Ectopic heartbeat anyone?

[MrsCornishBadger]

Hi there
I have an ectopic heartbeat which has never bothered me, and I'm sure is quite common, but I am beginning to wonder if it might be dangerous in childbirth with anaesthetics or pain killers etc. Anyone know?
Thanks dear MNers

i;ve no idea..but i imagine if your pregnancy is high risk and there will be an issue regarding pain relief and anaesthesia...you will be referred to your consultant to discuss this before the birth....sorry to not be of more help....x

mrscornishbadger i have this too - amazingly the pregnancy (i'm now 23 weeks) seems to have solved the ectopics - i used to have 500 extra beats an hour which is a lot but am due to have an ECG in a couple of weeks which i expect to confirm the fact that i now have normal sinus rhythm.

plenty of other problems, including an absent dp and whooping cough, but no ectopics currently!

however, i can help on this, as i did have them during labour with my dd. they were picked up on the monitor. nobody seemed to think it a major problem. but i think it depends on the severity. mine were not very severe then.

ectopics don't make you high risk in pg.

But you should definitely discuss with midwife and probably consultant re your hospital policy..

hth xx

i don't think it's an issue with anaesthesia or painkillers. they may insist on continual fetal monitoring tho.

I have ectopic beats toothey are usually harmlessand I was also worried about childbirth, but was reassured it isn't a problem. And indeed it wasn't a problem for me with either of my two childbirth experiences.

But if you have mitral valve prolapse (which sometimes goes with ectopic beats) you'll need to tell your consultant or midwife so you can take an antibiotic before the birth. But you'd know if you have mitral valve prolapse, so if no one has told you you have it, chances are you don't.

Don't worry, it will be fine. But why not get reassurance from the consultant or midwife. It will carry more weight than from me.