsia usually comes with warning signs, and it’s important to watch out for these!⁣

Postpartum Preeclampsia Symptoms

  • Severe Headache⁣
  • Elevated blood pressure⁣
  • Shortness of Breath⁣
  • Stomach Pain (more specifically, right upper quadrant pain)⁣
  • Nausea/Vomiting ⁣
  • Vision changes, such as seeing spots⁣
  • Severe swelling in your extremities⁣

Trust your gut when dealing with these symptoms, if you feel off and feel like something is just not right with you, call your provider or go to the emergency room. ⁣

Postpartum Preeclampsia Video

Check out this cool video from the Preeclampsia Foundation for more information.

Postpartum preeclampsia can be dangerous for you because it can lead to eclampsia (seizures), stroke, organ damage, or even death.

Remember however it is also rare. Having this condition can lengthen your recovery from childbirth, but there are effective treatments to get your blood pressure back under control.

Originally posted 2021-03-16 13:13:55.

17 thoughts on “Postpartum Preeclampsia Symptoms And Information

  1. heathercaz24 says:

    I had this after my 5th baby! I had never had preeclampsia during any of my pregnancies, and my blood pressure was always 110/70ish. I started feeling off 4 days post partum (but attributed it to lack of sleep and all the drugs they gave me to stop extra bleeding at birth) Finally checked my blood pressure, thanks to my sister in law’s suggestion, and it was 150/90. It was always highest in the evening and I ended up being admitted to the hospital for 48 hours for magnesium sulfate (😫😫😫😫) when my baby was 8 days old. Worrrsttt post partum experience by far!!!

  2. meghan_watters says:

    They thought I had this after my son was born. My blood pressure was SUPER high and I had to go get it taken several times the first few days after discharge and call it in

  3. janellenewswanger says:

    I never knew about pp preeclampsia till after I had my baby. Went in 4 days after delivery and my BP was 180/102. ( I was feeling perfectly fine the doctor was surprised). They put me right away on magnesium and labetol. Stayed for 3 days. Is there anything I can do to prevent that from happening again??

  4. lorlor1013 says:

    This is so helpful! I’m a nurse and have never even heard of postpartum preeclampsia until I was in the ER after hemorrhaging and using some critical thinking calling an ambulance. It’s amazing the signs that flew right by me just due to exhaustion and being a first time mother. I think it should be more highlighted on in discharge education!

  5. labellefabuleuse says:

    Had BP of 161/111 during delivery of my 3rd last week. Stayed high and had to stay an extra day in hospital with baby. I’ve been prescribed blood pressure meds and it’s gone down. Seeing a cardiologist tomorrow for tests. It’s very scary. If anyone has high BP after baby please go to labor and delivery not the ER. Labor and delivery will take you to mom and baby ward so you can stay at the hospital with your newborn and they will monitor you. As per my midwife the ER isn’t good at handling postpartum high BP issues.

  6. growingjoyfully says:

    🙌🏻🙌🏻 Happened to me ended being re-admitted to the hospital just three days after going home. Trusted my gut that something wasn’t right and ended up with blood pressure in the 190’s. Dangerous and scary! Take care of yourselves mommas

  7. jaclynfitz_ says:

    I highly recommend anyone going through this to go through a cardiologist. I’m 12 weeks postpartum. I’ve had preeclampsia within pregnancy, postpartum preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. I get very symptomatic when my pressure elevates so diagnosing me didn’t take long luckily. I’ve had a hard time controlling my bp since 3 days postpartum and now work with cardiology. Medication changes seemed to help me versus the Labetalol they put us all on. I was on 600 3xs a day along with a diuretic 2xs a day. Now tapering me off and starting Norvasc. Best of luck to all!

  8. stephanieoyer07 says:

    I had preeclampsia and was induced at 36 weeks. They had me on magnesium sulfate (terrible stuff! Made me feel like I had the flu and couldn’t care for my newborn.) my blood pressure was 204/126 before giving birth and didn’t go back to normal until 8 weeks after birth. It did go down but still was high. I am currently still in Labetalol and a calcium blocker. But my doctors planning on weaning me from them at my next appointment🙌🏼 it has been 12 weeks after giving birth. So ready to be off these meds but so grateful I’m still here to raise my baby.

  9. mcraevannoy says:

    Newmomsforum! Thank you for posting about this. I’m in the hospital on mag because of it. I just delivered my 3rd baby and have never heard of it before. I was having borderline bp’s in the hospital and continued to check at home. 4 days postpartum and I’m back in the hospital getting the help I need. I feel like this post and your education helped save me from something detrimental happening. Can never thank you enough! 🙏🏼

  10. michaelaharthitchens says:

    Can signs of this be subtle? I just delivered 1 week ago, had a very healthy pregnancy. But the past 3 days I have had a strange headache that hasn’t gone away and chest pain. This is my 4th baby and I can’t decide if I should get ahold of my midwife or not..

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