A New Mom’s Fight With Postpartum Heart Failure

For many women, the weeks and months after giving birth come with exhaustion, physical recovery and adjusting to life with a newborn. But for patient advocate Anjellica Davis, what she initially believed were normal postpartum challenges turned out to be warning signs of a rare and life-threatening heart condition. Despite experiencing shortness of breath and a frightening sensation that made it difficult to lie flat, she assumed her symptoms were part of the natural recovery process after childbirth.

Just two months after welcoming her son, Anjellica was diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy, a rare form of heart failure that can occur during or shortly after pregnancy. Her condition progressed quickly and ultimately led to a heart transplant. Now, Anjellica is sharing her story to raise awareness about maternal heart health, encourage women to trust their instincts when something feels wrong and help ensure other mothers receive lifesaving care sooner.

Looking back, what were the first signs that something wasn’t right after giving birth, and how did they differ from typical postpartum exhaustion?

Anjellica Davis: For me, there really weren’t obvious signs at first — or at least I didn’t recognize them. Looking back now, there were symptoms, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I remember feeling this drowning sensation. At the time, I didn’t realize it was fluid buildup, but I couldn’t lie flat because it felt like I was drowning. I would try to sleep sitting up, and I couldn’t rest comfortably.

Usually around two or three in the morning, I would think about making an urgent care appointment for the next day. But by six or seven in the morning, the feeling would calm down, and I’d convince myself it was just something temporary. I also had shortness of breath, but I assumed it was because I was older than when I had my previous children. When I tried to work out, I became extremely exhausted. I just brushed it off because I didn’t know enough about what to look for.

How did your diagnosis happen so quickly after becoming a new mom?

AD: I had my baby in May, and by July I started experiencing symptoms. One day, I was on the phone with my son’s grandmother while walking up the stairs in my home. She noticed how out of breath I was and told me it sounded like I might have fluid around my heart. I didn’t believe her because I felt healthy and had an easy pregnancy.

The next morning, which happened to be my older son’s 16th birthday, I decided to go to the emergency room just to rule things out. After testing, a nurse asked if I had ever had congestive heart failure. That scared me. The doctor later explained that I had postpartum cardiomyopathy. He told me it’s rare and occurs in about 4% of pregnancies, but most women recover with treatment. I was kept overnight for monitoring, and it was heartbreaking to miss my son’s birthday plans, but I knew I needed to take care of myself to be there for future birthdays.

Was there a moment during your journey that helped you realize your strength?

AD: Honestly, it happened when I learned I needed a heart transplant. People always ask if I was scared, but I wasn’t. I told my doctors, “Let’s do this — I’m ready to live.” When they wheeled me into surgery, my parents were crying, and I kept telling them I would be back.

Thinking about my children gave me strength. My faith was bigger than my fear. I just wanted to get through the surgery and be healthy again for my family.

How did your experience inspire your interest in nursing and cardiovascular care?

AD: I originally wanted to be a nurse when I was younger, but I took a different career path. During my hospitalization and recovery, I saw how much nurses supported me and other patients. I realized many people going through transplants or heart conditions feel scared or alone.

I want to help transplant and cardiology patients, especially mothers experiencing postpartum cardiomyopathy. I also want to improve education. I’ve never seen pamphlets about postpartum cardiomyopathy in doctor’s offices. If I had known about the symptoms earlier, I might have sought care sooner. Education can save lives.

What message would you want new mothers to hear if they’re unsure whether their symptoms are serious?

AD: Go to the emergency room — not urgent care. After having a baby, if something doesn’t feel right, go to the ER. Urgent care can only do so much testing, and you may end up needing the emergency room anyway.

Even if the wait is long, it’s important to be evaluated. Take someone with you if you can — someone who can advocate for you. Sometimes women feel pressure to be strong after giving birth, but it’s OK to speak up. If something feels wrong, don’t ignore it. Trust your instincts and get checked out.

This transcript was edited for clarity.