What is postpartum preeclampsia?

In the first episode of her new podcast ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has revealed that she was diagnosed with a ‘rare and scary’ health condition known as postpartum preeclampsia shortly after giving birth. While the condition only affects four to five per cent of pregnant women, it can result in serious health consequences and even death if left untreated

Meghan Markle has opened up about a “huge health scare” she faced after giving birth—postpartum preeclampsia.

On the first episode of her new podcast ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’, released Tuesday, the 43-year-old
Duchess of Sussex revealed she was diagnosed with the condition shortly after childbirth. She described it as “rare and scary” and admitted it was a tough experience to deal with while adjusting to life as a new mum.

Meghan was speaking to her friend Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of the Bumble dating app, who also experienced postpartum preeclampsia.

“We both had very similar experiences, though we didn’t know each other at the time, with postpartum, and we both had preeclampsia. Postpartum preeclampsia,” Meghan said. “You’re still trying to juggle all of these things, and the world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly.”

“And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people… mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares,” she added.

Wolfe Herd echoed the sentiment, saying, “I mean life or death, truly. It’s like, really scary.”

Meghan Markle opened up about a “huge health scare” she faced after giving birth—postpartum preeclampsia. File image

Their conversation has now sparked fresh conversation around this little-known condition, which many people have never heard of, even though it can be life-threatening.

So what exactly is postpartum preeclampsia? What are the warning signs, who does it affect, and how is it treated? Here’s what to know.

Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare but potentially dangerous condition that involves high blood pressure and can develop after a woman has given birth.

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), preeclampsia typically affects some women during the later stages of pregnancy—usually after 20 weeks—but in some cases, it can appear for the first time shortly after delivery.

Although it only affects around 4 to 6 per cent of women, postpartum preeclampsia is considered a medical emergency that needs immediate attention. Without timely treatment, it can lead to severe complications like seizures, stroke, brain damage, and even death.

**It’s unclear if Meghan experienced postpartum preeclampsia following the birth of Prince Archie in 2019 or Princess Lilibet in 2021; she didn’t specify when she faced the condition. File image/AFP**

What are the symptoms?

As per the Cleveland Clinic, early signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in your urine (proteinuria).

While the signs may not be picked up initially, any issues should be picked up in antenatal appointments. Watch out for the following symptoms:

Headache (often severe)

Changes in vision like blurred vision or light sensitivity

Swelling of your face, hands, feet or limbs

Nausea and vomiting

Abdominal pain, usually near your ribs

Decreased urination

Rapid weight gain

Shortness of breath

Also read:
Can pregnancy cause women to age faster?

Who is at risk?

The exact cause of preeclampsia remains unknown, but certain factors can increase the risk of developing the condition.

Women who already have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease before pregnancy are considered to be at higher risk. Those with autoimmune conditions like lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome are also more vulnerable.

Having experienced high blood pressure or preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy can also raise the likelihood of it happening again.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, other factors that may slightly increase the risk include having a family history of preeclampsia, being obese, being aged 40 or above, or being under 20 years old.

Carrying multiples, such as twins or triplets, and having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher are also associated with a greater chance of developing the condition.

As the NHS explains, “If you have two or more of these together, your chances are higher.”

What is the treatment?

As per the Cleveland Clinic, the treatment involves medicines to lower blood pressure levels. Doctors can also prescribe antiseizure medicine, such as magnesium sulfate, to prevent seizures, which is a common risk factor of the condition.

Other options also include anticoagulant (blood thinner) medications to reduce the risk of blood clots.

With input from agencies