• High blood pressure during your most recent pregnancy (hypertensive disease). You're at increased risk of postpartum preeclampsia if you developed high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy (gestational hypertension).
• Obesity. The risk of postpartum preeclampsia is higher if you're obese.
• Family history. Having a first-degree relative — a parent or sibling — with a history of preeclampsia increases your risk of preeclampsia.
• Age. Women who are younger than 20 or older than 40 are at increased risk of preeclampsia.
• Having multiples. Having twins or more babies increases your risk of preeclampsia.
Recent studies suggest that the father's genes may play a role in an increased risk of preeclampsia.