A Sutter digital health program helped a new mom recognize a serious postpartum complication and know when to seek care.
By Marycon Young, Vitals contributor
At 3 a.m., with her 2½-week-old daughter back in her bassinet, Sara Caraballo wanted nothing more than to get some sleep.
But her headache was getting worse.
Sleep-deprived and breastfeeding, she wondered if she was dehydrated or feeling the effects of tapering off medication after giving birth.
“I could have explained that headache away in a dozen different ways,” she said.
Caraballo, a 37-year-old veterinarian, knew preeclampsia could occur after delivery. Still, with a newborn at home, she said it wasn’t on her radar.
Fortunately, during her third trimester, Caraballo enrolled in Sutter Sync for Pregnancy, a pilot digital health program, and received a Bluetooth-connected blood pressure cuff to use at home.
Before going back to sleep that night, Caraballo mentioned that she should probably check her blood pressure. Her husband went downstairs and brought her the cuff.
Her first reading was 150.
She checked again. This time, her blood pressure had climbed above 170, a dangerously high level.
That measurement changed the course of her night.
The reading triggered a digital alert directing Caraballo to go to the emergency room.
At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Caraballo with severe postpartum preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure condition that can develop after giving birth. She received medication to bring her blood pressure under control and was admitted for treatment and stabilization.
“At Sutter Health, we believe in staying connected with patients between visits and helping them access safe, timely care when they need it,” said Dr. Jill Foley, chair of Sutter Health’s Women’s Health Service Line. “Sara’s experience is a powerful reminder that pregnancy care doesn’t end at delivery. The postpartum period is an important time for new parents to continue paying attention to their health, even as so much of the focus naturally shifts to the baby.”
Extending Care Beyond the Clinic
Sutter Sync for Pregnancy helps obstetric teams stay connected with patients between visits throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Using Sutter-developed connected devices, patients can monitor blood pressure and weight from home, reducing unnecessary visits and saving time for patients and providers. The readings flow directly into the patient’s electronic health record, giving the care team timely information alongside the rest of the patient’s health history. The program builds on Sutter Sync’s broader approach to extending connected care beyond the clinic and supporting more health needs at home.
Clinical decisions remain with a patient’s obstetric care team, while at-home monitoring can help identify potential concerns earlier and support timely guidance between visits.
“I honestly believe it saved my life,” she said. “If I hadn’t been enrolled in the program, I wouldn’t have had a blood pressure cuff in my house.”
