Postpartum Preeclampsia: Rare Condition That Caught This Mom Off Guard

La'Toya Sharp, 42, felt like she was drowning just after a long delivery. Despite being 42 years old, she developed gestational diabetes, and after 17 hours of labor, she underwent an unplanned C-section.

During her recovery at the hospital, she experienced breathing difficulties and high blood pressure, feeling as if she were suffocating when lying down. It was then discovered that she had postpartum preeclampsia.

La'Toya Sharp's Journey

According to TODAY, La'Toya Sharp's experience during her second pregnancy was not without challenges. Being an older mother, she developed gestational diabetes, a condition that occurs when a woman who did not previously have diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This can cause health risks for both the mother and baby, including a higher chance of having a larger baby, making delivery more difficult.

Sharp's doctors decided to induce labor to reduce the risks associated with gestational diabetes. However, after 17 hours of labor, it was apparent that the baby could not be delivered through the birth canal, and a C-section was necessary.

This was an unexpected outcome for Sharp, who had hoped to have a vaginal birth. After the C-section, Sharp was finally able to hold her newborn daughter, Nova. Although she was surprised by Nova's gender, she was relieved and happy that the baby was healthy.

However, the doctors soon discovered that Nova's path was obstructed by a large fibroid, which was causing complications during delivery. Despite the initial challenges, Sharp and Nova seemed to be doing well until two days later, when Sharp's blood pressure increased, and she started experiencing shortness of breath. She was concerned and questioned her doctor, Dr. Lisa Johnson of Northwell Health in Long Island, New York, about her low pulse rate and difficulty breathing.

Dr. Johnson diagnosed Sharp with postpartum preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs after giving birth. This was a worrying development for Sharp, who did not know that preeclampsia could occur after delivery. The doctors had to remove around eight liters of fluid from Sharp's lungs to treat her condition.

Despite the challenges, La'Toya Sharp's story highlights the importance of medical intervention and monitoring during pregnancy and after childbirth.

What Is Postpartum Preeclampsia?

According to the Mayo Clinic, postpartum preeclampsia is a rare medical condition that can occur soon after childbirth. It is characterized by high blood pressure and an excess amount of protein in the urine.

While preeclampsia typically occurs during pregnancy, postpartum preeclampsia can develop within the first 48 hours after delivery or up to six weeks later, known as late postpartum preeclampsia. Immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent serious complications such as seizures.

There are several symptoms that women who have just given birth may experience if they have postpartum preeclampsia, including high blood pressure, proteinuria, blurred vision or light sensitivity, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, decreased urination, rapid weight gain, swelling, nausea, and vomiting.

Based on the Cleveland Clinic, women younger than 20 or older than 40, expecting twins or more, have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or have other medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing postpartum preeclampsia.

Sharp's doctors quickly diagnosed her with postpartum preeclampsia when she began experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath and elevated blood pressure.

This condition made it difficult for her to breastfeed her daughter, Nova, in the nursery. But nurses brought the baby to Sharp's room so that she could still pump colostrum and breast milk.

After being in the hospital for two weeks, Sharp was able to go home with Nova. However, she experienced challenges with breastfeeding due to Nova's inability to latch and also developed postpartum depression. After about two months, Sharp began to feel better and found her rhythm as a new mother.

Nova, who is now 19 months old, is healthy and independent, which makes Sharp feel grateful that she spoke up about her symptoms and received prompt medical attention from her healthcare team.

La'Toya Sharp's experience with postpartum preeclampsia highlights the importance of recognizing and treating this potentially life-threatening condition. As a rare but serious complication of childbirth, postpartum preeclampsia requires prompt medical attention to prevent seizures and other complications.

Sharp's story also sheds light on the challenges that new mothers may face, including difficulties with breastfeeding and postpartum depression. By speaking up about her symptoms and receiving quick treatment from her healthcare team, Sharp was able to recover and enjoy the joys of motherhood with her healthy and thriving daughter.