Bell's palsy in pregnancy and the puerperium: a report of five cases.

The incidence of idiopathic facial nerve palsy is higher during pregnancy and the puerperium than in nonpregnant women of childbearing age. An important association also exists between Bell's palsy and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We describe three patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy in pregnancy and two in the puerperium. Two of these were associated with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. This case report illustrates the fact that Bell's palsy is common in pregnancy and in the peurperium and often associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.