The PPCM❤︎FUND
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing baby loss and maternal mortality through awareness, early diagnosis, and community.
501(c)3
Certified Nonprofit
2019
Year Founded
1 in 1,000
Births Affected by PPCM
100%
Passion-Driven Mission
Born From Survival. Built For Every Mother.
PPCM Fund Inc. was founded by survivors of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy — women who experienced firsthand the terror of a heart condition that strikes during or after pregnancy, often without warning and without a timely diagnosis.
PPCM (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy) is a pregnancy-induced heart failure that affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 births. Despite its prevalence, it remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in obstetric medicine. Many women are sent home from hospitals with symptoms dismissed as "normal" postpartum fatigue — only to return days later in cardiac crisis.
Our founders refused to let their suffering be in vain. They created PPCM Fund to ensure that every mother — regardless of race, income, or geography — has access to the information and testing that can save her life.
"PPCM isn't rare — it's rarely diagnosed."
African-American women face a disproportionately higher risk of developing PPCM, making our work in underserved communities especially critical. We advocate loudly, educate broadly, and support deeply.
Understanding Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
What Is It?
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure that occurs during the last month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery. The heart becomes weakened and enlarged, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body.
Common Symptoms
- • Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
- • Swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs
- • Fatigue and weakness
- • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- • Decreased ability to exercise
- • Persistent cough
The BNP / NT-ProBNP Test
The BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) blood test measures a protein produced by the heart under stress. Elevated BNP levels can signal heart failure — including PPCM — early enough to allow life-saving intervention. We advocate for this test to become standard prenatal and postnatal care.
Who Is at Risk?
- • African-American women (higher incidence)
- • Women over age 30
- • Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets)
- • Women with high blood pressure or preeclampsia
- • Women with a family history of heart disease
- • Malnutrition or selenium deficiency
Early Diagnosis Saves Lives
Ask your OB/GYN or midwife for a BNP or NT-ProBNP blood test at your next prenatal or postnatal visit. Know your heart's EF%. Know your BNP number.
Five Pillars of the PPCM Fund
Survivor Support
We stand beside every PPCM survivor — providing community, resources, and a network of women who truly understand the journey.
Early Diagnosis
We advocate for routine BNP / NT-ProBNP blood testing during and after pregnancy so PPCM is caught before it becomes life-threatening.
Education & Awareness
We equip patients, families, and healthcare providers with the knowledge they need to recognize PPCM symptoms and act fast.
Community Building
Through events, social media, and partnerships we build a global community united by one goal — no mother should suffer from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Research Funding
A portion of every donation goes toward supporting IPAC Lab research goals and advancing the science behind PPCM prevention and treatment.
How Your Donation Helps
Every dollar goes directly toward saving mothers and babies. Choose the level of impact that's right for you.
$10
Supporter
Helps fund educational materials distributed to OB/GYN offices nationwide.
$25
Advocate
Covers the cost of a BNP test for a mother who cannot afford one.
$50
Champion
Supports a month of social media awareness campaigns reaching thousands.
$100
Hero
Funds a community outreach event connecting survivors and medical professionals.
Want to give a custom amount or become a monthly supporter?
Give Monthly
"No mother needs to suffer. No child should be motherless."
— PPCM Fund Inc.
Support Beyond Dollars
Spread The Word
Share our mission on social media. Tag us @PPCMfund and use #PPCMawareness. Every share reaches a mother who may not know she is at risk.
Follow UsShop Our Store
Every purchase from our apparel store directly funds awareness campaigns, educational materials, and survivor support programs.
Shop NowShare Your Story
Are you a PPCM survivor? Your testimony could save another mother's life. Reach out and let us amplify your voice.
Contact Us
Join The Movement
PPCM doesn't take a day off — and neither do we. From social media campaigns to hospital outreach, we work every single day to make sure that the next mother who walks into a delivery room walks back out healthy and whole.
Together we can change the standard of care. Together we can make the BNP test as routine as a blood pressure check. Together we can end preventable maternal mortality from PPCM.
Be Part Of The ChangeAn Organization You Can Trust
Help Protect The Ones You Love
Giving makes all the difference. The future of moms depends on it.