Following surgery, both my daughter and I remained in the hospital for an additional five days as my blood pressure remained elevated, posing challenges for the medical team to stabilize it. Finally, on November 13, we were discharged, and I began to store milk in our freezer, having managed to pump during my hospital stay.
Initial Symptoms
Three weeks post-delivery, I noticed a persistent light cough and an unsettling sensation of my heart racing. I asked my partner to listen to my heartbeat, which he agreed seemed rapid, but we both figured it was a normal reaction after childbirth.
On Christmas night 2016, I struggled to sleep due to a severe cough and began spitting up pink phlegm, gasping for air when lying down. My partner had to sleep in our son’s room because of my relentless coughing.
A Call for Help
The following morning, at 6 a.m., I called my father, explaining that I was struggling to breathe while lying down and felt like I was suffocating. He immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation, suggesting I go to the hospital. My partner had to work that morning, so my in-laws watched our baby girl while my son stayed with his grandmother.
My father took me to the emergency room, where my vital signs revealed alarming numbers for my heart rate and blood pressure. I was sent for a CT scan and had to walk with a nurse to gauge my endurance; I ran out of breath in just five minutes.
Diagnosis and Treatment
After receiving the test results, the medical team determined I needed to stay overnight for further evaluation and to relieve fluid buildup in my lungs and heart. They provided medication to help eliminate the excess fluid from my body.
As doctors reviewed my medical history, they discovered that my oldest sister had passed away from cardiac arrest due to heart failure with an unknown cause, just three months after giving birth to her second child. That day, a cardiologist informed me that my heart’s ejection fraction was functioning at a dangerously low 15 to 20%, indicating I was in full heart failure—just like my sister.
I received a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare form of heart failure that can occur during pregnancy or shortly after. My physician gave me a 50/50 chance of survival and immediately fitted me with a life vest, designed to shock my heart back into rhythm in case of cardiac arrest. He also arranged for me to attend cardiac rehabilitation and regular visits to a heart failure clinic.
Raising Awareness
My story garnered attention, being featured in the hospital’s health magazine and on NBC 5 News. Dr. James Thompson, a cardiologist at my treatment facility, shared with NBC 5 News that the causes of peripartum cardiomyopathy remain unclear, although African-American women may face a heightened risk of developing it.
I am profoundly grateful to be here with my children and partner. Through prayers and medication, my ejection fraction has improved to 50%, allowing me to remove the life vest in July 2017. I am committed to raising awareness about peripartum cardiomyopathy, honoring my sister and advocating for other women whose lives have been affected. For more information on this condition, visit www.savethemommies.com and www.PPCMfund.com to learn about this serious issue that can impact otherwise healthy pregnant women.
Additional Resources
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Conclusion
In summary, my journey through peripartum cardiomyopathy opened my eyes to the risks women face during and after childbirth. With support and awareness, we can better understand and combat this condition that affects many.