Mother cautioned that a rare illness could prove fatal if she conceives once more.

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A mother of two is facing a unique health challenge, as she has a rare condition that puts her at risk of heart failure if she decides to have a third child.

Rebecca Smith, 35 years old, is diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, a condition that impacts the heart in the final stages of pregnancy or soon after delivery.

This was missed by doctors when she was pregnant with her first son, Nathan, who she gave birth to in 2007, as doctors told her she had anxiety.

Despite doctors advising her to 'prepare for the worst,' she fully recovered after the illness was identified.

Unfortunately, the illness reoccurred during her second pregnancy last year. After welcoming her second child, Rowan, on November 27, she was prescribed a regimen of nine different medications that she will have to continue for the rest of her life.

Rebecca, a clinical support worker based in Lancaster, is now urging pregnant women to recognize the critical need for early detection of this disease.

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She remarked, "There's a significant lack of understanding about this illness – during my first visit, I was even diagnosed with anxiety."

"But I wasn't just anxious; I was on the brink of despair."

"It’s vital for expectant mothers to identify this promptly – I will need to follow my treatment plan for the remainder of my life."

In her initial pregnancy, Rebecca exhibited typical signs of heart failure, including swollen feet, persistent fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

However, these were overlooked because they resembled symptoms of pregnancy.

Nathan, who is now 17 years old, was born at the Hull Royal Infirmary with a weight of 7 pounds 4 ounces. However, Rebecca was swiftly taken to intensive care as she began to have difficulty breathing.

"I was just a kid back then," she remarked.

"My mother hurried in just as they wheeled me into the ICU – I was connected to a variety of machines."

"Nobody could figure out what was happening to me; I was experiencing a rapid heartbeat along with pneumonia in my lungs."

"Following a week in the intensive care unit, I was transferred back to the general ward. Three months later, I received a diagnosis of anxiety and was prescribed diazepam to take home."

Rebecca continued to experience her symptoms after returning home, ultimately culminating in her collapsing during her first walk with Nathan two weeks later.

Her legs had turned purple, and Rebecca was rushed to A&E after calling an ambulance.

An imaging scan revealed that she had two blood clots in her lungs and one in her heart, which posed a danger of moving to her brain.

Rebecca recounted, "They told me, 'This clot is headed for your brain, brace yourself for the worst.'"

"I was essentially informed that I would likely suffer a severe stroke unless I began a lifelong regimen of warfarin."

"However, by some stroke of luck, the clot transformed into gristle all by itself – no medication required."

Rebecca, who claims she couldn't see her baby for the initial eight months, was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Thanks to medications such as beta blockers that enhanced her heart function, she was able to steer clear of needing a heart transplant.

Within a year, Rebecca's heart function improved significantly, but she was advised against having another child.

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"I figured that my heart was in good shape, so I decided to get pregnant again in 2024," she explained.

"My pregnancy went smoothly; I even managed to keep working throughout the entire time."

"However, during a scan at 32 weeks, I was informed that my heart function had decreased a bit."

"It began to decrease every fortnight, and I was given a new prescription for beta blockers."

At 36 weeks and two days, Rebecca received the alarming news that her heart function was critically low, leading to a re-diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Her second child, Rowan, arrived at Manchester St. Mary’s Hospital, weighing in at 5 pounds 12 ounces.

Following Rowan's arrival, Rebecca found herself on a regimen of nine medications daily and admits she began making Christmas plans as a precaution in case she didn’t make it.

"I'm undergoing complete treatment and I'm still standing," she remarked.

"I'll be on medication for life now – and there won't be any more children."