A mother has revealed she planned her own funeral just days after giving birth – after her severe heart failure was deemed “normal signs of pregnancy”.
Ella Tranter, 31, complained to her midwife when she began suffering from swollen legs, weight gain, itching, high blood pressure and shortness of breath during her third trimester of pregnancy.
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However, the team assured her that these were “normal signs of pregnancy”.
The mother-of-one, from Stoke-on-Trent, welcomed her daughter, Edie, into the world after a difficult birth in November 2022.
A few days later, Ella began to feel short of breath and lethargic and went to the emergency room when her symptoms did not improve.
She was terrified when doctors told her she was suffering from severe heart failure – and might need an urgent heart transplant.
Ella was diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy – a rare type of heart failure between the last month of pregnancy and five months after giving birth, with no determinable cause.
I feel deprived of the experience of having those first few weeks with my newborn
Ella Tranter
Horrified by the news, the 31-year-old began preparing for her funeral.
Ella decided what songs she wanted to play and what details she wanted her newborn to hear when she grew up.
Fortunately for both of them, things never got that far as Ella’s condition was detected just in the nick of time.
She was given medication and had three stones of liquid washed from her body.
Doctors admitted that Ella could have died if she had not gone to the emergency room.
The graphic designer is “angry” that the symptoms were “considered normal” and warned other mothers to be aware of the signs after almost losing her life.
Ella said: “I’m angry about what happened.
“There were so many signs that my midwife missed.
“I feel deprived of the experience of having those first few weeks with my newborn.”
Fortunately, Ella avoided the need for a transplant and improved with medication.
Although she recovered, she was told she could not have any more children due to the risks associated with her postpartum cardiomyopathy.
The mother urged others not to hesitate in seeking medical help.
Heart failure: signs, symptoms and treatment
Heart failure symptoms
- Shortness of breath after activity or at rest
- Feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting
- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Swollen ankles and legs
Some people also experience other symptoms, such as a persistent cough, rapid heartbeat and dizziness.
Symptoms may develop quickly (acute heart failure) or gradually over weeks or months (chronic heart failure).
When to get medical advice
Consult a family doctor if you experience persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure.
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible if you have sudden or very serious symptoms.
Treatments for heart failure
Treatment for heart failure generally aims to control symptoms for as long as possible and slow the progression of the disease.
How you are treated will depend on what is causing your heart failure.
Common treatments include:
- lifestyle changes – including eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and quitting smoking
- medications – a variety of medications can help; many people need to take 2 or 3 different types
- devices implanted in your chest – these can help control your heart rhythm
- surgery – such as a bypass operation or a heart transplant
Treatment will usually be needed for the rest of your life.
A cure may be possible when heart failure has a treatable cause. For example, if your heart valves are damaged, replacing or repairing them can cure the disease.
Postpartum cardiomyopathy
This rare form of heart failure occurs in the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth.
Symptoms include tiredness, shortness of breath, swollen ankles, swollen neck veins and a feeling of heartbeat or palpitations.
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