New Mother Survives Postpartum Preeclampsia After Blood Pressure Spike at Home
A Denver woman was hospitalized six days after delivery when her blood pressure rose above 160, a condition cardiologists warn is often missed in the early postpartum period.
By Jillian Foster ·
Mamharr Gaye was discharged from the hospital with her newborn, unaware that a severe medical emergency was approaching within the week.
Gaye described her third pregnancy as physically demanding but generally uncomplicated until two days before delivery. Her physician noted that her blood pressure readings were elevated and prescribed medication. Following the birth, doctors cleared Gaye for discharge. For the first few days at home, she believed the most difficult phase of the pregnancy had passed.
Six days after bringing her child home, Gaye’s blood pressure spiked to more than 160. She described the moment as frightening because she could not immediately identify the cause of the sudden change. Gaye stated that high blood pressure carries a known risk of stroke, which added to the urgency of the situation. She was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia, a condition that involves dangerously high blood pressure after childbirth.
Dr. Minhal Makshood, a general cardiologist at MedStar Health who specializes in pregnancy-related heart conditions, treated Gaye. Makshood explained that cardiovascular disease drives much of maternal morbidity and mortality, which led to the development of cardio obstetrics as a distinct medical field. She noted that pregnancy acts as a nine-month stress test for the heart, causing heart rates to increase by 10 to 15 beats per minute and blood volume to rise by approximately 50%.
Makshood said that Black women experience a higher prevalence of preeclampsia than white women. She cited higher rates of hypertension and social inequities in health care access as contributing factors to this disparity. The specialist emphasized that symptoms such as headaches are frequently dismissed by new mothers as a result of sleep deprivation or general recovery from delivery.
Gaye said the experience was confusing because she had no clear indication of what was happening to her body. She noted that the high blood pressure was the primary warning sign. Makshood encourages women to monitor their vitals and pay close attention to their symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery. The cardiologist said it is critical for mothers to stay healthy to support their infants, even when balancing the demands of new parenthood.
Gaye and her baby are currently recovering well. She plans to share her experience to help other mothers recognize the warning signs of postpartum preeclampsia and seek medical attention promptly when symptoms arise.
