I am 34 weeks pregnant and ever since last weekend I have been having a lot of heart palpitations (a lot being 20 or more a day). I feel them more in my throat than my heart, but they do take my breath away for a second. I'm just curious if any of you other momma's out there experienced the same thing toward the end of your pregnancy? My Dr told me to watch it and if I wanted she could send me to a cardiologist. I feel fine when I'm sitting/relaxing, but as soon as I get up and start moving around I get them. Do you think its because my body is just working extra hard? The more I worry about it, the worse they get!
Let me add, that I had this problem a couple years ago (when I wasn't pregnant) and I saw a cardiologist and they did an ultrasound of my heart and everything was fine. I think it was anxiety and stress.
Should I go see a cardiologist or just chalk it up to the pregnancy and wait to see if it goes away after the baby is born? I don't think I can handle another 4-6 weeks of this!!! Thanks in advance for your feedback!
I had this with my pregnancies. I was monitored and it helped when I reduced my caffeine. It felt like a kick to the heart every time!
I got them real bad when I was going through my divorce. My doctor said they have less to do with the heart and more to do with stress. For the most part they ended when the stress ended.
Maybe try relaxing and see what that gets you. :)
Speak to your OB but it's probably anxiety and stress. And keep reminding yourself that it's better to have a little anxiety than a heart problem.
Do some deep breathing exercises and other anxiety relieveing exercises (google exercises for anxiety).
You'll be fine. And congrats on your baby!!
I have always gotten it - all five pregnancies. And then I get it after the baby arrives. This time is the only time I barely got it. All other times it was often and regular. My dr said it was normal. I never had my heart checked out, though. The only thing I did different this time was eat a LOT more fruit. I don't know if that's why I had less of them, but I only dealt with it a couple times instead of having ti almost every day.
I do think it's normal, but there's no harm in getting it checked out if you're relaly concerned. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, water, and vitamins.
I had this too starting around 32 weeks but not as often as you are having. My OB said it was probably due to all the extra blood my heart was pumping. By this time in the pregnancy your total blood as almost doubled so the heart is working harder. She suggested I see my primary doctor and see if she suggests seeing a cardiologist. I never got the chance as I soon started having high blood pressure and went into labor and delivered at 34 weeks. Not due to the heart palpitations so don't worry I had some other issues and was expecting the early birth. I would get it checked out just for piece of mind. Good luck and congrats.
I just went thru this although not pregnant, I did not know they were palpitations, so after 24 hours I went to ER (weekend). My pulse was
irregular and I was lightheaded. Was told nothing to worry about. I did
go to a cardiologist because I have a very fast heartbeat (I have known for
a while, I might need med). He said palpitations are annonying but nothing
bad. He has scheduled a few test but that is because of my fast heart rate. He said some people gets palpitations that can last for months!!!
I had/have the same thing. For me, it started in my first pregnancy, continued afterwards, worsened with my second and now I still have it (though not as bad as when I was pregnant). I got the echocardiogram after my first child and then a full heart-scan before I got pregnant with my second (after an early heartattack took my otherwise-healthy uncle-in-law at a younger age, so we all got overly paranoid for a while). My SIL gets the same thing and that was one of the reasons she knew she was pregnant the first time around--because the PVCs got worse.
What I think you may be describing is called Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC). It's normally very normal and not necessarily a sign of something more sinister. They commonly come on in times of stress or pregnancy. It's where the electrical impulse to your heart sends the signal to beat a little early, so you heart has 2 beats kind of quickly, but then pauses to allow it to get back into normal rhythm. So, it's not really a palpatation, but it feels like it--or like a skipped beat.
The stress will make it worse, so try not to dwell on it. Get it checked out just to make sure it doesn't fall into the category of "more sinister". But if it's regular PVCs, it is something that is VERY common, even among elite athletes. I've also found that mine get worse when I'm dehydrated--hence why mine got worse during pregnancy, since it was always very hard for me to get enough fluids (still is tough for me two years later!!).
Good luck with your heart and the new baby!!
While I get not wanting to go to a cardiologist if it's nothing, but however you are carrying a little one. I think it would be worth the money and time to go and be checked and have them tell you to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnacy safely. I was always catching my breath and it ended up being pre-eclampsia, my friend always felt her heart beating in her chest, neck and left arm very hard and her visit turned out to be nothing. However I think you will be able to enjoy everything if given an all clear from a 30 minute appointment. good luck and a happy healthy pregnancy and baby to you.
I would have my Dr. recommend a cardiologist to make sure that everything is fine. Which I am sure it is. With labor coming in 8 weeks it will put a great strain on your heart.
Take care and congradulations on the baby.
J.
My inclination would be, air on the side of caution.
This is your heart and your heart has a lot to do over the next 4 to 6 weeks. Your baby will only be getting bigger and stronger, which means more work for your body. And, that doesn't include labor and delivery... You want to make sure everything is okay so that you can be healthy to take care of your little one.
Definitely had this too, body gets so out of whack during pregnancy all kinds of crazy things happened, especially with my second. I felt like a crazy person, had bizarre new symptoms to report every single OB visit.
I would get it checked out. Heart palpitations can cause blot cots as the blood is pooling when the heart does not pump it regularly. During pregnancy you are at an increased risk for stroke because of the hormones with this increased risk and the possible blood pooling it might be worth a trip.
Have it checked out.
It's not uncommon for thyroid to go temporarily out of whack during pregnancy and hyperthyroid can have your heart palpitating and racing.
Your ob/gyn can do a blood test.
Not to freak you out, but you should definietly get this checked out. During my second pregnancy, I had a lot of palpitations, especially later in the pregnancy when I would try to carry my daughter. 6 weeks after I delivered I was diagnosed w/ peri-natal cardiomyopathy - a heart condition that occurs during/after pregnancy. It's rare but there's still that chance. Go see the cardiologist for sure. In the meantime watch out for the following signs - 1) difficulty breathing (when sleeping or moving around) and 2) tingling in your extremities and feeling weak when moving around. I had a hard time singing a song to my baby even though I was just sitting and didn't realize it was because I was having heart failure. Best of luck to you and I hope that you and the baby are ok!!
I would have it checked out too. One question, do you have blood sugar issues - high or low? My sister is hypoglycemic and a symptom for her is heart palpitations. She only had them one or two periods in her life even though she's had the condition several years.
Personally I'd have it checked out since it's happening with frequency. If it turns out to be nothing you'll feel better knowing that instead of being worried that it's something that could be major for the next 6 weeks.
