Postpartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of dilated cardiomyopathy that weakens the heart muscle during the perinatal period, causing abnormal heart rhythms and potentially leading to heart failure. Symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from typical pregnancy changes, but rapid onset symptoms should be reported to a doctor. Risk factors include age, race, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, multiple previous pregnancies, and malnutrition. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and ensuring the survival of the mother and baby, while a balanced diet and exercise can help return the heart to normal. Women with postpartum cardiomyopathy have a higher risk of developing the condition again in future pregnancies.
Postpartum cardiomyopathy, or perinatal cardiomyopathy, is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that occurs when the heart muscle weakens during the perinatal period. Cardiomyopathy causes abnormal heart rhythms and can potentially lead to heart failure. Estimates of the prevalence of this disorder range from one case per 1,300 pregnancies to one case per 15,000 births. In some cases, the heart strengthens and returns to normal, but other women diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy will have cardiomyopathy indefinitely.
Postpartum cardiomyopathy is usually diagnosed at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy or within six months after delivery. This weakening or enlargement of the heart causes abnormal heart rhythms and sometimes cardiac arrest. This condition can also cause blood clots, which become dangerous or life-threatening as they travel to vital organs.
Some of the symptoms of this disorder, such as foot swelling, weight gain, and fatigue, can be difficult to differentiate from the typical bodily changes that occur during pregnancy. Other symptoms, such as dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations and fainting during childbirth, can be invaluable clues that a woman is experiencing postpartum cardiomyopathy. Women experiencing a rapid onset of symptoms should not hesitate to consult their obstetricians.
This condition is relatively rare, but doctors and patients should be aware of several risk factors for postpartum cardiomyopathy. This disease can occur in women of any age, but most commonly affects new mothers and mothers-to-be who are over the age of 30. This disorder is experienced at higher frequencies among black women than those of any other race. Other risk factors for the disorder include obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, multiple previous pregnancies, and malnutrition.
The cause of this condition varies. Postpartum cardiomyopathy could be the result of a viral infection in the heart tissue or pre-existing heart conditions. Diabetes, thyroid disease, and infections are often seen in women who have postpartum cardiomyopathy but have not been found to cause the condition.
Doctors typically treat the symptoms of the disorder and work to ensure the survival of the mother and baby. Women may be prescribed diuretics, beta-blockers, nitrates, or medications to strengthen the heart. Some drugs typically used to treat heart disease are avoided because they are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In some cases, salts and fluids may be restricted to reduce fluid buildup.
Women who have postpartum cardiomyopathy should take care of their bodies during the perinatal period. A balanced diet and exercise are the keys to returning the heart to its normal state. Smoking and drinking could worsen postpartum cardiomyopathy and patients should refrain from these activities. Women who have been diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy have a higher risk of developing the condition again in future pregnancies. A woman whose heart doesn’t return to normal soon after giving birth could suffer from heart failure in a future pregnancy.
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