Preeclampsia Foundation launches postpartum recovery videos for HDP

The Preeclampsia Foundation has released 2 educational videos to help patients, families, and health care providers manage recovery after high blood pressure during or after pregnancy, the organization announced on September 29, 2026. The videos, available in English and Spanish, address both the immediate postpartum period and long-term health beyond pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome, can make physical and emotional recovery difficult, and high blood pressure may persist or first appear after delivery.¹ According to the foundation, a history of preeclampsia places patients at higher long-term risk for chronic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, diabetes, venous thromboembolism, and vascular dementia, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.²

How were the postpartum HDP videos developed?

The resources were co-created with Ann Celi, MD, MPH, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, along with the foundation's Patient Advisory Council and Medical Advisory Board. The collaboration was intended to ensure the content reflects both current evidence and the practical needs of affected patients.

"It has been a privilege to work with the Preeclampsia Foundation on this project. By including patients at every stage, we created resources that reflect their real questions and concerns. Patient feedback during testing indicated that these videos help build understanding and confidence to talk with their healthcare and support teams. Our hope is that these tools will support better outcomes," Celi stated.

What postpartum care topics do the videos cover?

The first video, "7 Tips for Immediate Postpartum Care," outlines practical steps for the days and weeks after birth, including monitoring symptoms, prioritizing rest, and recognizing when to seek medical care. The second, "8 Steps to Care for your Health Beyond Pregnancy," focuses on self-advocacy, long-term health risks, and follow-up care after high blood pressure in pregnancy. Both serve as companions to the foundation's free, printable My Health Beyond Pregnancy tool.¹

Now in version 2.0, developed in partnership with the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the worksheet lets patients track blood pressure, weight, birth outcomes, and blood work, including when testing should occur. Patients are encouraged to bring it to their obstetrician, primary care provider, cardiologist, or other clinicians.²

How can clinicians support long-term health after preeclampsia?

"Patients deserve clear, supportive guidance after a complicated pregnancy, not just during it. Our community consistently tells us they feel unprepared for the postpartum period. These new videos are designed to help patients and providers partner together to support health and wellbeing beyond pregnancy," stated Eleni Tsigas, chief executive officer of the Preeclampsia Foundation.¹

The foundation's provider guidance calls for documenting a patient's pregnancy history in her ongoing medical record and sharing it across her care network, ensuring transition of care when postpartum blood pressure is not under control, and encouraging home blood pressure monitoring with clear instructions on which readings to report and to whom.

Patients with readings of 140/90 are advised to verify them with a clinician and discuss medications or lifestyle changes. The guidance also describes mental health resources as essential for processing a traumatic pregnancy experience.²

According to the foundation, the new videos expand its library of evidence-informed, patient-centered educational materials and reinforce the need for continuous care from pregnancy through the postpartum period and beyond. The videos and companion tool are available at https://preeclampsia.org/beyondpregnancy.¹

References:

1. Preeclampsia Foundation launches new educational videos to support postpartum recovery after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. News release. Preeclampsia Foundation. September 29, 2026. Accessed September 30, 2026. https://www.preeclampsia.org/the-news/news-from-the-foundation/preeclampsia-foundation-launches-new-educational-videos-to-support-postpartum-recovery-after-hypertensive-disorders-of-pregnancy
2. Preeclampsia: beyond pregnancy. Preeclampsia Foundation. Updated September 29, 2026. Accessed September 30, 2026. https://www.preeclampsia.org/beyondpregnancy