Thumping heart - anyone else had this?

[bonym]

I am 22weeks pg and for a few weeks now have been noticing my heart really thumping, particularly at night when I go to bed. I know that the heart has to work harder during pgcy but don't remember having this when pg with dd. The books I have say that palpitations are normal but I can't find anything about thumping - heartbeat is regular btw but I am finding the thudding a bit disconcerting, especially when trying to sleep. Anyone else experienced this?

Yes, I have this when I have Braxton Hicks contractions. This is my second pg and I had it in my first too. Was hooked up to a heart monitor but they couldn't find anything wrong. It just disappeared after birth (and reappeared in second pg)...no problems during labour (not with my heart anyway, but that's another story!). (BTW, the times when it bothers me most are when in bed or just sitting watching TV, it is so weird to feel as though you have just run a race when you are doing nothing). I would mention it to m/w or GP, they may want to check your heart just in case.

bonym it is probably nothing to worry about but I think you should get it checked out anyway. I experienced a thumping heart and lots of palpitations in the run-up to a fullblown attack of atrial fibrillation. This is where the top chambers of the heart beat too fast and very irregularly. I was on medication for a while but gradually took myself off it and in fact have not had a subsequent attack (it's nearly two years ago now). Funnily enough, I have since had my third baby and didn't experience any palpitations at all whilst pregnant, although have hadh a few since DS3 was born. Atrial fibrillatioin is not really dangerous in its own right (don't want to frighten you) but it is quite unpleasant. My advice would be, do get it checked out.

Thanks for the feedback - I will mention it to mw - you have worried me a bit dinosaur although it doesn't appear to be beating particularly fast and, as I said, it's not irregular so hopefully is just what gingernut is experiencing as it sounds very similar.

bonym - does this happen when you are lying on your left side by any chance?

It does Jampot - not exclusively, but that's when it's particulary noticeable

this used to happen to me - i think its something to do with the position of hte aorta or something being predominantely left sided or maybe no - but definitely worse on the left. God I talk boll*cks

Jampot - you may think you talk b**cks but you've reassured me! Thanks

I had it during my first pregnancy, it usually started about 20 minutes after meals and lasted for about half an hour. I just assummed that more blood was being diverted to my stomach as my body was working extra hard to digest all the food. It stopped as soon as the baby was born and I haven't experienced it since.

polkadot your right when you say about the heart working hard after a meal.

if your at all concerned bonym, then speak to your gp or midwife. you may be given a holter moniter fto wear for 24hrs just to check everything is in order.

I get it too it is like you think your heart is going to explode out of your chest.

I get it when sitting or lying down

I hate it

I have one of those blood pressure/heart rate things for your wrist.

I had it too. Awful. As soon as I lay down, I would be horribly aware of my heart pounding really hard. I did go to GP, and he checked BP which was fine, and his explanation was your body adjusting to pumping an awful lot more blood around. It did go away in the third trimester. I didn't experience it to the same extent with DD2.

thank goodness Im not the only one! I was convinced I had angina a few weeks ago. I get a pounding in my chest when I lie on my back - only happens during pregnancy though. I am soreassured by this thread.

It's so good to know this is not unusual ( cue for a song?) - thanks everyone, I'm feeling totally reassured