Heart rates, breathless and palpitations - what is normal?

[Writerwannabe83]

Prior to pregnancy I was on Beta-blockers due to having had an episode of SVT in August 2012. I came off them when me and my hubby decided to TTC but I always knew there was a possibility of me having to go back on them if my condition de-stabilised, which my Consultant thinks has happened.

I have to check and record my pulse and blood pressure twice a day (which I have done since I conceived) and although my BP is really healthy, over the last week my heart rate has risen quite high. I know heart rate naturally increases in pregnancy but I'm now usually sitting at 90-95bpm even if I have been sitting down for hours. I also had a dizzy spell last week, have had a few episodes of short lasting palpitations and find myself getting breathless when walking up the stairs.

My Consultant wants to restart me on my Beta Blockers but I'm a little bit reluctant unless I really have to as they can affect the functioning of the placenta and the baby's growth. I do accept the symptoms I've been having may be due to my pre-existing condition flaring up again but at the same time, what if they are just normal pregnancy symptoms and nothing to be concerned about?

Any advice or thoughts are much appreciated

IIRC, you're not far enough along for the real pregnancy-related breathlessness which comes with the last 8 weeks or so. But you're right -- they're pretty common symptoms in pregnancy.

Have you had your iron levels checked lately? These things are also symptoms of anaemia.

i was going to say iron too. mine was low and i had the same symptoms and have done in each of my pregnancies

I haven't had them checked recently, no. They were last checked when I was 12 weeks pregnant and my midwife did say it was low then, I think it was about 10. I'm seeing my Consultant this Wednesday so I will ask her if I can have my levels checked again first to rule out the possibility of anaemia. I hadn't even considered this as a potential cause, so thank you.

Yes, do. I finally got the results of my 29 week full blood count on Friday (at 33 weeks!) and I'm anaemic and have been having the same symptoms (along with the delightful restless legs!). I started on iron tablets at the weekend and already I'm starting to feel better.

Good luck with the consultant.

I had the same and it was iron too.

I have svt and panicked about the palpitations and breathlessness I had in this pregnancy...Then was diagnosed anaemic! Feel like a new woman since starting iron!

I had this too but I wasn't anaemic. I had it all the way through both pregnancies. I never found out what it was though.

For all those who did get diagnosed as anaemic and started on Iron, were you already taking pregnancy vitamins anyway but still needed a further Iron supplement top-up?

Nope. I suck at remembering to take vitamins.

I have to say that over the last few weeks month I have probably only taken vitamins on about 3 days I will definitely ask to get my levels re-checked before starting any Beta blockers, I assume the blood test results are quite quick to come back?

Well, like I said, it took them a month to tell me I was anaemic (bloods done at 29 weeks, results and iron prescription at 33 weeks), but my surgery is pretty useless. If you get an appointment specifically to ask them to check it, it shouldn't take longer than a few days.

I was already taking pregnacare religiously but still became anaemic.

I suffered with exactly the same sympoms at around 20 weeks, my GP sent me to the hospital for an ECG scan and a few hours later they sent me home with nothing, and no explanation.
(Not anaemic)

I was going to suggest iron levels too.. sounds just like me when I was anaemic.

Well the end result is that I'm back on my Beta blockers. She said my symptoms may be due to anaemia but because I have a history of SVT and arrhythmias she doesn't don't want to take any risks which I'm happy to go along with. I'm only a small dose though (a 3rd of the dose I was on pre-pregnancy) so I'm not too concerned. I'm being reviewed by a Cardiologist in 3 weeks who specialises in pregnant women with heart rhythm disturbances so I will take it from there. Thank you everyone for your responses