I am so glad to read this information and to see that i'm not alone. I went to my family doctor with high heart rate, palpitations, and pain in my chest. he put me on a 24 hour monitor and during the day my heartrate was high between 100-150. He's now sending me to a cardiologist. I am 8 weeks pregnant and i have been so scared. i have also been dizzy. Just sitting still or lying down my heart will be pounding. I'm so glad i'm not the only one with this and i hope its nothing. I will keep you posted. ↑
What has your all's heart rate been? Is it over 100 or higher. I have been really worried over this checking my heartrate every hour and all during the day its over 100 even sitting still. Just wondering if anyone else is checking theirs and what it is? thanks. ↑
I also have the heart pounding and feeling of dizziness. I have been told this was normal, just the body working harder, but it still makes me uneasy. I am, however, glad to know that it isn't in my head and others are going through this too. All of you take care! ↑
I found out I was pregnant back in early May, when I went to the emergency room with a heart rate over 120 bpm- I felt like my heart was leaping out of my chest. Since then, I've felt the occasional flutter, but until today, hadn't felt that real rapid heartbeat since the first time. Today I am 122 max bpm since waking, and my bp is averaging 130/80, probably because I'm so worked up about this- it's all I can think about all day long! I wore a holter monitor which showed sinus tachycardia with no malignant arrhythmias. Am having an echocardiogram in two weeks. This is the weirdest health problem I've experienced, and one I hope goes away when baby is born (I'm 21 weeks now)! ↑
I am only 3 weeks pregnant, and have been experiencing this for a week already! It is worst when sleeping and waking. My pulse was around 75 before pregnancy, and averages about 95 now. It sometimes wakes me in the middle of the night with chest tightness, some shortness of breath, pounding pulse and my body almost feels as though it's vibrating. My pulse has gone as high as 160 after walking up 2 flights of stairs, and as high as 130 upon waking. Blood pressure has also been raised (I'm normally 90-100/70 or so) to 130+ over 80. I've been through CBC and pituitary function blood tests (all perfect), and an echocardiogram. I haven't yet received the echo results yet, but my doctors think it's most likely all hormone related and will subside after giving birth. Good luck to everyone. ↑
Well, I'm about 37 weeks pregnant and during the past 4 weeks have been dealing with a rapid heart rate. At rest, my heart rate has shot up to 240 on 2 different occasions and have had to contact 911 in order to get help since it wouldn't stop. I've been sent to a cardiologist, have had EKGs done as well as a resting echogram. There was nothing the cardiologist could find. Now I have to wear a heart monitor for the next 30 days to see if it happens again. It is still very scary because no one seems to know what causes this to happen. My ob/gyn can't provide any answers either. I'm delivering in 2 weeks so hopefully, it will go away then. ↑
i am 30 weeks pregnant and had rapid heart rate and was breathless. after a blood test midwife said i am anemic and those are both symptoms of anemia. ↑
So relieved to know others are having this same thing. I have had some increased heart rate and palpitations prior to pregnancy, now 23 weeks Pregnant and having rapid heart rate especially when lying down at night, but during the day and after eating as well.. Usually around 105-110, but has gotten to 116BPM. It is so scary. Has anyone ever taken Toprol or anything for this and can it hurt the baby? Dr. mentioned if it gets real high may need to take meds, But DON"T want to..
Thanks and God Bless everyone! ↑
hello all, i am going through the same thing, im only 6 weeks pregnant and on progestorone, asprin and heparin, oh and antibiotics for a frigin bladder infection, i noticed a few days ago when i stand up my heart rate goes from 74 (resting) to 116 but today it decided to frighten me and went to 144, i craped myself and rang my specialist, he said it should not be doing this and i need to see a doc tommorow, im gonna see if all these tablets and stuff are necessary, and hopefully get an ecg, basically to put my own mind at rest, im a very house proud person, but lately i cant be bothered to dust wash up or anything, and the hubby has to come home from work and do it, i feel so guilty, but mine only happens when i stand up, to top it all off i cant even go out of the house as my little n has chicken pox, ive just found out 2day im immune,as i was worried coz ive not had them. fingers crossed for us all.. ↑
well i went to the hospital yesterday and my ecg was fine perfectly normal just fast, yeah i still feel like poop, but at least my hearts healthy.. they have put me on a small beta blocker, only 10 mg so it hasnt worked, but i feel better knowing that your all going through this to, im just so so tired and im only 6 weeks, cant take much more already.... mine is only happening when i stand up though, it doesnt happen all the time,
good luck ladies
........sprinkling baby dust........ ↑
Hi everyone. I'm almost 19 weeks, w/ twins. Same racing heart prob. I hear it so loudly in my ear sometimes I can barely hear myself talk! I'm now wearing the heart monitor for 24 hrs, the cardiologist thinks it might be a prolapse issue, but didn't really explain how that's connected with pregnancy. Teigan--did your doc say if the beta blocker can cross the placenta? I'm not even really sure what it is, but i've heard of people using it. I hope everyone else is doing well. I'll let you know what turns up.
