Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Starting with who treats it: the cardiologist and the gynecologist support the woman with peripartum cardiomyopathy, an uncommon form of heart muscle weakness that appears toward the end of pregnancy or in the months after delivery, when the heart loses the ability to pump blood effectively.

Common symptoms: shortness of breath, marked fatigue, leg swelling, and palpitations that are sometimes confused with the normal discomforts of the postpartum period.

When to seek care? If after pregnancy there is difficulty breathing, disproportionate tiredness, or significant swelling.

Recognizing these signals and discussing them with the doctor following the pregnancy allows for a timely evaluation of the heart.