PPCM Blog

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.