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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Heart palpitations

11 replies

Lime19 · 23/02/2014 21:42

I'm 11 + 4 and this week I've been having lots of heart palpitations. Should I be worried? I know that the heart works harder and I have more blood volume in pregnancy.

I just told mr lime and he is really worried. They are coming every few minutes and really annoying. Mostly when I'm resting on sofa or trying to sleep.

Before I was pregnant I had a few palpitations and actually got tested. I had to wear a 24 hour thing and it did pick up a few of the missed beats. Doc said it was normal to have a few. If it was hundreds I'd need further tests. I think I had 2 in total and he just told me to avoid alcohol, eat healthy, don't smoke, avoid stress etc.

Trouble is last few weeks I've been super stressed at work. Is this what is causing the palps? Or is it just a pregnancy thing?

Mr lime wants to take me to hospital. I'm worried! Anyone had these palpitations?

OP posts:

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Mummyk1982 · 23/02/2014 21:47

Mummyk1982 · 23/02/2014 21:49

Oops!! Lots of palpitations all through pregnancy (am almost 37 weeks now), and some breathlessness, but all seems ok :-)

Gowaygoway · 23/02/2014 21:53

I had this and it was one of the signs of anaemia. You should get your bloods done soon if you haven't already (is it 12/13 weeks?) If it's borderline anaemia I would start a supplement now rather than waiting for your 28 week bloods. I was borderline at 12 weeks and by the time it was checked again, I was seriously anaemic and needed urgent treatment to get me back up to the right levels in time for my C section.

Gowaygoway · 23/02/2014 22:01

Meant to say, check the inside of your eyelids. If they are super pale pink then you may be anaemic.

onceipopicantstop · 23/02/2014 22:03

Also had this in first trimester. Turned out I had low iron stores (ferritin), and symptoms settled once I started iron tablets. GP also checked my thyroid and arranged an ECG but both were ok.
Having said that if you are getting lots of them at the moment it would be wise to contact the out of hours drs for advice.

Julietee · 23/02/2014 22:09

I get these on and off while not pregnant and they were definitely worse in the first tri and directly after my whooping cough shot, for some reason.

That said, you know, don't mess with your heart if you're worried.

Original poster

Lime19 · 23/02/2014 22:13

Thanks ladies. Gonna go to drs tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on. I have been taking iron for ages but I do have a history of anemia, I can never donate blood! The sample always floats!

OP posts:

Original poster

Lime19 · 24/02/2014 08:46

I was worried enough to go to a and e. ended up hooked to a machine waiting for tests til 330am! Tired this morning. Need to have a 24h ECG done to see what is going on.

OP posts:

CrispyFB · 24/02/2014 09:14

I had this in the first trimester too - it went away at some point in the second. My iron was fine though!

Depends how many is a lot - I used to have one or two a day at most so I wasn't too fussed but if it was more I would go in. Glad you are being checked!

Writerwannabe83 · 24/02/2014 09:23

Hi Lime - you definitely did the right thing!!
As has been said, palpitations are common in pregnancy but not to the severity that you described.

I used to have palpitations which I ignored for years as they were only very short lasting, happened about once a month etc but one evening my palpitations triggered an SVT episode where my heart rate was over 180 for 2 hours. I was rushed to Resus, given all kinds of horrible drugs IV to try and get my heart back into a normal rhythm, they nearly had to sedate me shock me with the De-Fib!! They finally managed to get things under control but then the same thing happened again 6 days later, back to hospital I went and that time I was started on Beta-Blockers which I took for about 10 months then came off them once me and DH decided to TTC.

I was warned by my Cardiologist that due to the extra pressure on the hart that pregnancy causes my palpitations may start up again and if that was the case I'd have to start back on the Beta Blockers. I was fine until I was 19 weeks and then I started having increased heart rates again (not SVT episodes though) and palpitations. My Obstetrician checked my pulse and I was having missed beats and arrhythmias so as predicted I was put back on medication - which had immediate affect and I felt much better!!!!

The beast of luck with your results, I'm sure everything will be fine and if not, they'll deal with it. You can't take chances with your heart rhythms so keep an open mind and just go with whatever they advise.

Julietee · 24/02/2014 12:22

Mine were several times a day in the first and some of the second tri, sometimes multiple times per hour. Probably should have got checked, but like OP I had a 24 hour check years ago and it was fine, so I've lived with them.

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