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Pregnancy

Heart palpitations and ECG in pregnancy.

9 replies

BeHappyAndSmile · 01/06/2020 18:27

Has anyone here had an ecg for palpitations while pregnant? I'm 20+3 and mentioned it when I last saw a midwife. They told me to speak to my gp which I did today and they want me to get an ecg while I'm in for whooping cough vaccination on Friday.

I'm sure it'll all be fine but it would be nice to hear some reassuring stories from others who've had it done 😁

OP posts:

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Melbs6 · 01/06/2020 20:22

Yes I did. I was having palpitations which made me breathless and almost fainted from one episode. I had an ECG which came back totally normal. They then suggested I ask my midwife for a blood test to check my iron levels as low iron can cause palpitations too but that was also normal. Apparently palpitations are very normal in pregnancy but it’s best to get checked out in case there’s an underlying cause

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Persiaclementine · 01/06/2020 20:40

I'm going to bring up with my midwife at 16 week appointment as last night I had so many palpitations, it made my left arm tingle and lip go numb, bad to have quarter of an aspirin in the end, If it didnt ease when it did i was going to call 111 l, pretty scary

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MotherofKitties · 01/06/2020 20:56

I did when pregnant first time round. Kept having palpitations and passing out. ECG showed the pregnancy was giving me a slight murmur, and after I gave birth it went away.

Not been an issue outside of pregnancy, and second time round I've only had it very mildly and hasn't affected me at all. Try not to worry, it's very common x

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physicskate · 01/06/2020 21:27

My heart palpitations were caused by anaemia which caused quite low haemoglobin levels.

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sha12 · 01/06/2020 22:58

Yes i did, it was a couple of weeks ago when i was 29 weeks but everything came back fine but they did find i had anaemia so i’m guessing that’s what was the cause.

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Milnes94 · 02/06/2020 09:29

Me too at around 20 weeks, ECG, VQ scan and 24 hour heart monitor. Pulse Always ranging from 90~140. They haven’t done anything about it as my body seems to be coping with it.

Try not to worry

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Jupiter15 · 02/06/2020 09:43

Yes, mine were caused by anaemia

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TheVanguardSix · 02/06/2020 09:53

Please forgive me because I will give you the worst case scenario (so that you are kept an eye on and because I’ve had this). Read about SCAD and pregnancy. SCAD is literally and simply put, when an artery tears and the skin flap blocks arterial blood flow, often leading to a heart attack. I have had this. I had a widow maker and almost died because of this.
I tell you this because it is a rarer than hen’s teeth condition but it strikes women in pregnancy, the post partum period, and peri menopausal/menopausal women.
If you are having palpitations in pregnancy, it’s likely anaemia and/or BP issues (how is your BP?). But anything with the heart must be monitored.
Push hard for a 24 hour monitor.
Do not lift. Don’t put any physical stress on your heart. Palpitations mean your heart is working harder than it should. It’s talking to you. Take it seriously and more than this, make your GP take you seriously.
If you feel any heartburn or tingling in your arms, go straight to A&E.

I am sorry if I’m scaring you. Don’t be scared. But I had palpitations for weeks, off and on for years really, but proper palpitations and ectopic beats were definitely noticed in the days and weeks before my incident. I had a burning chest, tingling, painful arms. Everyone, from paramedics to A&E nurses and consultants kept asking me if I was sure I wasn’t pregnant (I wasn’t). But I realised why they asked: because rarely, SCAD strikes pregnant women.

I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I’m a keen cyclist. No heart disease. I was out on a dog walk when I had my heart attack brought on my this tear.
My point is, listen to your heart ladies. We often let symptoms go, ignoring them because, on paper, we’re not candidates for heart problems. A week before my heart attack, I got the results back from my well woman check. No risk of stroke. Enviably low cholesterol. The HCA said, “Well, you’ll never be on statins!” A week later, I was in ICU... on statins and 6 other medications.
Life has a way of surprising you.

What are the chances you’re about to have anything like this happen to you, OP? Close to zero. But I’m just giving you all a cautionary tale. Listen to your body. Chase up unusual symptoms and get to the bottom of your palpitations. If the ECG is normal, excellent. But find out why you are having these symptoms.

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SKP86 · 02/06/2020 10:27

Yes, I had an ECG in my first pregnancy as I was getting crazy palpitations one morning at work and my manager got me a taxi straight to the hopsital!

It was all fine. No risk to the baby and they did some blood and urine tests too. Turns out they couldn't see the palpitaions in the ECG and sent me on my way saying that it could be a muscle twitch in my chest. Never had them again in that pregnancy!