Raising Awareness of Postpartum Care and Postpartum Preeclampsia
A Torrance Memorial nurse shares her experience with postpartum preeclampsia to help new mothers recognize warning signs and prioritize physical and mental health after childbirth.
Since her early 20s, Kacy Turner-Thompson, RN, has been successfully managing her high blood pressure. When she became pregnant with her first child at age 34, she understood that her high blood pressure made it a high-risk pregnancy.
She and the specialists caring for her took extra precautions to lower her chances of complications. Turner-Thompson’s perinatology team performed frequent screenings for preeclampsia, a serious condition that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine during the second half of pregnancy.
When Turner-Thompson delivered a healthy baby girl, Kira, at 38 weeks after months of daily blood pressure checks, she and her husband, Jeff, were overjoyed. They believed she was in the clear.
However, four days later she went back to the hospital in an ambulance and was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia—an uncommon condition that causes the same symptoms as preeclampsia but occurs up to six weeks after giving birth.
Certified Care
Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been verified by The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification Program, in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This verification followed a comprehensive on-site review during which the hospital’s maternity care capabilities and compliance with established policies were evaluated.
The MLC Verification Program provides an objective assessment of a hospital’s ability to deliver care appropriate to a patient’s specific needs and risk level, confirming that the necessary expertise, equipment and resources are in place. In the event of complications, verification also ensures hospitals maintain transfer agreements with higher-level facilities to provide timely access to advanced care when needed.
Congratulations to the maternal care team on achieving this prestigious verification.
An Unexpected Diagnosis
According to Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, a cardiologist specializing in women’s cardiovascular disease at Torrance Memorial, any woman can develop postpartum preeclampsia—including those with no history of high blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy.
“In addition to high blood pressure, postpartum preeclampsia can cause severe headache, vision changes, swelling, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and stomach pain,” says Dr. Curran. “If left untreated, it can lead to seizures, stroke, organ damage and even death, so it’s critical for new moms and their loved ones to watch for warning signs—even if there are no risk factors—and get help right away if symptoms develop.”
Dr. Curran states that the overall rate of pregnancy complications is rising, and postpartum preeclampsia is no different. The condition now affects up to 5% of all new mothers, with a higher prevalence among women with pre-existing high blood pressure or heart disease—making cardio-obstetric care essential for expectant mothers with heart-related risk factors.
“Access to comprehensive cardio-obstetric care is crucial because it allows us to assess each woman’s risk for complications, coordinate and manage cardiovascular and obstetric issues, and intervene quickly if problems develop,” says Dr. Curran. “Multidisciplinary care from a team of obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine and cardiologists improves both short- and long-term maternal outcomes, reduces maternal mortality and addresses disparities in care.”
Dr. Curran says that patient education and early postpartum follow-up care are also key. But since postpartum preeclampsia is uncommon and many women aren’t aware of the risk, it can be easy to miss the signs.
“Two days after I got home from the hospital, I noticed swelling in my legs. But with all the responsibilities of caring for my daughter, my ‘nurse brain’ wasn’t on, and I just figured it was water retention,” says Turner-Thompson, who works as a nurse in the Burn ICU. “I also remember drinking a lot of water, still feeling thirsty and having trouble urinating, which can be a sign of kidney problems.”
Turner-Thompson says that when she felt a “whooshing” sensation in her head, she knew something wasn’t right. She took her blood pressure, and it was 140/92—indicating mild postpartum preeclampsia. A few minutes later, with the feeling of pressure in her head getting worse, Turner-Thompson took her blood pressure again.
This time it was 184/124—indicating a hypertensive crisis that requires immediate medical attention. Left untreated, a hypertensive crisis puts increased stress on blood vessels throughout the body and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney damage and other life-threatening health problems.
“It felt like my eyes were going to pop out of my head,” says Turner-Thompson, who immediately called 911.
Kacy Turner-Thompson and Jeff Thompson with daughters Rylie and Kira.
Postpartum Mental Health Support
After arriving at the Torrance Memorial Emergency Department, Turner-Thompson’s blood pressure began to stabilize. She was admitted to the Labor & Delivery Unit for continued treatment and discharged after a five-day stay.
Even though her physical condition had stabilized, the traumatic experience left her feeling depressed, anxious, concerned about her health and unable to get the rest she needed.
“I was in a constant state of fight-or-flight mode, and I felt like I was losing my mind,” says Turner-Thompson. “I went to my OB-GYN’s office for a blood pressure check and just broke down in tears. I knew I needed help.”
According to Natalie Thorpe, RN, clinical director of Maternal Child Health services at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, postpartum depression and anxiety are becoming increasingly common. A traumatic birth or postpartum experience significantly raises the risk.
“About 13% of women in the U.S.—or about 1 in 8—experience postpartum depression, which may include feelings of intense sadness, guilt, failure, worthlessness or hopelessness, inability to function, withdrawing from loved ones and difficulty bonding with baby,” says Thorpe. “Postpartum preeclampsia is very rare, and that type of trauma can set you up for anxiety.”
Although Torrance Memorial screens all new mothers for postpartum depression and anxiety, the condition can develop at any time during the year following the birth. Sometimes it can be mistaken for the “baby blues,” which causes mild symptoms such as crying or sadness in 60% to 80% of women and lasts for about two weeks after delivery.
“All new mothers—regardless of their history or risk factors—should watch for signs of physical and mental health problems after giving birth,” says Thorpe. “New moms can also be so focused on caring for their newborn that they forget to take care of themselves. This is where loved ones can help by keeping an eye out for odd behavior or other concerns. If anything is off, get it checked out by your OB-GYN.”
Although Turner-Thompson felt that she had reached her breaking point, speaking up during a routine postpartum follow-up visit turned out to be a crucial milestone. With the help of her OB-GYN, Turner-Thompson attended a five-day-per-week outpatient behavioral health program. Each day, an Uber driver would pick her up and take her to group therapy sessions.
“The program helped me get out of the house and have a routine, which motivated me to try to function,” says Turner-Thompson. “It taught me coping skills to manage my anxiety and helped me understand my depression.”
Increasing Awareness
Three years later, Turner-Thompson has turned her challenging postpartum experience into something positive. She shared her story through TikTok, the Preeclampsia Foundation and moms’ groups—raising awareness about postpartum preeclampsia, highlighting the importance of postpartum mental health care and connecting with others who have had similar experiences.
Since her postpartum preeclampsia diagnosis, Turner-Thompson has experienced worsening high blood pressure that requires three types of medication to manage. To eliminate her risk of health complications during a future pregnancy, she and her husband chose to expand their family through surrogacy. The couple’s second daughter, Rylie, was born last December.
“Preeclampsia is on the rise—not just in women with risk factors, but also in those with no prior history,” says Turner-Thompson. “I’m determined to tell my story so other women can take steps to care for their physical and mental health.”
