How to Use a Symptom Tracker to Monitor PPCM Symptoms During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Pregnancy and new motherhood are full of transformative moments… some joyful, others overwhelming. Amid the sleepless nights and shifting hormones, it’s easy to dismiss symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling as “just part of the journey.” But for some women, these signs may point to something far more serious: peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), which is a rare, potentially life-threatening form of heart failure that can strike in the last month of pregnancy or within five months postpartum.

Symptom Tracking Could Save Your Life

PPCM can escalate rapidly – sometimes in a matter of days. Early detection is critical, but diagnosis is often delayed, especially among women in rural or underserved communities. That’s where a daily symptom tracker becomes a powerful tool. It helps you spot patterns, advocate for timely care, and give your healthcare team a clearer picture of your health beyond the exam room.

Tracking symptoms:

• Promotes Early Diagnosis

  Noticing trends in breathlessness, swelling, or fatigue can prompt your provider to order key tests like a BNP blood test or echocardiogram.

  
  

• Bridges Gaps in Care

  Black, Indigenous or women in rural Canada often face delays in diagnosis. A tracker provides concrete data to support your concerns and push for action.

  
  

• Flags Urgent Symptoms

  Sudden weight gain (more than 2 pounds in a day), chest discomfort, or new palpitations can signal fluid retention and heart strain.

Image of a pregnant woman writing in a book.

Simple Heart-Smart Symptom Tracker

You don’t need an app or fancy device… just a notebook, spreadsheet, or printable template. The secret is consistency. Try to log your symptoms at the same time each day.

Include these five essential sections:

Section	What to Track
Vitals	Blood pressure, resting heart rate, daily weight
Symptoms	Rate breathlessness, swelling, chest discomfort, fatigue, dizziness (scale of 1–10)
Mental Health	Mood, anxiety, energy levels; emotional shifts can reflect heart changes
Patterns & Triggers	Sleep quality, stress, physical activity, salty meals
Medical Interactions	Appointments, ER visits, test results

Advocacy

If your concerns are brushed aside… especially during the hectic postpartum period, your tracker becomes your voice. Bring it to appointments and highlight any concerning trends.

Ask this direct but respectful question: “Given my symptoms and history, should we rule out PPCM with a BNP blood test or echocardiogram?”

This shows you’re informed, proactive, and serious about your health.

Know Your Risk Factors

While PPCM can affect anyone, a 2024 meta-analysis identified key risk factors:

Risk Factor	Increased Risk
Obesity	+43%
Multiple pregnancies (multiparity)	+79%
Gestational hypertension	2× higher
Diabetes	+33%
Pre-eclampsia	3× higher

If you have one or more of these, daily tracking becomes even more essential.

From a survivor:

“My swelling was written off as postpartum ‘water weight’ but my tracker showed it was getting worse every single day. That’s what finally convinced my doctor to order blood tests and an echocardiogram. Without it, I don’t know if I’d be here.”

Stories like this are a powerful reminder: tracking isn’t overreacting… it’s life-saving.

Start Today

You can begin right now. Use our free symptom tracker; print it, keep it by your bedside, and fill it in each morning or evening. Share it with a friend who’s pregnant or postpartum.

Sources

• Wang C.C.A. Early diagnosis of PPCM using point-of-care ultrasound in a rural Australian setting. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, 2024.

• Lasica R, et al. What Do We Know about Peripartum Cardiomyopathy? Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.  

• Wang X, Zheng K, Zhang Q. Risk Factors for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.  

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