Pregnant after miscarriage and ectopic – heart rate really spiking and worried something isn't right

[NSC1980]

I was cautiously overjoyed on Friday to get a BFP at 14 DPO after a miscarriage in February and ectopic in April (making me 4w 5d today).

I'm quite into tracking my heart rate and it has been slowly rising (at normal, reassuring levels) since ovulation. However, today, it's done a massive jump and shot up from 69 yesterday to 80/55 when I'm sitting down, completely still (pre-pregnancy it was around 60). If I walk to the toilet or kitchen it shoots up to around 110. This has got me worried as this was one of my symptoms for the ectopic (although it was even higher then). I did a Clearblue test this morning which came back as 2-3 weeks (it was 1-2 in the first test on Friday).

When I had the miscarriage it did the reverse and there was a massive drop the day before.

After the ectopic EPU told me to ring them the day I got a positive test, which I did on Friday only to be told to call back in two weeks to book a scan (not terribly reassuring when I had emergency surgery under six weeks last time).

I just can't bear to go through another ectopic. Has anyone had really high heart rate spikes in first five weeks?

Sorry to hear about your previous pregnancy. I don’t think you’re really going to get much back because it not a normal thing to do to monitor your heart rate when you conceive. I would say to stop tracking but I know that must be hard

Honestly, put the HR monitor down. It really has no bearing on anything pregnancy related and there's a whole myriad of other things that could cause you to have a higher resting HR one day than another. Nobody will be interested, as pp said, it's not something used for any form of measurement in pregnancy (there's a reason for that). Early pregnancy is such a hard time, try to take each day as it comes. Wishing you a good outcomes

Ok, thanks. You're right – no one will be interested so shouldn't have posted it. Will try to delete.

The PP doesn't mean nobody on here will be interested - but nobody medical will be interested as it's irrelevant (she was trying to reassure you).

Your HR naturally increases in pregnancy, and spikes in HR occur naturally for a plethora of reasons. I think you are, very understandably, extremely anxious about this pregnancy, which also raises heart rate.

I think PP are saying that medics won't be interested based on heartrate alone, without other symptoms. My heartrate has gone up and down all throughout pregnancy (I see it on my Fitbit but have tried to ignore it) - it is really not indicative of progress. And my heartrate changes were no different in my previous pregnancy when I had a MC. i think you have to try and assume everything is OK unless you have bleeding or pain, but appreciate it's hard!

Hi OP I'm sorry this is so anxious for you, I had 5 miscarriages before my second baby so I sympathise. It's such a stressful time. As others have said, heart rate is not something that will tell you anything about the viability of this pregnancy. It's perfectly natrual to be looking for reassurance. I didn't measure heart rate daily or anything but i did notice a significant increase during the first trimester during exercise. The body starts working really hard almost immidiately when pregnant so it makes sense. With your history, pregnancy is naturally going to be a stressful time. Maybe speak to the EPU and see if there is anyway you can access counselling. It helped me loads to find coping strategies and stop me spiralling.

You should be able to have an early scan to check things are okay; I can understand your anxiety but time will pass and you’ll feel more confident that all is fine.

The PP meant that your midwife or doctor won't be interested. Not that your post wasn't interesting.

I think it would be better if you stopped checking your heart rate. It isn't of clinical significance and even if it were, there's nothing you can do anyway.

I hope very much that this pregnancy is successful, OP. It's heartbreaking to have miscarriages.

I had an ectopic pregnancy straight after a molar one.

My third pregnancy resulted in my DD. So I truly hope things go well this time for you. I can understand why you're so worried. It's natural.

It’s probably anxiety. Stop tracking it,

Thanks everyone. Feeling much better after reading your comments and have stopped looking at my heart rate. I'm still feeling not quite right but don't have the pain in my side that I had last time so trying to keep as positive as I can. I'll be 5 weeks tomorrow so planning to ring EPU again and try to get a scan in next few days to check it's in the right place this time (I know it makes more sense to wait to 6 weeks but just not sure I can do that).

Thank you for updating, OP.

Please let us know how things turn out.

Just thought I'd give an update on this in case anyone else finds themselves in similar situation.

The day after I wrote the above, I contacted EPU and they told me to come straight in for a scan to rule out ectopic. As I was only 5 weeks at that point, they couldn't see a lot and booked me to come back a week later – in the meantime, they did two HCG tests 48 hours apart and to my relief my levels did double . The 'six-week' scan was last Friday but unfortunately while they could see the yolk sac and beginnings of foetal pole it was too early for a heartbeat (they said this probably meant I was slightly under 6 weeks) so they still couldn't confirm it as a viable pregnancy. Unfortunately they did see some bleeding but prescribed me progesterone so hopefully that is working its magic. I'm going back again this Friday for another scan so will know either way then.

The main thing is that they were able to rule out another ectopic which was my biggest fear and since they ruled this out I've felt completely calm and accepting of whatever's going to happen.

I also realised I had Covid which caused the high heart rate/some of the other symptoms I was initially worried about. Covid's never really affected me before but this time felt very unwell with it and still have an awful cough. Bad timing!

Thank you for your update @NSC1980 and I hope you see more when you have your next scan.

I'm glad it wasn't an ectopic pregnancy. Wishing you well.

Sadly this morning's scan wasn't the positive news we were hoping for. The yolk sac had doubled in size from last Friday but they couldn't find the foetal pole. Obviously at 7 weeks, it's fairly obvious what that means but they said they have to scan again in another week in order to confirm it. My third loss this year... and on my birthday too. The only positive I can find is that at least it wasn't ectopic this time.

Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear that @NSC1980