More American women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are suffering from strokes, according to a new report in the journal Stroke.

Between 1995 and 2007, the number of women hospitalized for stroke while pregnant or soon after giving birth rose considerably. Pregnant women saw a 47 percent increase in hospital admission due to stroke, while new mothers saw an 83 percent spike, the source reports.

Some experts believe that these numbers are rising because many women are entering pregnancy with increased risk factors that make them susceptible to stroke, according to a recent study.

"Now more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease," explained Dr. Elena Kuklina, the study's lead author. "Since pregnancy by itself is a risk factor, if you have one of these other stroke risk factors, it doubles the risk."

High blood pressure was often associated with afflicted women. The study suggests using preventative means to ensure safety during pregnancy, a tactic that could lower the risks for other ailments as well and remove some strain from over-taxed health insurance policies.