PPCM Awareness Week - May 10th-17th

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Signs & Symptoms

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an often-unrecognized form of heart failure that occurs during pregnancy or up to 12 months postpartum. The condition weakens the heart muscle and causes the heart to become enlarged. As a result, the heart can't pump blood properly to the rest of the body.


Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Awareness Week in Texas Is May 10- May 17, thanks to our founder, Brianna Harris-Henderson for getting the T.X. governor to sign our proclamation request in 2022.


Symptoms of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy include:


Rapid heartbeat or Palpitations


Nagging Cough 


Heavy Chest Pains


Excessive Fatigue


Tiredness during physical activity


Shortness of breath


Swelling of feet and ankles


Increased Urination at night.


Does this sound familiar?


PPCM warning signs can mimic pregnancy signs!


There's no known factor to diagnose it, which is why, many PPCM patients' symptoms worsen after birth, causing them to need Medical Devices, Heart Transplants, or even lose their life!


If all obstetricians ran an NT-proBNP blood test during 36+ weeks gestation, more PPCM patients will have a 90% chance of recovering.


More awareness is needed for PPCM so that women who will be diagnosed can be given timely and appropriate treatment.


Know the signs and ask questions.


Risk Factors:

  • Older maternal age (>30 years old)
  • Pre-eclampsia
  • Eclampsia
  • African American descent
  • Family history of heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Multiple births
  • Heart murmur
  • Hyperemesis gravidarum
  • Fertility treatments
  • Covid-19


Possible Causes:

• Angiogenic imbalance

• Altered prolactin processing

• Genetic, inflammatory, hormonal, hemodynamic, and autoimmune factors


Management of this challenging disease is similar to other forms of systolic heart failure, and unfortunately, only 30% to 50% of patients recover completely. We are recommending all expecting mothers and postpartum mothers request a BNP blood test, known as NT-proBNP. 


BNP vs. NT-proBNP:

Differences between BNP and NT-proBNP on a biological level relate to the fact that one is biologically active as a hormone, BNP, whereas NT-proBNP is cleared passively from the body and is not biologically active. Therefore, BNP has a much shorter half-life, and NT-proBNP has a longer half-life.


Link to healthcare providers familiar with PPCM:  

PCN Locations - PPCM Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Network 

Learn More

"We all have a role to play in preventing maternal deaths. The loss of one mother is one too many. Learn about urgent maternal warning signs and discover how you can help."

Find out more

Important Information

  1.  At Let's Talk PPCM, we host PPCM workshops for health care providers and awareness. 
  2. We have created a unique screening tool that can help bridge the gap in this area. 
  3. Our organization shines the light on PPCM stories across the nation, helping survivors become advocates and gain a voice for themselves. 
  4. Each diagnosis of PPCM is different and doesn't happen the same in every woman. Some recover quickly and some do not at all. We encourage BNP blood tests for all pregnant women. 
  5. We believe telemedicine can help when it comes to the lack of support from a PPCM patients' environment. Cardiac rehab requires PPCM patients to seek a ride or risk driving themselves for treatment. Small workouts at home should be provided. 
  6. The babies who come from a PPCM mother should also be evaluated closely, as sometimes PPCM can affect the unborn. 
  7. Most black women are taught to pray about it instead of getting the help that's needed. 
  8. Some black women may feel they won't get the proper care if there is no other black physician present. This can also increase maternal mortality in the black community. 
  9. We noticed in all races, that some women don't like taking medication passed 6 months. Some postpartum women may think it's (extra) taking care of themselves, due to the stress of caring for other children or new babies. 
  10. We want to help encourage ALL mothers that they are important and that their body matters! 

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Most women with PPCM develop symptoms within a few months after giving birth. Early diagnosis is important because delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality.
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