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37-Year-Old Mother of Five Shares Her Story: When Preeclampsia Doesn’t End After Delivery

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SemicHealth Pulse
May 02, 2025

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Vivian, a 37-year-old mom of five, survived a traumatic birth and preeclampsia. She is 37, and still living with high blood pressure. What didn’t she know? Preeclampsia wasn’t just a pregnancy complication—it was rewriting her lifelong health.

This week, we’re exposing the hidden dangers of preeclampsia. The truth? It doesn’t always end at delivery, and dismissing the signs can be deadly.

Here’s what we are discussing:

  1. Vivian’s unfiltered battle

  2. Myths vs. lifesaving facts of preeclampsia

  3. Real statistics & possible outcomes related to preeclampsia

  4. How to protect your heart when diagnosed with preeclampsia

Really excited to meet our little devil

My Blood Pressure Battle Didn’t End After Pregnancy

Vivian’s true story of surviving preeclampsia

At 35 weeks pregnant, Vivian's blood pressure skyrocketed to dangerous levels 200+, forcing doctors to perform an emergency C-section. But the real shock came after delivery - when her blood pressure still wouldn't stabilize.

"I thought once the baby was out, I'd be fine," Vivian recalls. "Instead, I left the hospital with a newborn in one arm and blood pressure meds in the other."

Two years later, she's still managing hypertension - proof that preeclampsia's damage can last long after pregnancy ends.

Her key lesson? "Preeclampsia isn’t always ‘cured’ by childbirth – and ignoring treatment nearly cost me everything."- Vivian

Pelayanan Posbindu di desa Wlahar Kecamatan Wangin dengan pemeriksaan Tensi (20/5-2021)

Preeclampsia: Separating Fact from Myth

 "It's just pregnancy swelling - it'll go away after delivery."
"My headache is normal - all pregnant women get them."

These are the same words Vivan said when she was pregnant, which contributed to her condition.

These same thoughts have put countless mothers at risk. Let's debunk the dangerous myths that prevent women from seeking life-saving care:

Myth 1: "Preeclampsia symptoms are just normal pregnancy discomforts."
Fact: Sudden swelling (especially in hands/face), severe headaches that won't quit, and right-sided abdominal pain are RED FLAGS requiring immediate medical attention.

Myth 2: "Delivery cures preeclampsia completely."
Fact: 1 in 4 women with preeclampsia continue to have high BP for weeks/months postpartum, with increased lifetime cardiovascular risks.

Myth 3: "It only happens in first pregnancies."
Fact: While more common in first pregnancies, recurrence rates reach 40% in subsequent pregnancies, often more severe.

Myth 4: "Young/healthy women don't need to worry."
Fact: Olympic athletes and marathon runners have developed severe preeclampsia - no one is immune.

Captured inside a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory, this image depicted a close view of a laboratory technician in the process of pipetting a sample of vitamin E acetate, which would be used in various tests conducted upon a number of electronic cigarettes, referred to as e-cigarettes, or e-cigs, and vaping pens.

Did You Know?

The American Heart Association now lists preeclampsia as a major cardiovascular risk factor, alongside smoking and diabetes.


30-40% of women who experience preeclampsia develop chronic hypertension within just 2-7 years after delivery. The risk jumps even higher for those who needed preterm delivery due to preeclampsia, and 45% of these women may still require blood pressure medication over a year later.

🛑 When to Sound the Alarm:
✓Any new onset after 20 weeks of:
✓ Headache + blurred vision
✓ Swelling that pits (leaves an indentation)
✓ Shortness of breath while resting

Doctor and patient

How To Protect Your Heart After Preeclampsia

Since some preeclampsia doesn’t end at delivery, it is important you protect your heart against future risks. Here’s how to:

1. Demand Postpartum Monitoring
✓ Blood pressure checks weekly for 3 months
✓ Laboratory work at 6 weeks postpartum

2. Adopt Heart-Protective Habits
✓ Walk 30 mins daily – Cuts future heart risk by 35%
✓ Eat more of:

  • Leafy greens

  • Fatty fish and

  • Berries

3. Know the Red Flags
Seek immediate care for:
⚠️ Headaches that resist medication
⚠️ Chest tightness with minimal exertion
⚠️ Swelling that returns after delivery

4. Advocate for Your Care
If planning another pregnancy, see your doctor for proper evaluation and care.

Lastly, stick to your medications and hospital appointments.

Here’s what to read next!

🤰Important Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements to Take When Pregnant. Can skipping these vitamins risk your baby's development? How iron, folate, and DHA build healthier pregnancies.

🍼Breastfeeding No-Nos: 10 Surprising Foods to Avoid
That innocent cup of coffee? Why it might be disrupting your baby's sleep cycles and what to replace it with.

💥 7 Warning Signs of High Blood Pressure
Silent but deadly? Spot these sneaky symptoms before it’s too late.

Thanks for reading, and take care, friends! We’ll be back next week to discuss "I Tried CBD Gummies for Anxiety—The Results Were Incredible. You Should Give Them a Try." See you then.

Here’s your reminder to email [email protected] with any (general) health and wellness questions you’d like for us to answer in a future edition.