Insight into this rare but serious medical emergency
While most people are familiar with preeclampsia—a condition typically diagnosed during pregnancy—postpartum preeclampsia is far less known. The condition was recently brought into the spotlight when Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, revealed she experienced it following the birth of one of her children. Professor Ido Solt, director of the Mrs. Edith and Prof. Dov Katz Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit at Rambam Health Care Campus, offers important insight into this rare but serious medical emergency.
“Preeclampsia is an abnormal bodily response to pregnancy, often triggered by complications during early placental development,” explains Solt. “Preeclampsia usually appears around the 20th week of pregnancy while postpartum preeclamsia develops after delivery, often within the first few days, but sometimes up to six weeks postpartum.”
Postpartum preeclampsia affects approximately 3 to 5 women per 1,000 births
Postpartum preeclampsia affects approximately 3 to 5 women per 1,000 births. Unlike preeclampsia, which is generally detected through routine monitoring, postpartum preeclampsia can be overlooked, placing mothers at significant risk.
Symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia include high blood pressure, severe headaches, visual disturbances, upper abdominal pain, nausea, and sudden swelling of the face, hands, or legs. Treatment typically involves hospitalization, blood pressure medications, anti-seizure drugs, and close monitoring.
“These symptoms must be taken seriously even if they appear mild—seek medical attention immediately,” emphasizes Solt.
Postpartum preeclampsia requires different treatments
While preeclampsia during pregnancy can be resolved through delivery, postpartum preeclampsia requires different treatments, and time is of the essence. If left untreated, the condition can lead to severe complications, including stroke, seizures, pulmonary edema, liver or kidney damage, and in extreme cases, it can be fatal. There is also an increased risk of future hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which makes ongoing follow-up essential.
Women who have suffered previously from preeclampsia, are carrying multiples (twins or more), diabetics, and sufferers of chronic hypertension are among those who are at a higher risk of developing postpartum preeclampsia. After delivery, it is crucial for these women to remain aware and carefully monitor their health and well-being throughout the postpartum period.
