Anyone had palpitations after birth of dc?

[dreamingofagreenlawnchristmas]

Very strange feeling of my heart shaking in my chest - they started during pregnancy - I didn't have a clue what it was, it was only my DH said they were palpitations!

It stopped after the birth (of my ds3 12 weeks ago) but over the last 4 week or so the feeling has come back again and got more frequent. Its now happening every day, most often in the evening when I lie down. And the feeling has changed - less of a shaking feeling, and more of a feeling like a single big thump, which sometimes wakes me up just as I'm going off to sleep. I'd say I'm getting them about 10 times a day, most of which are in the early evening or at night.

No other problems really, I mean general tiredness and have been under the weather with coughs and colds, but nothing of note. Anyone got any idea why this would start up again and does it merit a GP visit or not? Thanks.

Had exactly the same thing. Was extremely anaemic. Once that was corrected I was fine. Not sure how one caused the other but the GP was confident that was the case.

I've had this a few times this year...and it seems to happen when I have a cold or a cough. Its a horrible feeling isn't it?

I did go to the GP when it first happened and he rigged me up to an ECG thing, and said my heartbeat was irregularly regular, IYSWIM. He said to go back if it happened again, and I havent, as I havent had it ALL the time.

I'm putting mine down to general stress!

snow, how did you correct your anaemia? Iron?

Are you losing weight? One can get hyperthyroidism due to pregnancy, palpitations, loss of weight, shaking hands etc. (my BF did)

I was mildly anaemic during pregnancy then after birth due to blood loss, but I've taken iron tablets since so I was hoping that should've resolved.

I wish I was losing weight! This time the extra weight has just sat there despite losing it easily before (and despite fully breastfeeding and watching what I'm eating). Maybe that's the problem - I'm used to being very fit and active but I must admit this time I'm finding it hard to drum up the energy - maybe my poor heart is trying to give me a kick up the butt so to speak?!

I have had palpitations since pregnant with ds who is now 8. Scared the life out of me in the beginning, but I learned to love with them, and actually I havn't had one for about 6mo now.
Doctor also gave me a portable ECG that clips onto your chest, had to wear it for a week. Of course, that week I didn't have one so it was kind of left for me to deal with
I can trigger them with too much caffiene, bending down (so my head is below my heart) and too much exertion in the morning.

They do get better, but you should probably go to the doctors for some basic checks incase it is something like anaemia as the other posters have mentioned.

Tip: If you sit on the floor and put your head between your legs (knees bent) it can help to make it go away pretty quickly.

Best of luck

Lol, live with them...obviously

Thanks for the tips, I'll book and see the GP when I get the chance (which probably means never - but with any luck they might just go before I get round to doing it)!

I used to get these and, like CrackopentheBaileys, found that caffeine triggered them.

I switched to drinking decaffeinated (sp?) coffee and tea and I very rarely get them now!

Ah, now interestingly I just can't drink coffee or tea as it literally gives me the shakes - but I do eat chocolate (not every day but fairly often) which I think has quite a bit of caffeine in it?

If I can summon up the willpower I wonder if giving up chocolate will make a difference?

oh God don't give up chocolate or life really wont be worth living

Funnily enough chocolate doesn't actually effect me, and I eat a lot of that

It's more coke (cola I read your mind there ) and Tea

Mine would start with the shakes, and if I didn't listen to my body and rest, it would progress to the palp

......oops, got a bit carried away with the emoticons there

had this with both pregnancies and afterwards for short while.

it happens more when tired.

apparently it's quite common and is related to increased blood circulation with pregnancy and breastfeeding- the regularity of the heartbeat can be affected.

it is benign and will go away so don't worry.

Mmmm chocolate - would be hard to give up - its been a bit of a treat due to no alcohol while pregnant/bf. But I guess I could try?

Have you tried the decaff diet coke (gold tin?) - love it - normal diet coke tastes of aspirin to me!

no I drink coke zero when I do, I pretty much stopped it altogether, so once in a blue moon doesn't effect me now