Heart Palpitations and High Heart Rate

[Poppen243]

I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant with my first child and noticed I was getting heart palpitations and a high heart rate early in pregnancy. I mentioned it to my midwife and she didn't seem concerned at all.

I'm now getting more palpitations and my heart rate can go up to around 145bpm by just standing for too long. I often feel faint and I've been really tired but this could be typical pregnancy tiredness. At other times, I can climb the stairs or go for a long walk and my heart rate will remain stable. My Fitbit ECG reports are all inconclusive.

My midwife changed recently and I mentioned it again as I'm still concerned. She recommended that I see my GP. I have an appointment on Monday but I'm starting to worry. Does anyone have any experience with something similar? Thank you

Sounds like iron deficient anaemia. When did you last have a blood test?

I have an arrhythmia which caused rapid heart rate. Pregnancy can cause them too cardiology told me. Diagnosed by ecg when symptomatic, put me on metropolol (beta blocker) and all was perfect! Mine didn’t go after pregnancy but it was there before too. Know a few ladies who only had them in pregnancy. Quite common. Worth getting checked as it can be very uncomfortable and is so easily treated. Some beta blockers are pregnancy friendly and some are not if it does happen to be an arrhythmia but your doctor can look after you in that regard!

Thank you. I had a blood test about two weeks ago and everything came back fine.

Thank you. This sounds possible. I think it may have started happening before I fell pregnant but I just wasn't taking as much notice of my body before and pregnancy has definitely amped up the symptoms!

I also suffer from anxiety and the medication I was taking was a beta blocker. I've looked back at the symptoms I took to my GP for my anxiety appointment and heart palpitations and dizziness are on there. I haven't taken the medication since I found out I was pregnant so perhaps that's why I'm noticing it more now.

This may be a daft question but will an ECG definitely pick up any issues? Some days I feel fine and others I can really feel it!

It will only pick up most arrythmias if they are happening as you get the ecg(some exceptions but most common ones you have to have it at the time! Might be worth getting a holter on(24 hr portable ecg) this is how we monitor mine, I get a few a year. Sometimes it will catch it sometimes not! If you have frequent symptoms you are more likely the catch something. Alternatively my electrophysiology doctor that tried to fix mine recommended a little hand held thing that is a one lead ecg by fingertip and it sends him reports. It was about 100 so pricey but very useful if it’s a regular issue for you. It’s an approved thing aswell so it’s pretty reliable! We caught some episodes on that aswell! Def worth getting checked as it’s a bloody pain in the arse to have when it’s not controlled. At my worst I was very breathless for a long period of time as i didn’t realise I had it continuously and needed treatment in the hospital to get back into sinus rhythm. Now I know I manage it a ton better!

I think the little device is called alive cor if that helps!!!

That's super helpful, thank you.

Yeah, the breathlessness is frustrating when I'm already heavy and uncomfortable! It's reassuring to hear that it's easily treated.

I'm pleased to hear you are feeling well now!