Living with Peripartum cardiomyopathy
A heart muscle condition that develops in the last month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery.
Understanding Peripartum cardiomyopathy
It develops during the final month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery. GARD calls the cause idiopathic, which means unknown. It occurs in adults.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Swollen feet and legs
- Fast heartbeat
- Pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
- Trouble breathing when lying flat
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include heart and blood vessel specialists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and women’s reproductive health specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists); Maternal-fetal medicine specialists (pregnancy-related); Women’s reproductive health specialists (obstetricians / gynecologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD calls this condition idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown.
Also known as: antepartum peripartum cardiomyopathy; postpartum cardiomyopathy; postpartum peripartum cardiomyopathy
Patient organizations
- Children's Cardiomyopathy FoundationCardiomyopathy · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Explore research for Peripartum cardiomyopathy
Explore actively recruiting Peripartum cardiomyopathy studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Peripartum cardiomyopathy with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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