A recent preliminary study set to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026 in New Orleans has found that women who have previously experienced an ischemic stroke face more than double the risk of having another stroke during pregnancy or within six weeks after childbirth.
Researchers analyzed electronic health records from hospitals across the United States, focusing on women aged 15 to 50 who had recently delivered a baby. The study compared rates of new ischemic strokes between those with and without a history of previous stroke over a ten-year period, from 2015 to 2025.
Jennifer Lewey, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the writing committee for the 2024 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on postpartum cardiovascular disease risk, commented on the findings: "Stroke during pregnancy or the early postpartum period can have devastating long-term consequences for the mother and her family. The results of this study give us an opportunity to think about how to prevent maternal stroke among those at highest risk. Women with prior ischemic stroke should receive pre-conception counseling to discuss stroke risk during pregnancy and risk reduction. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary team of neurologists and obstetricians can develop a surveillance and treatment plan during pregnancy and the postpartum period." Lewey is also director of the Penn Women's Cardiovascular Health Program and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; she was not involved in this study.
Study authors highlight that preventive measures should be strengthened for women with a history of ischemic stroke due to their increased risk during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth. They suggest future research is needed to determine effective ways to reduce recurrent stroke risk in this group. Strategies such as identifying the cause of the initial stroke, medication review during pregnancy, blood pressure management, healthy diet, and regular physical activity are established methods for reducing additional strokes.
Qureshi, one of the study authors, stated: "Attention should be brought to the fact that this is a very high-risk pregnancy. Women who are pregnant and with a history of stroke should be managed at health care centers that have experience with high-risk pregnancies. There are no clinical guidelines for the management of these high-risk pregnancies. Hopefully, this study will promote the identification and categorization of these women in the high-risk pregnancy group so they can get a higher level of care from the beginning."
The research is based on observational analysis using data from electronic health records across multiple hospitals, which limits some aspects of its findings.
Leslie Jordan shared her personal experience after suffering an ischemic stroke following childbirth in 2018 while starting her law career in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her recovery involved significant challenges but led her to carefully plan her next pregnancy in 2025 by working closely with specialists and implementing daily medications alongside lifestyle changes.
"After my stroke, I knew this pregnancy would be high risk. I focused on building a care team that understood my risks and could support me every step of the way," said Jordan, now a volunteer for the American Stroke Association. "Focus on what you can control and give yourself grace. It's possible to have a healthy pregnancy after something as scary as a stroke."
