After childbirth, it’s normal for women to worry about their baby. But they should also take time to monitor their own health and check for symptoms of serious disorders like postpartum preeclampsia.

What is postpartum preeclampsia?

Postpartum preeclampsia is identified by high blood pressure and protein in the urine that develops soon after childbirth. According to Dr. William Alter, OB-GYN, while the disorder doesn’t always produce protein in the urine, women could have other problems that need medical attention.

“Over time, patients could develop disseminated intravascular coagulation, a vascular problem,” says Dr. Alter. “Their organs can start shutting down if not taken care of promptly.” 

If left untreated, this disorder can worsen significantly, causing seizures and other complications.

Diagnosis and symptoms

Postpartum preeclampsia can have a variety of symptoms, such as

• Headaches
• Vision changes such as blurry or blacked-out vision
• Severe abdominal pain

If you experience these symptoms postpartum, your doctor will check your blood pressure. If high, they will perform blood work and a urine test to look for protein and other factors in the blood.

Risk factors

Women should be aware of several risk factors of postpartum preeclampsia, including 

• If this is the patient’s first pregnancy
• History of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
• Patients younger than 18 or older than 40
• History of high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, vascular diseases, or even obesity

Treatment

According to Dr. Alter, magnesium sulfate is the most common treatment for postpartum preeclampsia. 

“This is an IV medication they get for about 24 hours.” 

But in many instances, patients may be referred to a cardiologist. 

“It’s better to have a multidisciplinary team,” says Dr. Daniela Rosu, cardiologist, “because preeclampsia does predispose patients to other cardiovascular issues down the road.” 

Depending on the severity, treatment may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, or combination therapies. Dr. Rosu notes that while most of these medications are compatible with breastfeeding, treatment can be tailored if needed. 

Even after treatment, Dr. Rosu says it’s crucial for patients to have follow-up appointments to address risk factors and prevent further complications. 

Prevent postpartum preeclampsia

According to Dr. Alter, there is not much that can be done to prevent it. However, if the patient has a history of high blood pressure or preeclampsia, they can take baby aspirin during pregnancy.

“Controlling blood pressure if you have a pre-existing condition is going to be important,” Dr. Alter says. “Postpartum preeclampsia usually just develops, and there is no way to prevent it. If you start having symptoms, call your physician and get checked out immediately.”