[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/postpartum-symptoms-warning-signs\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/postpartum-symptoms-warning-signs\/","headline":"When It’s Not Normal Postpartum Symptoms: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Postpartum Hypertension","name":"When It’s Not Normal Postpartum Symptoms: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Postpartum Hypertension","description":"

Learn how to recognize, monitor, and manage postpartum hypertension to protect your health after birth.<\/p>","datePublished":"2026-05-29","dateModified":"2026-07-31","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2259024759-e1780078339815.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2259024759-e1780078339815.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/postpartum-symptoms-warning-signs\/","about":["Pregnancy and Childbirth"],"wordCount":1432,"articleBody":"People experience a wide range of symptoms in the weeks after giving birth, from fatigue to body aches and pains.But it’s important to recognize the difference between normal postpartum symptoms and the warning signs of something more serious, like postpartum hypertension.Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major contributor to serious complications for postpartum people and their babies. About 1 in 10 postpartum people receive a high blood pressure diagnosis in the year after giving birth.Unfortunately, many people who’ve just delivered experience gaps in their postpartum care. For many new parents, high blood pressure can appear during this critical time.If left untreated, postpartum hypertension can have serious side effects, including postpartum preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a severe form of pregnancy-related hypertension that can cause organ damage or even death.Learn more about postpartum hypertension, including how to spot the warning signs and what to do.What Is High Blood Pressure?High blood pressure is a condition that happens when your blood is pushing against your heart\u2019s artery walls with too much force. This force causes your heart to overwork. It can lead to serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke.Since hypertension doesn\u2019t typically cause symptoms, it can cause life-threatening health problems or death without warning.When medical providers take your blood pressure, they use two numbers to measure it in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).The top number is systolic blood pressure, measuring the pressure when your heart beats out blood. The bottom number is diastolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure when your heart is relaxing between beats and refilling with blood.Doctors define high blood pressure outside of pregnancy as consistent readings of 130\/80 millimeters of mercury or higher.What Happens to Blood Pressure During Pregnancy and Postpartum?Blood volume doubles during pregnancy. This can explain the natural dip and rise in blood pressure over the course of growing your baby.In the first 20 weeks of gestation, blood pressure typically declines. This is because your body\u2019s blood vessels begin to widen and relax due to the pregnancy hormones progesterone and relaxin. It’s typical for blood pressure to remain lower during the second trimester.In the third trimester, blood pressure may begin to rise from this lower level and remain higher during labor and childbirth. Once you birth the placenta, blood pressure can remain high up to a week postpartum.While rising numbers are normal during this time, blood pressure readings higher than 160\/110 millimeters of mercury are never normal.For most people who don’t have hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, their blood pressure should stabilize from two to six weeks postpartum.Pregnancy-related hypertension occurs between 20 weeks of pregnancy and up to six weeks postpartum. It’s systolic blood pressure of 140 or higher, or diastolic blood pressure of 90 or higher, measured on two separate occasions at least four hours apart.Severe hypertension is a systolic blood pressure of 160 or higher or a diastolic blood pressure of 110 or higher. If there are also signs of organ damage, it’s considered preeclampsia.Is Postpartum Hypertension Common?Around 10% of postpartum people experience high blood pressure in the first year after birth. More severe cases, or postpartum preeclampsia, affect about 2%.Postpartum hypertension is most common in people who have hypertension during pregnancy. Less often, it can develop in people who didn’t have high blood pressure during pregnancy.Most people learn they have postpartum hypertension in the first week after birth. It often resolves by six weeks. But for some people, it persists and requires long-term care.High blood pressure can go undetected during a routine checkup with your medical provider. It may only show up on a 24-hour blood pressure monitor. This condition, known as masked hypertension, shows the importance of monitoring your blood pressure at home.Is Fatigue a Symptom of Postpartum Hypertension?Postpartum fatigue is a very common symptom after childbirth. Most parents experience some level of fatigue, sleep loss, and general recovery as