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Pregnancy

Palpitations and breathlessness. - Normal in pg?

11 replies

Cazzr · 17/01/2011 13:34

Hi, i'm 23 weeks pg and for the past few weeks have been having bouts of palpitations and breathlessness. I would say they occur daily but are only really particularly bothersome maybe 3/4 times a week e.g. need to keep sitting down.

Doesn't feel like low bp (had that a lot with Ds1's pg) but not sure.
I'm able to deal with it but wonder if I should be checked out or not?
Working full time so would rather not have the whole 'get to docs, doc rolls eyes and says you're pregnant, expect it' experience.

I texted my midwife earlier about timeframe for referral for spd physio and mentioned it then but while i'm waiting (and part of me thinks she'll end up saying 'to be safe, see your gp') I wondered if people on here had experience of this. :)

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cookingfat · 17/01/2011 13:35

Yes, I had bouts of breathlessness from about 20 weeks. Do have low BP though.

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tlise · 17/01/2011 14:01

Get it checked, the reason I say this, is it is common in pregnancy, and you mentioned it didn't feel like low blood pressure, but you ought to check its not HIGH blood pressure. Its probably nothing, but I suffer from high bp and I can always tell when mine has gone up more, as I get even more breathless, and get palpatations. if you're not suffering from headaches, chances are it isn't but its worth getting it checked. I didn't realise I had it at first. And each pregnancy is different, so you might not have the same symptoms :)

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AllBellyandBoobs · 17/01/2011 14:09

I'm 31 weeks and have just started feeling breathless. Although no palpitations as such, I do feel a bit dizzy and as though I'm just not getting enough breath inside me, this can happen even when I've just been sat down (last night after stuffing a massive dinner into myself). I had a routine midwife checkup last week and all was well so I'm assuming it's a normal part of pregnancy.

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Cazzr · 17/01/2011 14:11

ok just took bp (we have our own monitor) and 117/72, pulse 71.
But then i'm not symptomatic at the moment so could it be my bp jumping up or down?

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RobynLou · 17/01/2011 14:13

breathlessness can be a symptom of anaemia - low iron =not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen so you get breathless.

I'd definitely get it checked out.

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Cazzr · 17/01/2011 14:18

Yeah see it the heart thumping thing that I find more unnerving than the breathlessness per se. Sometimes feel like it's trying to jump up my throat.
I don't feel stressed/anxious at the moment, or certainly didn't when it first started (had a blip at work last week but thats more or less been sorted).
Even wondered about iron levels but don't want to pop pills if unnessessary and have a pretty good diet.
Wierd really but think it'll probably end up as 'one of those things'.
Also wary of it interferring with plans for homebirth...

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Cazzr · 17/01/2011 14:19

RobynLou: crossposted with you... was part of my thinking too..

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Cazzr · 17/01/2011 14:21

thing is I don't feel particularly weak/tired just have bouts of this. Wouldn't anemia be a bit more constant?

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tlise · 17/01/2011 22:12

Be careful taking your own...I had a trainee mw take mine last time and she said it was something like 117/80, so I questioned it, and when my mw did it, it was more usual at 140/80. Not saying you have it high, its probably right, but unless you have been trained, am wary of home things.

And yes it can go up and down. Is there any particular time it starts? anything you do thats constant when it happens? and tough if they roll eyes, thats what they are there for, otherwise we wouldn't need any checks in pregnancy, would just carry on working till we give birth in a field somewhere like they do in africa, so if they do, point that out lol.

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MissFit · 17/01/2011 22:18

I had something similar and it was anaemia, although I had v low blood pressure too. Iron tablets are vile though so don't take unless a blood test shows you are. And if you are you can get Spartone from the chemist which has fewer side affects than the tablets.

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Cazzr · 18/01/2011 10:31

Thanks. Not heard back from midwife yet so will make an appt with GP if I haven't heard from her by this afternoon.

Didn't want to take anything unless there was a reason. Equally, if it is anemia (i'm not convince tbh as I feel fine generally) I want to get it sorted asap so as not to kibosh my homebirth plans..

tlise: can't really pinpoint when it happens tbh. Has happened coming downstairs, waiting in the queue at the supermarket, sitting in bed. Tho do tend to find the breathlessness part kicks in alongside the palpitations when I'm upright. i.e. when sitting it's more the palpitations... hmm

Guess it could be blood pressure dipping, tho don't feel light headed at all.

Will see what the professionals have to say.