Best.
Wendy ↑
I have been experiencing the rapid heart beats, shortness of breath and dizziness as well. I was getting really worried until I found this site, which put my mind at ease. Thanks for taking the time to submit your stories. Good luck! ↑
I am so much relieved after reading this. I am only thirteen weeks and I have been feeling my heart beat 140 when I stand up especially. I have experienced shortness of breath and dizziness. I was almost going to emergency till I found this site. Thanks ↑
Woooooooow.. i am so releived now.. I have had a fast heartrate (90-120) since my 8th week of pregnancy.. I am now in my 16th week. Heartrate rises in the evenings and especially after meals.. it got me really worried until I was told by friends that this was normal... :) ↑
I just went to the Dr. yesterday with rapid heart beat 100-120 at rest and up to 180 when exercising. I was refered to a cardiologist who said I have untreated Asthma. I really didn't even know. The Asthma is the issue and the heart is fine, just sort of along for the ride. Perhaps this can help you too. Best of luck! ↑
I'm 33 & 30 weeks pregnant. I can't seem to get my pulse under 100. It can elevate to 120+ just by walking from one side of the room to the other! Forget stairs! I can't go upstairs while I'm on the phone because I can't talk without sounding winded! I'm glad to see I'm not alone, it's such an uneasy feeling. I occassionally get palpitations, but the results from the holter monitor were "normal" so my dr. told me not to worry. ↑
I am 23 weeks and have been having this rapid pulse (105-120) for a few weeks now. I went to my obgyn and he seemed to think it was anxiety! But, I'm not anxious. I wonder why he didn't tell me it was a normal side effect of pregnancy? My rapid heartrate is also accompianed by shortness of breath. It's very uncomfortable, especially at night whem I am trying to sleep! It's like I just went for a run... ↑
Hi, all. Just to update, what i've learned after doing the whole cardiologist thing, is basically that the racing heart, is okay as long as it doesn't develop into shortness of breath and fainting. (not that a little of those things aren't normal in pregnancy, too, but I think it's supposed to be a regular occurance for it to be considered a serious problem). And as long as our blood pressure doesn't drop too much either, it should be okay. It still drives me CRAZY that i can't even bend down to pick something up without my heart going up to 130! And I'm only 20 weeks! I still do think it's worth getting an echocardiogram to just make sure the heart is in good condition though, since there can be some serious problems down the road otherwise. And if you do have a mitral valve prolapse, they'll probably want to give you antibiotics at delivery, which is what I found out i'll have to do. Best of luck to everyone.
Wendy ↑
sorry WB i didnt get back to you, the doctors havent mentioned that they can cross the placenta, and i have read on some sights they ARE safe and on others they ARE NOT, so i am none the wiser, i have stopped taking mine to see if i still need them, i feel a little bit like crap, but my anxietys have alot to do with it to, so good luck ladies, and if your unsure about anything go to your docs, not everyones problems are always the same, i know it makes us feel at ease, but be carefull xxxxxxx ↑
Hi everyone. I just thought I'd ask for an update on how everyone who posted here is doing, if you've learned anything more about your specific situation etc. Thanks!
:o)
Wendy (sorry if this got posted more than once, i kept getting an error message) ↑
Before getting pregnant the second time, I went through a whole series of tests because of chest pain--EKG, echo, nuclear stress test, halter monitor. All showed nothing was wrong...turned out to be anxiety.
I've had palipations and a rapid heart rate my whole life, which is why the chest pain scared me. Plus my brother had angioplasty at 35 and my dad had quadruple bypass at 50.
I'm now 22 weeks with my second child. The last week or so, my heart rate has been about 120 all the time. It scares me, especially since I'm on an alpha/beta blocker.
During delivery with my daugther, my heart rate went up to about 180 right when she was born. They called down cardiology and pumped me full of drugs.
I'm scared about what's going to happen this time, although I feel better knowing I'm taking medication and the doctor's are aware of the problem. It also helps that I had all those tests done before getting pregnant.
