Postpartum hypertension & postpartum preeclampsia explained

There are so many things you don’t (and honestly shouldn’t) think about when you get pregnant. Although experiencing Preeclampsia in the postpartum stage is not the typical, it does happen and seems to be increasing in rate lately. There are A LOT of medical tests that go into this diagnosis and it is a very serious complication of pregnancy, BUT I want to give you an idea of what to look for and be aware of in case you feel this may be happening to you! 

Before implementing anything in this post, please check with your doctor. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing what I am discussing in this post, you should schedule an appointment with your Ob/Gyn as soon as possible. I am not a medical doctor and am only giving you information based on my personal experience and based on research I have done for myself. 

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In this blog post, I will be discussing all of the following topics:

• What is Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension?

• Symptoms of Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension

• Recovery from Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension

What is Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact definition of postpartum preeclampsia is “a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth.” Typically, this condition develops during pregnancy and is “cured” by delivering the baby. However, in terms of postpartum preeclampsia, the condition develops after (up to 6 weeks) having the baby. 

Sometimes, as in my experience, this condition will require hospitalization for professional medical monitoring and sometimes (again such as in my experience) intravenous medication to prevent side effects from the high blood pressure (ie. Seizures and stroke). This medication is called Magnesium Sulfate. 

The only thing that distinguishes Postpartum Preeclampsia from Postpartum Hypertension is that with Preeclampsia, you will have excess protein in your urine. There will most likely be other symptoms (such as an overactive reflex response) that occur with preeclampsia that may not occur with postpartum hypertension, but in terms of diagnosis, the protein in the urine is the biggest factor. 

Symptoms of Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension

There are multiple symptoms that may occur or you could have no symptoms at all. Most often you will have some sort of symptoms, but considering you will be most likely sleep deprived, it is sometimes hard to pick up on these things. Especially since you will be achy and freshly recovering from labor. 

Some symptoms you MAY have (although none of these may be present):

• Headaches

• Blurry Vision

• Pain in upper right quadrant of stomach

• Shortness of Breath

• Nausea/Vomitting

• Decreased urination

• High Blood Pressure  (this is the obvious one)

Recovery from Postpartum Preeclampsia/Postpartum Hypertension

The number one thing you should do as soon as you are diagnosed by a medical doctor with one of these illnesses (or if you suspect you may have) is start a low sodium diet. This means to avoid any added salt at all costs. This is highly effective in reversing hypertension (high blood pressure), which is the biggest issue at hand here. 

This means you should avoid things highly processed and eat mostly clean. Avoid luncheon meats, bacon, red meat, anything in a box, frozen or canned (except for low and no salt added variations). I have a few meal ideas in my blog post titled Low Sodium Diet Snack and Meal Ideas. It does take a little preparation, but with a little planning and proper grocery shopping, it really is very simple and satisfying. 

Along with this, you also want to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid sugary sports drinks (they are also loaded with sodium) and anything that will provide extra calories. You want to fill up on healthy foods, not drink your calories. 

If you are cleared to exercise, this can help speed up the process. Again, please get confirmation from your doctor before proceeding with this. The absolute best workout you could do is go for a walk. Your baby and you will enjoy the fresh air! Extra bonus points if you can listen to some music and just relax! Stress will only raise your blood pressure so de-stress as often as possible!

You should also invest in a home blood pressure monitoring kit, such as this one. Monitor your blood pressure at least twice a day (morning and evening) and record these readings so you can show them to your doctor at your follow up. 

Although you will have a couple months (or slightly longer) recovery time, just remember that this is just a season of life. If caught early, it is very treatable. Do listen to your body and don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel something is not right. Use your judgement because honestly you know you better than anyone! 

If you are dealing with this, Momma, I am here. Drop a comment below or send me a message/My inbox is always open, and I would love to discuss with you what you are going through. It can be a very lonely road, even with the best support as it is often misunderstood and not well studied. I pray you have an easy recovery and feel better soon!