Brooklyn resident Luyba Caloras shared her experience with postpartum preeclampsia after delivering her son at NYU Langone Health on Feb. 3, saying she was surprised by the diagnosis given her previously healthy condition and lack of heart problems. "I thought once the baby is here and healthy, you're in the clear," said Caloras. "I didn't realize something like this could happen after."
Caloras's case underscores growing awareness among doctors that pregnancy can serve as an early indicator for long-term cardiovascular health risks. Postpartum preeclampsia, which causes high blood pressure after childbirth, often arises unexpectedly and may not be immediately recognized by new mothers focused on recovery.
After noticing rising blood pressure numbers at home following her obstetrician's advice, Caloras returned to the hospital where she was diagnosed and began treatment under NYU Langone's maternal-fetal medicine team. She later joined the Cardio-Obstetrics Program led by Dr. Anais Hausvater and Dr. Christina A. Penfield, which coordinates care between cardiologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists before, during, and after pregnancy.
"We recognized that her blood pressure remained elevated well after delivery, which can happen after preeclampsia," said Dr. Hausvater. "Optimizing blood pressure is critical, both for long-term heart health and for any future pregnancies." With medication adjustments and regular monitoring, Caloras worked to manage chronic high blood pressure—a common consequence of preeclampsia.
During a subsequent pregnancy managed by Drs. Hausvater and Kristine E. Brown with a tailored care plan including preventive steps such as low-dose aspirin in the first trimester, Caloras delivered a healthy daughter without recurrence of preeclampsia on Oct. 30.
Drs. Brown and Hausvater emphasized that hypertensive disorders affect about one in eight pregnancies nationwide; those affected face significantly higher risks of future heart disease even decades later if not properly monitored or treated early on.
Caloras encourages other mothers to pay attention to their bodies post-delivery: "I want other moms to know: Listen to your body," she said. "If something feels off, don't ignore it."