Just wanted to share my story. I, too am comforted after reading what everyone else has gone through. ↑
I know that this thread has been around for quite a while, but it's sure reassured me. I'm in week 37 of my pregnancy now. During pregnancy, my heart rate is normally between 90 and 120. Last Monday night, I was sitting in the bathtub relaxing, when all of a sudden I felt a little "flip" just below my rib cage and at the same time my heart rate skyrocketed. I've had frequent palpitations, but this time it just went up and stayed up. I said to my husband "We have to go to the hospital now". About 2 minutes later our whole family had piled in the car and were on our way. When I registered at the hospital, the intake nurse checked my pulse and it was 259!!! They rushed me right in to a room, hooked up the ECG doohickeys, gave me oxygen and started an IV. My pulse didn't go down. After a bit, about 45 minutes after my heart rate initially went up, they gave me some sort of medication through the IV (starts with a 'D' - that's the best I can do - lol) that made me feel AWFUL. It felt like I was sinking into the bed. After 3 or 4 minutes my heart rate went down to about 130. They monitored me for a bit more, sent me for a non-stress test to check the baby (his heart rate was fine), and eventually sent me home. It was TERRIFYING. I still don't know why this happened. The only info. the doctor gave me was basically that it may or may not happen again. Lots of help, Doc. It hasn't happened since, but I have had lots of palpitations. I'm worried that labor might shoot it up again. Anyhow, thanks for letting me share my story. Glad to know that it's not just me, but sorry that others have experienced similar. :) Sorry so long!! ↑
Susan--it sounds like you're really on top of your situation, and I guess since everything turned out okay with the last pregnancy, chances are you'll be in even better shape this time since you've been on the meds. Best of luck for smooth sailing. My cardio swears 120 is okay (mine is often 130, and he just isn't concerned).
Nicole--That sounds REALLY SCARY!! I'm glad you were able to get it taken care of so effectively. Did they consider inducing you? (I'm having twins, so to me 37 weeks is totally considered full term). How does a palpitation feel differently from the heart racing? Did they do an echocardiogram where they take an u/s of the heart itself?
Hang in there!
Wendy ↑
I knew I could rely on this Website to get some assurance! I am 32 weeks and about a week ago started getting palpitations that have got worse. It started as one here and there and now, especially at night time, they come in a cycle and won't stop unless I get up and move around. I have just spent 2 nights in hospital where they recorded abnormal ECG's and I am off to the cardiologist tonight. It's very scary and I am afraid to go to sleep, as this is when they get really bad. Does anyone else experience the long cycle of palpitations???????? ↑
Donna--I've only had really short palps, but it sounds like you're getting the help you need--the cardiologist will likely do an echocardiogram to see the heart itself, and if everything looks fine, they'll likely tell you it's just one of the joys of pregnancy, and if there IS an issue, then they can give you something. It might help also to sleep sitting up a bit, or propped up with pillows. Good luck with everything, let us know how it turns out, okay?
Wendy ↑
Thanks for the advice Wendy. I have been diagnosed with an ectopic heart beat, which sometimes happens here and there and at other times continues for hours - yuk. Still having tests done to see why. Could be pregnancy, mineral deficiency, thyroid. It's not dangerous because there is a 'normal' beat happening in between each of the ectopics....... Yes, another one of those 'joys'. Glad there are lots of real 'joys' to balance it out!!! ↑
Yes, I had it with my first at 6 months, and it stopped upon giving birth. This time around it started as soon as I was pregnant and is much worse. It only happens when I'm generally still. This time I have a lot more pain in my chest and had one episode last for 6 hours of 120 bpm. My doctor is checking into it, but I have a feeling it's all just crazy hormones. Ah, womanhood. ↑
Hi everyone! I have the same thing, my heart start racing really fast and most of the time I start to panic!!! But it doesn't do it everyday, just about once a week or so!! I have told my doctor and he said it is part of pregnancy and not to worry unless it goes above 150 bpm. I am pregnant with my 4th child and I am 38! I am 19 weeks right now and this all started about 10 weeks!! I just hope that it goes away and won't affect the baby. I was so glad to read all of your messages. If I ever go to the hospital I hope there is something they can do. This gets in the way of getting much needed rest!! Take Care!! :) ↑
i am a cna in a nursing home, and one day i had one of the nurses take my b/p 'cause i was feeling strange, had had a nosebleed(never get those), and my b/p was fine but i was tachycardic(fast heartbeat-over 100). they sent me to my doc, and he told me that dehydration can cause tachycardia, even if you don't feel dehydrated. he said, especially while preggo, you need lots of water. duh, i knew that! he also told me that your body doesn't absorb the water like it should, and to drink gatorade also, the electrolytes in it help keep you hydrated. it helped me, so i hope this helps you guys! good luck! ↑
"Me too" Thank you for your advice. I feel like all i do is drink water, and yet i often feel thirsty. In the first trimester i drank a lot of pedialite, and I think i'll go pick some more up. I'm also going for a blood test tomorrow to chec thyroid and iron levels, since those can also cause tachycardia. Thanks again. Good luck to you!
Wendy ↑
