Terrifying heart palpatations

[Limkanon]

Hi ladies. Hopefully there's someone (or a few someone's) who can provide some reassurance until I see my GP and obstetrician next week! I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my first at age 37, and since 30 weeks I've been having daily heart palpatations. I experienced one single day of them at 24 weeks, but they disappeared again. In recent times, they have been happening daily, usually in the evening and overnight, lasting anything from 4-12 hours almost chronically, and causing huge distress, as well as breathlessness and a heavy/ tight chest feeling. I feel silly ringing the emergency unit as it may be nothing. My BP has always been fine, and my iron was borderline in late Dec so I started supplementing with capsules. The palpatations dissapeared for the first week of taking the iron, but now have returned. Did anyone else experience this, or have investigations related? The insomnia from thes has me gone half cracked!

I've had heart palpitations all my life and understand how distressing they feel. But they are not dangerous and rarely suggest something else is going on. Honestly I've had so many doctors reassure me. I've often heard people connect low iron or taking supplements with having palpitations. I think this is also true for me because I've have had low iron all my life. I've gone to the doctors and they weren't bothered with palpitations but as I was having severe chest pain and a heart murmur they made me do a scan everything was perfectly normal. I've had a few palpitations during my pregnancy and when I do I force a really weird cough and it sorts it. I guess this doesn't work for everyone and my partner- who also has them a lot- has to do some deep breathing until they go. Interestingly I've had them less frequent than normal and it happens that for the first time my iron is quite normal during my pregnancy .

When you have palpitations nothing happens to your heart, it's just that you briefly become more aware of it's beating. Feeling stressed and focusing on them will make them more frequent so try to avoid this. It sounds like you're having a bit of a panic attack following an episode which is making you more distressed. It's good you're talking to a doctor next week but you'll be told you are completely fine. But if you feel too distressed just call your midwife, 111 or out of hours doctors- I wouldn't feel bad for needing reassurance. You're growing a human being and this can be stressful, it's understandable you need to some extra support now and then. Take care xxx

@Matilda128 out of interest, do you also feel like you almost need to force yourself to breath? I’ve been feeling this, like my chest is ever so slightly heavy, my breaths are quite short and shallow and I’m aware of my heart fluttering. I’m sure it’s just me being paranoid as it’s not that consistent and worse when I focus on it! Have taken iron today as wondered if this may be why.

@Perhapsnotthen Yes my body seems to stop doing its normal thing and I have to think about breathing otherwise I gasp for air. I've had them for so long now but the initial reaction is always panic. I think that's just a normal physical response. Your body thinks it's in trouble even though nothing is going on. Maybe the weird cough I learned myself is just a way of having a calm rational response and to focus my attention elsewhere. Iron is a funny thing- it's so essential when you're low but taking supplements can make you also feel awful.

@Matilda128 Thank you - very interesting. I definitely feel a little panicked which then makes it worse.

@Limkanon I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for your replies everyone! I'm so blindsided by them as I have no history, and I'm dissapointed that I just want this pregnancy to be over now as I dread the chronic insomnia and its potential effects even before the baby arrives. I really relate to the panic, need to cough, and the tendency to go us on them and become suddenly really aware of my heartbeat. I've made a appt with my gp for Monday anyway so u will talk to her, and hopefully get an ecg x

My DH gets palpitations when anxious, which then makes it worse.
Could be low iron.
Next time it happens try to regulate your breathing, the more you gasp, you start hyperventilating and producing more adrenaline. Which makes the palpitations worse...
I think it's called box breathing - breathe in slowly for the count of 4 and then out to the (slow) count of 4. Apparently coughing is a reflex which can help reset the vagus nerve (which causes the palpitations). Hope you get it sorted, it's a really unpleasant feeling.

@Limkanon please let me know how you get on. Insomnia is the worst, you have my sympathy.

So, for those wanting to know where I'm at, (thank you), nowhere really. Mentioned them again last week to mw who just doesn't engage much and just asked me if I told the doctor. I've made an appt for Thurs morning for an ecg and bloods in my gp's office as they're still going on and I'm up awake for hours every night with them. Felt dizzy and really weird in my chest last night, so scary. Anyway, we shall see how I go on Thurs, but I really think I'm gonna push for the 24 hour monitor. Don't want to be hearing about difficulties for the first time when it comes to labour ya know?!