Weird racing heartbeat (mine not baby)

[Deliaskis]

Had a bit of a scary experience last night. Had woken up (again) for the loo, and was settling down to sleep again (or to try), and had a really weird racing heart thing. It was beating something like 2 beats per second for say 7 or 8 beats, and then seemed to go 2 seconds or more with no beats at all, then a couple of fast ones, then nothing, then another set of really fast ones again.

It did panic me a bit and it was only when I woke up DH that I started to relax again and it settled after about 5 minutes.

Has anyone else had this? I was worried if it would affect the baby (am 32+2) although have had lots of movements today so probably OK, but still worrying all the same.

What could it be? I hadn't had any kind of scary dream or anything (hadn't had any dreams as had a very unsettled night in any case).

It's probably just completely random and might not even be pregnancy related, but it was very odd all the same.

D

Hey,

That sounds scary. It's probably nothing, but you should get checked out, if only for peace of mind.

I'm asthmatic, and my asthma inhalers often cause a similar thing. I take them in the evening, so I get a bit of a skippy rhythm for a couple of minutes sometimes. Also, back in my drinking days before I was pregnant, I found that increasingly I'd wake up about 3am with a racing heart. I've heard this is quite common, and is to do with the irritant effect of the products of alcohol breakdown.

If you have had a little drink over christmas, it could be that. (I certainly had a thimbleful of champers!) especially if your tolerance is low after 32 weeks of abstinence!

But do go and get it checked, because anxiety about it will cause it to happen again!

I;ve had the same thing! Only this pregnancy and not the previous two so I don't know what's going on.

Hi I would talk to your doctor about this.
With my first pregnancy I developed SVT (supra-ventricular tachycardia) when I was about 8 months pregnant. Have had it ever since (nearly 17 years now) and take heart tablets for it.

SVT is where my heart goes very very quickly - over 200 beats per minute on occasion. It's not life-threatening or anything, but is not pleasant and can go on for hours, which can be very stressful for my body.

I get funny palpitations sometimes. If you cough it gets rid of them, but maybe get checked by Dr if you are worried

Have you been tested for anaemia recently? I had anaemia when I was pregnant and it made me feel a bit breathless and heart racing but sorted out as soon as i started on iron tablets.

I have had funny heartbeats this time - sometimes racing, sometimes it feels like it misses a couple of beats and sort of 'tumbles'. Mentioned it to Dr - sent me for an ECG - it was all fine - though the nurse said they should have checked my electrolytes (via a blood test, I think) but they didn't.

Another thing that can cause a racing heart and palpitations is having anaemia, I believe. Might be worth mentioning to your MW next time they take routine bloods - that could explain it and be easily fixed with iron supplements.

Gosh, I didn't expect so many, or such varying replies. You have convinced me I wouldn't be being neurotic to see a Dr about it anyway.

Thanks for replies.

D

X post with bellabelly!!

Every time they took my pulse in pg it was way over 100

OP - what you describe just sounds like palpitations - they're more common in pregnancy and nothing to worry about. They can also be caused by stress or excess caffeine and/or alcohol. Definitely best to get checked out just in case it's something else though!

I had palpitations in pg also. Dr said it was normal.

Me too, palpitations all the time. MW says not a problem

Thanks ladies for more replies, I'll get it checked out, but it's reassuring to hear that it is not unusual. Baby has been jumping around all over the place since so it clearly hasn't done him/her any harm!

Thanks again
Dx