In plain words
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare condition where the heart muscle becomes weak and does not pump well. It usually starts in the last month of pregnancy or in the first months after birth. Warning signs include shortness of breath, trouble lying flat, a fast or pounding heartbeat, cough, and swelling in the legs or face. Many people feel very tired, and that can hide the signs. Call 911 or go to emergency care right away for chest pain, , or severe trouble breathing. Call your provider the same day for new swelling or breathlessness. Many people recover heart function with treatment, though some need long-term care.
The deeper version
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is idiopathic left ventricular systolic dysfunction with heart failure presenting toward the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, in the absence of another identifiable cause. The European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Association position statement (Sliwa et al., 2010) defines it as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction occurring from the last month of pregnancy to about five months postpartum. Risk factors include multiparity, older maternal age, multiple gestation, , and African ancestry, with reported incidence varying widely by population. Management includes standard heart failure therapy adapted for pregnancy and lactation, with anticoagulation considered in severe cases, and recovery of ejection fraction is reported in a substantial share of patients.
Where it comes up
- Postpartum warning signs: the one-page listPostpartum: Your Body
- Swelling after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- Postpartum preeclampsia: the warning signsPostpartum: Your Body
- Swelling: feet, ankles, hands, facePregnancy: Your Body
- The first 40 daysSupport, Home, and Village
What mothers here say about peripartum cardiomyopathy
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Sources
- Sliwa K et al. — Current state of knowledge on aetiology, diagnosis, management, and therapy of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. European Journal of Heart Failure, 2010