Breastfeeding mum with palpitations - cause for concern?

[MrsThierryHenry]

I'm bfing a 10 month old and for the last few months have been having palpitations on an increasingly regular basis. I also notice that when I'm at the gym, the treadmill shows my heart rate rocketing up into the 'red' danger zone - 164 beats a minute. I don't know whether this is really a bad thing or if the machines are just over-cautious. It's the first time I've ever been a gym member so I can't make a pre-pregnancy comparison. Haven't been to the gym for weeks so I can't easily check about the machines with the staff.

I'm still carrying almost all my baby weight despite good diet and exercise. I've only just lost 3 pounds as I'm reducing the amount of bfing.

Any thoughts/ advice?

Are you stressed? Palpitations are usually just a sign of stress levels that are high, and then they get tipped over into 'fight or flight' levels that casue the palpitations whan you're worried about it, or by another stressful situation

palpitations (the sensation of a missed beat, which is actually an extra beat) are generally benign. Your GP can give you an ECG for reassurance. GPs are notorious for attaching the leads in the wrong place though, so you may have an 'abnormal' reading by the machine and be referred to your local cardiologist.

164bpm on a treadmill is not abnormal. The red 'danger' zone means that you are running anaerobically and won't be able to keep it up for very long! You're unfit and may even have to walk on the treadmill to keep your heartrate down to 140bpm. You should still be able to just talk when exercising aerobically.

Crimplene, I don't think I've been especially stressed; I tend to be pretty chilled out, otherwise I'm generally good at dealing with issues and not letting them overwhelm me.

Highlander - thanks for the info on my heart rate (though actually that's when walking on a high gradient - haven't even tried running as am recovering from major birth tear!). So yes, I am unfit - better than post birth, but far worse than pre.

Will give it some thought and might go to GP if it persists.

Cheers!