PPCM Blog

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.