palpitations, dizzy, extreme tiredness 36 weeks

[joanna1990marie]

Is anyone else suffering with this? Im having an echocardiogram tomorrow and have been on Dr google and convinced I have heart disease or something! Im 22 and this is my first baby.

[MissLurkalot]

Palpitations are generally normal in pregnancy due to the increased blood flow. I'm 37 weeks, and I had them alot from 30 weeks, although not now.
I've been feeling nauseous and occasionally a tiny bit light headed, I'm not worried though as it's not bad.
Extreme tiredness is part of being pregnant really .

[MissLurkalot]

Regarding dizziness, are you eating enough? Especially iron? Protein and green veges and baked beans?

[joanna1990marie]

Not sure if I am getting enough vitamins, I'm finding it hard to eat with the baby being so high and I can't swallow the pregnancy vitamin tablets coz they're all so MASSIVE, I get alot of palpitations all day, dizzy all the time and sometimes feel like I can't breathe, im very scared about this echo tomorrow, im convinced I have heart disease! Even though it doesn't run in the family, im not over weight and I'm 22! What's the likelihood?

[MissLurkalot]

Feeling breathless is normal... Especially when the baby is high up.. I had that. I physically felt my bump drop at 36.5 weeks, and I've been finding it easier to breath since then.

Don't worry about the vitamins so much. Just make sure you're eating.. Even if its just bowls of cereal and toast ...

Baked beans on toast is a great meal, really rich in iron, which could be what you're low on.. Dizziness can be a sign of low iron.. But it's not something to worry about.

I seriously doubt you've got a heart problem,
The last couple of weeks of pregnancy can be really tough.
Just chill as much as you can... Drink and eat throughout the day.. Have a few naps as you might find it hard to sleep at night.
It's also very common to worry a lot too about things.. Just hang in there.. Not long now.
If in doubt and you're really worried about you and baby, ring your midwife.
Just relax and try to get yourself through these last couple of weeks. It's not easy somedays.. But just be kind to yourself.

[joanna1990marie]

Thanks, I'll let u know how tomorrow goes. X

[Tinyflutterby]

I had exactly the same at about that stage with ds and it turned out I was anaemic. Could barely drag myself around and felt so breathless and dizzy all the time. Went to maternity assessment and they did a blood count and my iron was really low. They also x-rayed my lungs to check. Luckily I didn't need a blood transfusion, but they gave me iron tablets and once I'd been on them a couple of weeks I started feeling better. Get it checked out. Good luck.

[joanna1990marie]

Heart scan was fine, thank god. Must just be how my body reacts to being pregnant x

[MissLurkalot]

That's good news. Glad you're ok

[dottypyjamas]

Glad heart scan all good! Agree with tinyflutterby - Dizziness and extreme tiredness sound like me when I found out (at 34 weeks) that I was quite badly anaemic. Have you had a blood test to check iron and ferritin levels? It's taken a week and a half but I'm feeling human again after taking an iron supplement. Hope you get to the bottom of it and feel better soon

[Reenypip]

Glad scan was ok :-) my heart scan was ok too.
There are many reasons for the symptoms your experiencing. But don't dismiss them completely because during my c section I had severe heart problems and was very unwell, and was asked if I had palpitations throughout pregnancy and I did.
I'm having my second baby next week by c section so very nervous it will happen again.

[joanna1990marie]

I've got a follow up appointment with a cardiologist on Tuesday just for a bit more detail, im still getting the palpitations when I'm not anxious so I think they might suggest having a holter monitor, to see if it's not a pregnancy induced arrhythmia, im hopeful that it's not x

[Reenypip]

Yup make sure you get the works :-) I had a 24hour and a 72 hour one.