Utah Woman Dies Nine Days After Giving Birth to Twins Due to Rare Heart Condition
A Tragic Loss
A Utah woman has died of a rare heart condition, just nine days after she gave birth to twins, NBC News reports. Morgan Hughes, 23, of Benjamin, always wanted to become a mother and was overjoyed when she delivered a boy and a girl Dec. 19, her family said.
A Smooth Delivery
Hughes recovered well after childbirth and was discharged from the hospital days later. The twins, who were about six weeks premature, were sent to the neonatal intensive care unit to get stronger, said Hughes’ father, Brian Hodson.
A Sudden Turn of Events
But around a week after she gave birth, Hughes started feeling off. Hodson said she vomited and fainted, and thought she may have had a seizure. She returned to the hospital, where Hodson said doctors discovered fluid around her heart. They diagnosed her with postpartum cardiomyopathy, also called peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare form of heart failure that happens when the heart muscle weakens toward the end of pregnancy or up to about five months following delivery.
A Difficult Condition to Detect
In some cases, peripartum cardiomyopathy can be managed with medication to improve cardiac function and combat fluid retention if diagnosed early enough. But the condition can be difficult to detect because symptoms of cardiac failure — such as shortness of breath and swelling in the feet and legs — can mimic pregnancy symptoms, according to the American Heart Association.
A Devastating Loss
Hughes deteriorated rapidly and received care in the intensive care unit, Hodson said. On Dec. 28, she died after going into cardiac arrest.
The Cause of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
The cause of peripartum cardiomyopathy is not clear. Experts say there appear to be several risk factors, including pregnancies involving twins or other multiples, a maternal age of 35 or older and high blood pressure, including pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterized by elevated blood pressure. Hodson said Hughes had been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia late in her pregnancy but was otherwise healthy.
A Growing Concern
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is estimated to occur in about 1 in 2,000 live births, with Black women more likely to develop it, according to Dr. Patrick S. Ramsey, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at UT Health San Antonio in Texas. “It’s a condition that is increasing in frequency over the past several decades, and we don’t know exactly why,” said Ramsey, who helped write the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ guidance on cardiovascular disease and pregnancy.
A Grieving Family
Hodson described his daughter, who had recently graduated from cosmetology school to become a hair stylist, as “the most caring, loving, funny” person. Shortly after she died, hospital staff at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo wheeled Hughes’ twins from the NICU over to her room, placing one baby in each of her arms for a final goodbye as her stunned family gathered around, Hodson said.
Conclusion
Morgan Hughes’ death is a tragic reminder of the importance of maternal health and the need for further research into peripartum cardiomyopathy. Her family and loved ones are left to grieve the loss of a young mother who had her whole life ahead of her.
FAQs
Q: What is peripartum cardiomyopathy?
A: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of heart failure that occurs during pregnancy or up to five months after delivery.
Q: What are the risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy?
A: Risk factors include pregnancies involving twins or other multiples, a maternal age of 35 or older, and high blood pressure, including pre-eclampsia.
Q: How common is peripartum cardiomyopathy?
A: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is estimated to occur in about 1 in 2,000 live births.
Q: Can peripartum cardiomyopathy be managed?
A: In some cases, peripartum cardiomyopathy can be managed with medication to improve cardiac function and combat fluid retention if diagnosed early enough.
