DeTar Healthcare System Raises Awareness About Postpartum Preeclampsia During National Preeclampsia Awareness Month (May)

5/16/2025

As part of National Preeclampsia Awareness Month this May, DeTar Healthcare System is joining healthcare providers and advocacy groups nationwide to shed light on preeclampsia — a potentially life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy or the postpartum period. This condition affects 5–8% of all pregnancies and remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant complications.

While most people associate preeclampsia with the latter stages of pregnancy, many are unaware that the condition can also develop after childbirth. DeTar Healthcare System is using this national awareness month to emphasize the importance of recognizing postpartum preeclampsia, which can occur days or even weeks after delivery, often without warning.

Mary Claire Bradshaw, director of DeTar’s Women & Children’s Center, urges families to be informed and vigilant. “We often think of preeclampsia as something that happens during pregnancy, but it can appear after delivery—even in women who had no previous symptoms,” said Bradshaw. “National Preeclampsia Awareness Month is a critical time to educate our community. Knowledge and early intervention saves lives.”

Preeclampsia is marked by elevated blood pressure (above 140/90) and protein in the urine. There may also be swelling in the face, hands, or feet, severe headaches, changes in vision, upper abdominal pain, and nausea or vomiting. If not treated, it can lead to serious complications such as organ damage, eclampsia (seizures), premature birth, placental abruption, or stillbirth.

For DeTar lactation consultant Estefania Cobb, BSN, RN, IBCLC, the danger became real shortly after delivering her second child. “A few days after giving birth to my second child, I started feeling dizzy and had a headache. My husband checked my blood pressure and it was dangerously high,” Cobb recalled. “I didn’t have any of these issues with my first pregnancy, so it completely caught me off guard. Now I take daily medication to manage my blood pressure. I’m grateful we caught it early, and I want other moms to know to listen to their bodies—it’s okay to speak up.”

The only definitive cure for preeclampsia is delivery, but symptoms can be managed with medications to lower blood pressure, prevent seizures, or prepare the baby’s lungs if early delivery is necessary. Ongoing monitoring is critical before and after birth.

This May, DeTar Healthcare System encourages women, families, and care providers to learn more about preeclampsia and to recognize the signs early. Postpartum complications can be just as serious as prenatal ones. Timely intervention is essential.

To schedule an appointment with a DeTar provider, visit www.mydetardoctor.com.

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