Woman raises awareness about dangerous 'fourth-trimester' condition
A woman is on a mission to raise awareness about what can happen in the fourth trimester, the weeks after giving birth.
In 2022, Stephanie Paradiso was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia. She had to fight for answers, and it's a battle she didn't see coming.
"It was a totally easy pregnancy, super easy delivery. So, you would never expect anything would go wrong. He was healthy, and I was healthy at the time. But a few days after giving birth, when I was home, I started to feel really, really sick," said Paradiso.
It started with chest pain and progressed to headaches and extreme swelling. But after two trips to the emergency room and a referral to a surgeon for gallstones, things were only getting worse.
"At that point, I was super frustrated. I'm just like, there is something wrong here. And I feel like I'm being gaslit because everyone else is coming up with different answers and different explanations. So, what I ended up doing was going to this random urgent care in my town. As soon as the provider there saw me, she saw my leg swollen, she took my blood pressure. It was slightly elevated at that point, and she said, I think that you have postpartum preeclampsia," Paradiso said.
She was told to go back to the ER, where she gave birth.
"When I got there, my blood pressure went from being very slightly elevated at like 146 to the top number being over 200, and I was definitely in stroke territory," said Paradiso.
It took more than a week to get an accurate diagnosis, and sure enough, it was postpartum preeclampsia.
"So basically, I was a ticking time bomb, walking around with all of these symptoms," Paradiso said.
The life-threatening hypertensive disorder is more common during pregnancy.
"When you have preeclampsia, it's really going to become a buildup of protein in the urine. I think a lot of women, especially first-time moms, don't know what that could look like," Paradiso said.
Postpartum preeclampsia is considered rare. While it's characterized by high blood pressure, Paradiso is proof that it's not always the first sign. Oftentimes, symptoms can be hard to differentiate from those of a more typical recovery after pregnancy.
"There is a lot of overlap between pregnancy symptoms like swelling and a little bit of shortness of breath, and then more serious cardiovascular problems like preeclampsia," said Dr. Kelly Costopoulos-Bass, a Lee Health cardiologist.
Costopoulos-Bass sees patients with a history of preeclampsia or a diagnosis that puts them at higher risk.
"While we know there are several risk factors for developing preeclampsia, some women develop it who don't have any risk factors. So, I think all pregnant and postpartum women should be educated about what to watch for," Costopoulos-Bass said.
After her experience, Paradiso is on a mission to raise awareness. She's a co-author in a new book called "Unreserved." She and Costopoulos-Bass agree, conditions like postpartum preeclampsia can fly under the radar.
"It amazed me that no one else thought of this," Paradiso wrote, talking about the struggle to get a diagnosis. "But I think it's because women's postpartum health is often overlooked, as long as the baby is healthy."
She said her journey has shaped how she moves as a mother, wife and business owner. Now, she wants to help others find the power and courage to advocate for themselves.
"If you feel like you're not feeling heard in any situation, it doesn't necessarily just have to be a medical situation, I think it's okay to also explore other options. If I didn't use my intuition and my voice, I don't know if I would still be here," said Paradiso.
Preeclampsia can develop up to six weeks after giving birth, and unless there are complications or known risk factors, mothers aren't seen for weekly appointments. That's why the Preeclampsia Foundation recommends knowing your typical numbers and having a way to monitor your health at home.
"We recommend that every person, especially new and expectant moms, should have a home blood pressure cuff and know how to properly take it," said Laney Poye, the director of communications and engagement for the Preeclampsia Foundation.
Based in Melbourne, Florida, the provides resources and connections for people all over the country.