Further, many clinicians and patients are unaware that preeclampsia can either occur or
persist following delivery. It is also important to remember that the natural progression of
postpartum hypertension includes an initial decrease in blood pressure (BP) within 48
hours, but BP rises again between three to six (3-6) days postpartum.10 Preeclampsia
may occur up to six (6) weeks postpartum.11,12 Postpartum hypertension/preeclampsia
is either secondary to persistence or exacerbation of hypertension in women with
previous gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, chronic hypertension or because of de
novo (new onset) condition. In cases of late postpartum eclampsia, researchers found
that nearly all of the patients had at least one prodromal symptom and half had more
than one symptom that heralded the eclamptic seizure. Only 33% of women sought care
for their symptoms, suggesting a need for proper patient education which may have led
to better outcomes.