Bloodshot eyes postpartum: Why it happens and what to do

Bloodshot eyes after childbirth

After intense pushing during the second stage of labor, you could experience bloodshot eyes postpartum. Pushing and straining raise your blood pressure, which can cause broken capillaries and red eyes. But don’t worry – bloodshot eyes are generally harmless and resolve within two weeks. If you’re experiencing changes in vision, pain, or have mucous seeping from your eyes, call your provider.

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Mayo Clinic. 2021. Subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/subconjunctival-hemorrhage/symptoms-causes/syc-20353826 [Accessed February 2022]

Merck Manuals. 2021. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/eye-disorders/conjunctival-and-scleral-disorders/subconjunctival-hemorrhage [Accessed February 2022]

National Institutes of Health. 2022. Eye redness. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003031.htm [Accessed February 2022]

American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2021. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-subconjunctival-hemorrhage [Accessed February 2022]

American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2021. Home Remedies for Bloodshot Eyes. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/home-remedies-bloodshot-eyes-when-to-see-doctor [Accessed February 2022]

American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2021. Redness relieving eye drops. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/redness-relieving-eye-drops [Accessed February 2022]

Maggie Getz is a freelance writer and editor specializing in health, wellness, and motherhood. She lives in Colorado with her husband and young son and daughter. She enjoys hiking, yoga, baking (and eating said baked goods), as well as connecting with other moms.