Serious Postpartum Complications Women Can Face

Cardiovascular Issues

Besides blood clotting, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare condition affecting 1,000 to 1,300 women in the U.S. each year. It is an uncommon form of heart failure that occurs in the last month of pregnancy or five months after giving birth. The heart chambers are enlarged and the muscles weaken, which leads to less blood flow and less oxygen being circulating throughout the body, affecting the lungs, liver, and other systems. The condition can be difficult to detect as the symptoms are similar to what women experience in their third trimester, such as shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs and feet. Causes of PPCM include obesity, a medical history of cardiac disorders, smoking, alcoholism, use of certain medications, poor nutrition, multiple pregnancies, and it is more common in African-American patients. Treatments for PPCM include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, digitalis, and anticoagulants.