Trigger warning: near death experience
This Bagong Nanay experienced postpartum cardiomyopathy, a type of heart failure that occurs after pregnancy.
Content note: This article discusses a near-death experience.
I met Herschel and her sister Terese in one of the HiPP Mommy Meetups. When Terese shared a bit about Herschel’s story while waiting for her to arrive, I was so excited to meet her, because knowing what happened to her, pwedeng hindi na kami nag-meet. But then I met her. She is alive, healthy and a testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness.
In a study published in The Lancet, this heart disease has been a cause of maternal and neonatal deaths, with only half of women experiencing complete myocardial recovery within 6 months of the onset of symptoms. Postpartum depression is common, but this one? We need to raise awareness about this.
So in celebration of Women’s Month, I invited Herschel to share her story. And she did. In between naps and pedia check-ups for her 1 year old boy, she wrote this with her whole heart.
Read on, Bagong Nanay. Share this to every pregnant mama you know.
A second chance at life
On January 25, 2025, Herschel posted this on Instagram:
“It’s been a month since I got discharged from the hospital.
No words can explain what happened to me and to our family last year, lots of blessings and challenges, but I never thought that I would spend the last few days of 2024 in the hospital.
November 9, I gave birth to Baby Boy Del Castillo.
November 12, went home with our little one.
November 16, a week after giving birth, I was rushed to the ER due to an alarming heart rate. I was initially diagnosed with pneumonia and hypokalemia. That same day, I knew that I already have a heart failure, and I had no memories of the following days since.
November 18, I was intubated and put in ICU due to postpartum cardiomyopathy.
I stayed in the ICU for 2 weeks. During my time there, I didn’t know I was in my worst possible condition and almost died. It was by God’s faithfulness and grace that I got extubated on November 23. Stayed in there for a few more days and was transferred to telemetry on December 1. And again, stayed there for two more weeks for further monitoring and rehab. I realized that I lost so much weight, cannot stand on my own, and have no appetite. Then, I was transferred to a regular room because my doctors already saw my improvement.
A day before Christmas is the day I came back home.
I want to thank God for my second life.
Thanks to my family, friends, churchmates, and everyone around us who prayed for me and helped us to get through these times of hardship.“
Kuwentong Bagong Nanay: Herschel Del Castillo
When people ask me about my motherhood journey, I usually tell them that I had postpartum cardiomyopathy and that I’m still in the process of recovering. It’s something I don’t hide, because for me, it’s also a testimony of how good and faithful God has been in my life, in our lives.
Looking back, I can really say it was a miracle. There were so many moments when things could have gone differently, but God carried us through.
“Listen to your body, and don’t hesitate to seek medical help.” -Mommy Hershel Del Castillo
As for the parts I haven’t shared… honestly, parang naikwento ko na rin lahat along the way. Siguro because going through something like that changes you—you become more open, more grateful, and more willing to share your story.
An uncommon postpartum disease
Postpartum cardiomyopathy isn’t something you hear about often, which is why it caught me by surprise. What’s even more tricky is that the symptoms I experienced at the time like hingal and pamamanas are actually very common in pregnancy. Nothing felt alarming at first.
It was only later on that things became serious.
If there’s one thing I wish I had known before becoming a nanay, it would be the importance of really looking into your medical history. We actually have a family history of heart disease, but I didn’t get to disclose it to my OB because it happened a long time ago.
I sometimes wonder maybe if I had done a 2D echo during pregnancy, things could have been detected earlier, and maybe hindi na lumala. That’s something I carry with me now, not as regret, but as a lesson.
What she’s grateful for
In this season of my life, I am most grateful for a second chance. I truly believe that God gave me a second life, and I don’t take that lightly.
I’m also deeply grateful for my son. Becoming his mom changed me in ways I didn’t expect—it made me stronger, more resilient, and more intentional.
And of course, I will always be thankful for our families and friends who stood by us during the hardest time in our lives. Their support reminded me that we were never alone.
Her message to her Bagong Nanay self
If I could talk to my Bagong Nanay self, the version of me who was just entering motherhood and going through childbirth, I would simply say:
“You’re doing a great job. Ang laki na ng pinagbago mo. You’re becoming stronger every day.”
Because at that time, I didn’t fully realize how much I was already enduring and overcoming. I was just trying to survive each day.
Herchel’s message to Bagong Nanays
If there’s one lesson I would want to share with other Bagong Nanays, it’s this: listen to your body and don’t hesitate to seek medical help.
Sobrang daming changes sa katawan natin during and after pregnancy, and it’s easy to assume that everything is normal. But sometimes, what we think is “normal” could already be a sign that something is wrong.
So if there’s anything that feels off—magpa-check up. It’s always better to be sure, especially when it comes to your health. Because as mothers, taking care of ourselves is also a way of taking care of our families.
About the Bagong Nanay: I am Herschel Del Castillo from Antipolo City, Rizal. I am the Bagong Nanay of Fionn, who is 16 months old. Outside motherhood, I’m a financial control analyst. I also serve in our church’s music ministry as a guitarist and bassist.
Bagong Nanay 
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