will episodes of fast heart rate harm the baby?

[fernie3]

I have been in hospital and had an ecg as well as a blood tests etc because my heart was going very quickly (i was admitted when it got up to 160bpm resting). It has since settled back down and was about 100 odd when I was there last tuesday (I cant remember exactly but they were happy with it anyway).

I ALSO have high blood pressure which I am told is due to mild preeclampsia as a 24 hour urine collection came back showing high protein. My blood pressure is ok at the moment as I am taking labetalol to control it.

To top this off the blood test in the hospital showed that I have an overactive thyroid which they believe is what is causing the racing heart (and the doctor said that this can increase the risk of preeclampsia developing but not sure how true this is!). I have an appointment on wednesday with a consultant.

anyway back to the point lately I have been having trouble sleeping because I keep waking up with a racing heart, feeling shaky, shortness of breath just generally not right. I was awake last night for around 2 hours feeling rough but I sat up for a while etc and gradually calmed down to sleep. It couls have been pregnancy related or it could have been a panic attack I dont know.

Could episodes like these harm the baby? When I was in hospital with the high heart rate the baby's heart was also racing very fast so obviously it IS affected but is it harmful?

should I contact the midwife today to let her know that this is happening more often? or leave it until friday when I have an appointment? As I said it could be that I am waking up with panic attacks rather than anything else!

god, i have no idea but i would be interested to know, because I have the dentist on wednesday and that always makes me feel like my heart is going to explode. I wonder if it can be good for the baby.

Any idea anyone??

I've had this quite a lot on and off. The term for a fast heartbeat is tachycardia (if you've ever watched ER and heard someone say 'she's tacky' this is what they're referring to ). While I'm not a medical expert - though I have been in hospital a lot - it's sometimes caused by stress (as per the dentist) but also by other things. For me, it's come on either when I have been anaemic, which I have a tendency towards, or during other episodes of illness when I am just weak and run down.

I did get this a bit during pregnancy, but was not that worried as I'd had it before. I did end up getting what my consultant called 'atypical pre-eclampsia' in the final weeks, so interesting to know there may be a link, but, most importantly, all tests on mmy baby showed that nothing was wrong for him and he was not affected. So I wouldn't let that worry you, but I would mention it to your midwife - and I would try to up your iron intake in case it is anaemia or borderline anaemia. I feel like I am always badgering people about possibly being anaemic on here, but so many women are without knowing it.

no don't worry. Cause for concern is baby's hr dropping

My dd has had episodes of tachycardia all her life. As long as it isn't high for too long, none of her docs are particularly concerned

hope you feel better soon

I have this ( though not as often as you by the sounds of it) my resting pulse is around 110 and they keep saying baby is fine. Have 20 week scan next week do that may reassure me.I'm assuming you are further on than me too.

I also have high bp but my thyroid is borderline underactive.