The
Cardiomyopathy
Association

A woman, who developed a serious heart problem because of having a baby, has written a book about her experience.

Jane Coupes, 41, from Marple Bridge, Stockport, developed postpartum cardiomyopathy a week after having her son Daniel. She then suffered a stroke because of it.

Post partum cardiomyopathy, which affects around 1 in 10,000 women having a baby, causes the heart to enlarge and pump less efficiently.  

Daniel was born in 2001 with no complications but a week later Jane started developing symptoms. These worsened and eventually her husband Dominic called an emergency doctor and she was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

In a high dependency unit at the hospital, Jane was started on an array of drugs but the following day she suffered a stroke. She was transferred to the coronary care unit for two weeks and then moved to a specialist neurological hospital. She was there for six months, going home most weekends, and was finally discharged from hospital eight months after giving birth.

Jane said: “Since then my heart has greatly improved but I am still left with limitations caused by my stroke and so have to pace by life so I don’t end up too shattered.”

Postpartumcardiomyopathy is very variable.  Some women make a full recovery, though they are usually advised not to have another baby, but others have heart problems for the rest of their lives. Occasionally women who suffer from the condition are so ill they need a heart transplant.

Jane retired through ill health from her job as a human resources team leader for Barclays Bank in 2002 and used the time to help her recover and to write the story about her experience, called Hand in Hand. She now does voluntary work at her children’s school helping small groups of children with reading and computer work.

The book, which features Jane, Dominic, their 10-year-old daughter Emily and Daniel, now 8, on the front cover, is being launched on Friday, February 12, 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Green Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport.

At the launch she will also be raising awareness of the heart muscle disease cardiomyopathy and the work of the Cardiomyopathy Association.

The book, published by Trafford Publishing, is also available from Trafford’s website and Amazon, at the latter it is priced at £12.26.