PPCM Blog

After surviving breast cancer and enduring multiple miscarriages, Daniela’s dream of motherhood finally came true. But just weeks after giving birth, she faced a new battle: Postpartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM). What began as typical postpartum symptoms quickly escalated to heart failure, forcing her into the ICU. Daniela’s journey is one of resilience, hope, and the power of early intervention in the fight against PPCM.

In the fog of new motherhood, I knew something wasn’t right. The swelling, the breathlessness, the weight gain - none of it felt normal. But when I brought it up, I was told to wait it out. This post is for anyone who's been dismissed while trying to listen to their body. It offers practical language to use with your doctor, questions grounded in Canadian heart failure guidelines, and what finally helped me get the care I needed after my diagnosis with peripartum cardiomyopat

Pregnancy and postpartum can be high-risk times for your heart. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but serious heart failure that may appear late in pregnancy or after birth. Because symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling are often mistaken for normal changes, diagnosis can be delayed. Using a symptom tracker helps expectant and new mothers monitor heart health, spot PPCM warning signs, and advocate for timely testing.

Heart disease, including peripartum cardiomyopathy is a leading but often missed cause of maternal death in Canada. This post explores the systemic gaps that leave pregnant and postpartum people at risk, and about a research initiative being undertaken in maternal research in Canada.

I thought I was just tired. Postpartum tired. But my heart was failing. In this personal story, I share how I was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare and often missed form of heart failure that can strike during or shortly after pregnancy. This post is for every woman who’s been told “it’s just anxiety” when it was something far more dangerous. If my story helps one mother push for the test that saves her life, it’s worth every word.

Dear Mama, To the mama who’s struggling: You are not broken. You are not alone. This letter is for you, because I've been there too. I’m...

I thought I was just recovering from a c-section. Swollen legs, sleepless nights, and overwhelming fatigue. After all, this was all part of new motherhood. But it wasn’t. I was in heart failure, and no one saw it coming. Peripartum cardiomyopathy nearly took my life before I even knew it existed. That’s why I started The PPCM Pulse: to make sure no one else has to suffer in silence.

In Canada and the U.S., Black women are 2 to 3 times more likely to die  from pregnancy-related complications than white women. One of...

You’ve just had a baby. You expect to be tired. Some aches and pain. But what if that exhaustion doesn’t lift? What if walking up the...