Research Highlights:
Female stroke survivors were more than twice as likely as their stroke-free counterparts to have another stroke while pregnant and in the six weeks after childbirth, according to an analysis of a large national database of electronic health records.
In addition, the risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026
DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother’s odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.
“A common question for women is whether to risk pregnancy after a previous ischemic stroke. Our analysis found that women are at a greater risk of recurrent ischemic stroke during pregnancy and in the six weeks after giving birth, and the increased risk is not influenced by other risk factors,” said study lead author Adnan I. Qureshi, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and founder of Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institutes. “Now, women and their health care professionals can make a more informed decision about the risks related to pregnancy. Women who have experienced a stroke and become pregnant need additional attention to ensure they get the highest level of care to reduce their risk of another stroke.”
Using electronic health records from hospitals across the U.S., researchers analyzed the risk of new ischemic stroke in women ages 15 to 50 with and without a history of previous stroke who had recently delivered a baby (considered the early postpartum period). They compared the rates of strokes from 2015 to 2025 in women who had a recurrent stroke in pregnancy or soon after childbirth with the other women who had a first-time stroke during the same period.
The analysis found:
The stroke rate was higher in pregnant women who had a prior stroke compared to those who had been stroke-free: 415 new ischemic strokes among 1,192 pregnant women who had a previous stroke (34.82%) compared to 737 new strokes among 219,287 (0.34%) pregnant women without a history of ischemic stroke.
Among 1,192 pregnant women with a history of stroke, 415 new strokes occurred during pregnancy and soon after childbirth.
Out of 219,287 pregnant women without a prior stroke, 737 new strokes occurred during the same period.
After adjusting for demographic and health factors, such as race, other medical conditions and medications, women who had a history of prior stroke were more than twice as likely to have a second stroke during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period compared with those who had no previous stroke.
The risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity.
According to Jennifer Lewey, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the writing committee of the 2024 American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Opportunities in the Postpartum Period to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, “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 an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia and was not involved in this study.
Study authors say that the risk of having another stroke during pregnancy and soon after childbirth means preventive efforts should be intensified for women with a history of ischemic stroke. Future research will need to explore how specifically to lower the risk of a second stroke in this group of women. Identifying the cause of the first stroke, reviewing medications during pregnancy, managing blood pressure, eating a healthy diet and regular physical activity are proven strategies to reduce the risk of additional strokes.
“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,” Qureshi said.
The study is an observational analysis that relies on data from a large database of electronic health records, which is a limitation of the findings.
Study details, background and design:
The analysis included 220,479 pregnant women (ages 15 to 50 years old) with and without a previous ischemic stroke.
Participants were 60.74% white women, 21.81% Black women, 1.34% Asian women, .17% Native American women and 15.94% other race.
Researchers used the Oracle Health Real-World Data, a large U.S. national database of electronic health records, to analyze the rate of ischemic stroke in pregnant women between 2015 and 2025. They compared the rate of second stroke during pregnancy and in the postpartum period with the rate of first-time stroke during the same period.
Patient Perspective: Pregnancy after stroke
Leslie Jordan was starting out her law career in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she experienced a life-altering ischemic stroke shortly after giving birth to her first child in 2018. What began as a joyful moment turned into a frightening experience. Recovery was slow and challenging, marked by small victories like holding her baby, taking her first steps and, years later, driving again.
When Jordan became pregnant again in 2025, she knew this pregnancy carried significant risk. She worked closely with her obstetrician and neurologist to assemble a team of specialists and created a proactive plan that included daily blood thinner injections, baby aspirin, exercise and a diet focused on lean proteins and whole foods.
“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, who now volunteers for the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart 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.”
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.
Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed; rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.
Additional Resources:
Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Gladys P. Velarde, MD, FACC, FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
Spanish news release with video interview in Spanish.
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association news release: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease negatively impact health during, after pregnancy (Oct. 2025)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Heart disease risk factors in women highlight need for increased awareness, prevention (Feb. 2024)
American Heart Association policy statement: Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers (Sept. 2021)
American Heart Association health information: Pregnancy and Maternal Health Resources and Tools
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26
###
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public’s health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and X.
END