Postpartum preeclampsia can happen to any person who just had a baby and it has most of the same features of preeclampsia without affecting the baby, of course. At this time there’s no definitive cause of preeclampsia and in most cases, delivering the baby is the acute form of treatment, though it’s not a guaranteed cure for everyone.

Postpartum preeclampsia impacts most people within the first seven days after delivery, although one is still at risk for postpartum preeclampsia up to six weeks after giving birth.

Trust your instincts and ALWAYS seek medical care if you’re not feeling well or you feel something isn’t right. Reach out to your doula, midwife, and/or physician at the first signs of not feeling well and when in doubt, go to the Emergency Department and tell them you recently delivered and detail your symptoms. Don’t settle for less than the care you deserve and the time you are owed to be able to explain your concerns. Far too often patients are dismissed, ignored, or not taken seriously and it’s in those cases, that some of the most tragic outcomes are detailed.

The short video below is helpful in expressing the real risk of experiencing preeclampsia after giving birth and emphasizes that one can still be at risk for weeks to follow.