Palpitations?

[bohemianbint]

I'm getting them ALL the time at the moment. I get them now and again when I'm not pregnant, especially if I overdo the caffeine or stress. But I'm getting them virtually every day at the moment, and I'm not sure how normal that is, or whether I ought to be slightly concerned?

I had heart palpitations during the third trimester when I was pregnant with DD, I think that it is the increase in blood volume in your body that may cause it, but I would check with your GP/midwife just to put your mind at ease.

Thanks Minnie! My dad and sister both get the same thing too so I've never really worried too much about it. But it does seem a lot at the moment.

Am finally seeing a midwife this week so will check it with her.

I would check with mw - I think (although I'm not sure) that they can be a sign of anaemia - how many weeks are you?

Is your blood pressure ok? Maybe a good idea to have it checked more often since you're pregnant.

Found this on a health site which should put your mind at rest, apparently the increased hormone activity is a common cause of more palpitiations and nothing to worry about-

"It is very common to have increased palpitations with pregnancy

"Most other Arrhythmias do not cause any problems during Pregnancy - health risks. Cutting out tobacco and sugar may also help decrease palpitations "

Aggie - am 29 weeks. I've not had iron checked since 12 weeks so I guess it could have gone off by now!

northern - thanks for that link, makes me feel a bit better! I had my blood pressure checked a couple of weeks ago and it was totally fine, I think it tends to err on the lower side than higher generally.

Have been wondering if getting a bit more exercise might help, my dad always swears his get better if he plays football...

Yes I had palipitations early on in my pg, although I had a few before I was pg. I saw the doctor and had an ECG which brought up nothing untoward. In my case they were stress related. As the pregnancy progressed and I relaxed they lessened. Now at 36 weeks I don't have any.

Yours could be different-at least speak to the doctor. I would bypass the midwife if I were you.

Round here it's standard to have iron re-checked at about 28 weeks - so you could be due for another check anyway - definitely worth asking - IIRC if you're anaemic you'd probably be tired and a bit breathless too.

Well, am most definitely shattered and breathless at times, but put that down to being knocked up and unfit. Thank god will be getting iron checked this week...

Word of warning, I brought up heart palpitations with my mid wife, as like many on here I had suffered before being pregnant but they had increased dramatically since becoming pregnant. All she offered was a referral to the doctor for an "anti anxiety" prescription and when I declined, as I feel no increase in my anxiety just a rise in palpitations if I haven't slept well, being over active etc she put on my maternity notes that I had refused referral & medication for "panic attacks"! I now feel as though as far as they are concerned I have "neurotic first time mother" and "unstable" painted on my head in foot high red writing. All I really wanted was for her to tell me it's normal and check my iron levels, which they refused to do as I was only 25 weeks. Hey ho!