What is Peripartum Cardiomyopathy?

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure during the systolic phase of pumping, i.e., the heart pumping with force to circulate blood in the body.

PPCM typically presents at late-stage pregnancy and in the early post-partum (after birth) period, if there are no other causes for heart failure found.

When experiencing PPCM, your left ventricle on your heart (which is responsible for pumping blood into your body) can become enlarged and weakened, therefore not pumping blood properly around the body.

As a result, blood can build up in areas of the body such as the lungs, leading to less oxygen for you and can have a noticeable effect, such as breathlessness and extreme fatigue.

There are no clear underlying reasons why you may have developed PPCM, however, there are suggestions from research that pregnancy-specific related conditions, such as pre-eclampsia, as well as risk factors such as diabetes and obesity, are linked to PPCM. See the risk factors for PPCM section.

Signs & symptoms of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

It can be difficult to diagnose PPCM, and typically it is a delayed diagnosis as many of the signs and symptoms are similar to those of normal changes to your body during pregnancy.

It is worth remembering that most women who have PPCM will develop the signs and symptoms within the first few months after giving birth.

Here are the signs and symptoms of PPCM:

Signs & symptoms of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

It can be difficult to diagnose PPCM, and typically, it is a delayed diagnosis, as many of the signs and symptoms are similar to those of normal changes to your body during pregnancy.

It is worth remembering that most women who have PPCM will develop the signs and symptoms within the first few months after giving birth.

Here are the signs and symptoms of PPCM: