fast heart rate and childbirth really worried in general

[redddssak]

im 31 weeks now and getting quite worried nothing is being done or no one seems to care.
from my booking appointment ii mentioned I have a faster heart rate about 100 before pregnancy and mentioned my doctors dont seem worried but did 24 hour ecg last Sumer and just showed faster heart rate and didnt do anything about it.

now being pregnant my resting heart rate is between 120-140bpm, always pounding away its so uncomfortable sometimes its so hard as well I feel it through my shirt and neck!
I have had a heart scan just a few days ago, been told ive been referred to a cardiologist but awaiting an appointment for a month now
(I have an app in a few days at the hospital unsure what its about but will mention all these things again and ask what's going on)|
apart from all this I dont get any chest pain or dizziness with the fast heart
my main concern is everyone in my family is freaking me out saying how can I give birth naturally with this fast heart and I should ask for a c section
doesn't help I keep getting news stories and tiktoks about people dying during labour with undiagnosed heart conditions

its giving me nightmares I dont want to die

OP I'm sorry this is stressing you out. You say nothing being done and no-one seems to care, but you've had a heart scan and are waiting to see a cardiologist which sounds entirely appropriate.
What else do you feel needs doing that isn't being done?
If your midwives are concerned about the safety of a vaginal delivery for you then you will be referred to discuss this with an obstetrician.

OP are you small? Heart rate starts at about 200 bpm at birth and slows down as we grow.

Small people, particularly female often have a slightly higher heart rate and pregnancy can increase it too.

The good news is that your 24 hour ECG was fine and so was your echo (assuming that is what your scan was).

Please try not to worry. I know it is easy for me to say that.

We think of pregnancy as natural and normal but our bodies are doing amazing things growing a small person, a whole human being.

Sorry to jump on this thread but I didn't know this was a thing! I'm very petite/ 5ft 2 and have a very fast HR, also had clear scans but been on beta blockers the last year waiting to be seen again, as my HR was so high.

Op, when I gave birth they were constantly monitoring my HR, so much so they would leave the room to dicuss me because it would go sky high whenever they came in. I would be asking at this stage what kind of monitoring can you expect during labour re your HR being so high. Just to add, I mentioned that my HR was through the roof during labour (when I had my first hospital appointment re the HR) and the consultant was like it's very very normal and to have been expected.

I imagine that a plan will be made from your cardiologist appointment in terms of monitoring during labour or whether a c section delivery would be safer. Some people just naturally have a faster resting heart rate- it all depends on what the cardiologist thinks is the cause of yours. There isn't much more the midwifery/obstetric team can do at the moment until you've had cardiology input, at 31 weeks there is time to come up with a plan. I appreciate it is bound to feel scary but it sounds like everything is being done that should be at this point. Hope all goes well for you.

a c-section isn't necessarily more cardio-stable than a vaginal delivery so unless there's something in the ECG/echo that suggests that pushing (which is the main bit that can be physiologically challenging in some heart conditions) is a bad idea or that the baby is struggling because of your physiology there may not be much of an advantage. If you're HR is high peri-delivery though it can make it trickier for the MWs to determine if it's your HR or the baby's they're monitoring so it may take a bi longer to check-in on the baby. Hope the cardiologist helps explain/plan things well.

Hi OP,

I just wanted to reply to this as I know how bloody scary it is.
You've probably always had a slightly tachy heart, but never noticed it before. Some people can be naturally a little 'top heavy' with a naturally quick HR.

I have 2 heart conditions called SVT and LQTS. The fact they did a 24 hour tape is a good thing. If anything untoward it would've been picked up on there.

Having a quick heart rate doesn't equal an arrhythmia. You can have a quick heart rate but it be in a perfectly normal al rythmn. You may have sinus tachycardia, which is basically quick bouts of heart rate but in normal sinus rhythm.

A couple of things that can help, are having a big mouthful of ice cream and swallowing it cold without chewing it. Dunking your head into an ice water bowl, a few deep coughs, and blowing into a syringe. They can all reset your nervous system and get your heart back into a more comfortable rate. But as I said, a quick heart rate can be normal and nothing to worry about, especially if it's in normal sinus rhythm.

Try not to hyper focus on numbers as this can make it worse. You worrying will make it worse, and pregnancy often will make your heart rate increase due to the increase blood volume. Particularly in the 2nd and 3rd trimester.

Trust the professionals, it sounds like they're doing everything they should. You've had extensive testing done and they're not worried about it. Trust them in this, they know what they're doing.

Good luck!

I had this. I remember viewing the midwife led unit and them saying they would transfer me to hospital during labour if my heart rate went above 112bpm... But it was above that at resting whilst not in labour!!

I had a vaginal birth. No one was concerned about my high heart rate during pregnancy even with me asking several times. During labour they couldn't monitor the baby properly as couldn't tell the difference between mine and his heart rates (baby's is usually a lot faster so easily separated). They therefore had to put a stitch in his head to monitor him.

All was well. Good luck!

my main concern is everyone in my family is freaking me out saying how can I give birth naturally with this fast heart and I should ask for a c section

stop talking to them about it. They’re being hysterical and it’s not helping you. A c section isn’t necessarily better and a i presume your entire family are neither surgeons, cardiologists or anything else that requires a medical degree. Your drs are not worried, you have an appointment with a specialist to make a plan, and you have weeks to resolve this still.
i completely understand it’s scary, but try to just cut back how many voices of hysteria are involved in this process, and look at the facts. Stop watching videos of people dying in childbirth, the figures are incredibly low and it’s a possibility for anyone, just step back from it all and focus on being as calm as you can.

Hi this is me now 😔 can you please tell me how u got on. Hope your okay x