How long does gestational hypertension typically resolve after delivery?

• A. It persists beyond 6 months
• B. It resolves by 12 weeks postpartum
• C. It resolves by 4 weeks postpartum
• D. It reverts within 1 week

Answer: (B)

Postpartum blood pressure tends to normalize after delivery because the placenta, which drives the hypertensive state in pregnancy, is no longer present. Once placental factors disappear, the maternal vascular system generally returns toward baseline. The typical timeframe for this resolution is by about 12 weeks after delivery, so most patients’ blood pressure is back to pre-pregnancy levels within that window. Some individuals improve sooner, but 12 weeks is the standard reference point. If hypertension still persists beyond this period, it warrants evaluation for chronic hypertension or other underlying causes. Choices suggesting resolution within only days or within 4 weeks are too rapid for most cases, and waiting beyond several months would be atypical for gestational hypertension.