they adjust to life with a newborn.Fatigue can be a symptom of postpartum hypertension, but it’s not a common one.Hypertension often has no warning signs \u2014 which is why it’s sometimes called the “silent killer.” However, certain symptoms can indicate a severe problem. These include:Chest tightness.Nausea or vomiting.Seeing stars or black spots in vision.Severe headache.Shortness of breath.Swelling of the face, hands, or lower body.If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms and is postpartum, seek emergency care right away.What Are the Risks and Complications of Postpartum Hypertension?It\u2019s important to know if you’re at a heightened risk for postpartum hypertension. That way, you can bring these concerns to your doctor and consider monitoring your blood pressure at home for several weeks or even months after birth.Risk factors include:Advanced maternal age (35+).Delivering by Cesarean section (C-section).High body mass index (BMI).Long labor (prolonged labor).More than two previous births.Studies have also shown that Black women are more likely to have postpartum hypertension. But this isn’t a biological factor, but a societal factor.High blood pressure during the postpartum period can cause other troubling health concerns down the line. These complications include:Chronic hypertension.Long-term cardiovascular disease.Rehospitalization in the first few weeks after birth to monitor blood pressure.How Early Should I Schedule a Postpartum Checkup If I Have High Blood Pressure?Birthing people are typically scheduled for a postpartum visit around six weeks after delivery. However, when it comes to high blood pressure, waiting that long could be risky.If you had high blood pressure at any point during your pregnancy or are at a higher risk for postpartum hypertension, talk with your care team. They can schedule an earlier follow-up. Ideally, this should take place within the first few days after leaving the facility where you gave birth.Early monitoring ensures your care team can quickly detect and treat high blood pressure.How Do You Monitor Blood Pressure at Home?Monitoring your blood pressure from home is a simple and effective way to stay safe from postpartum hypertension.Most devices cost anywhere from $20 to $50. You can find them online or at local pharmacies.To get accurate readings:Choose the same two times each day to measure your blood pressure.Go to the bathroom beforehand and sit quietly for three to five minutes before taking a reading.Keep your feet flat on the floor and uncross your legs.Place the cuff on your upper arm, above the elbow, and prop your arm so it is level with your heart.Record your numbers in a journal or on your phone.Sit upright in a chair with your back supported, avoiding a reclined position.Continue monitoring your blood pressure at least twice a day for the first six weeks postpartum, even if your numbers are normal.In some cases, your health care provider may recommend a 24-hour blood pressure monitor. These devices can help detect masked hypertension, but they’re not as readily available. If necessary, your provider will guide you based on your risk factors or symptoms.You should also know when to call for help about high blood pressure.Call your health care provider if your numbers are between 140 to 159\/90 to 109 millimeters of mercury.Seek immediate emergency care if your numbers are 160\/110 millimeters of mercury or higher, or if you’re experiencing any hypertension symptoms.What Happens If You’re Hospitalized with Postpartum Hypertension?If you’re admitted to the hospital with postpartum hypertension, doctors will work quickly to lower your blood pressure, typically with medications. Some people may receive diuretics if fluid buildup is a concern.Your health care team will also track your kidney and liver function to ensure other organs are not affected.After leaving the hospital, a smooth transition to home care is important. This includes:Awareness of warning signs for complications.Continued blood pressure monitoring at home.Follow-up appointments with your primary care provider or cardiologist.How Does UPMC Support People with Postpartum Hypertension?UPMC provides support for people diagnosed with hypertension during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The experts at UPMC Magee-Womens and the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute collaborate through the UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program.Our program provides home blood pressure monitors for people with pregnancy-related hypertension who deliver at several UPMC hospitals. We offer remote blood pressure monitoring for patients. We also provide ongoing support for people who develop chronic hypertension.UPMC is also a national research leader on pregnancy-related hypertension.For more information on the support we provide, visit our website.Sources"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2026","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"When It’s Not Normal Postpartum Symptoms: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Postpartum Hypertension","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/postpartum-symptoms-warning-signs\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]