Heart Palipitations?

[stormgirl]

Has anyone else experienced crazy heart rhythms? This isn't the first time in my life to have them, and it usually seems to be brought on by stress.

I'm 8 weeks, thinking I'm dehydrated from m/s, wondering if that's a factor.

It's not painful or anything, just, well, constant.

Anyone else have this, or know if it's common in pregnancy?

[fruitfulmomma]

I started getting them back in March before I got pregnant. I went to the ER because I started feeling faint also and they did all the tests and said nothing was wrong, so . My husband thinks it is stress also.

[JessieBird]

Get checked for hyperthyroidism. It can occur "transiently" during pregnancy and includes symptoms such as bad morning sickness and a rapid heart rate. I had it and thankfully it went back to normal around 17 weeks without treatment but there are risks if you remain hyperthyroid later in pregnancy.

I've also heard that a wacky heartbeat is totally normal in pregnancy.

[rhiOrion]

Wacky heartbeat is definitely common in pregnancy. That doesn't mean you can't rule out other causes, but I wouldn't be concerned. I had a history of tachycardia (and had surgery for it) well before I got pregnant, so I was super aware of any heart issues. Luckily for me it actually helped mine, but sometimes I would have a racing heart while pregnant, and have read many people asking about it.

[jensb]

I had heart palpitations starting about a year before I got pg this time. They would happen after exercise or when I was stressed. I went through testing, which found nothing wrong, and they said they could prescribe anti-arrythmic medication if I started having more symptoms. I didn't want to do that at all!

By December, I noticed that they were occurring all the time. The longest I would go between abnormal beats was 30 normal ones. I did a little reading, and decided to try Natural Calm for magnesium. Within 2 weeks, the palps were gone. Now that I'm pregnant they happen occasionally, mostly when I lie down. If I start forgetting to take the Calm, though, I'll get more palps.

[Just1More]

I get them, too. And they "run" in my family.

For me, iron and B vitamins help tons, as does staying hydrated.

[wholewheatchick]

I've gotten them a few times; it usually happens when I'm sitting or lying down, like watching a movie or in bed. It passes in about 30 seconds, and because it has been so infrequent, I'm not too concerned. It does kind of freak me out while it's happening, though! Makes me short of breath, too.

[SteelerMom]

I have had heart palpitations many times during my adult life but never as often as during the first two trimesters of my pregnancy. My thyroid is fine and so is my heart-I have had an echocardiogram. When they happen, you can feel the abnormal heart beat from the outside. I wouldn't worry about it if your doctor isn't concerned.

[HeatherB]

I get it, too. Used to happen a ton, but hasn't happened in the recent past until a few weeks into pregnancy. It started just when laying down, but now can happen anytime.

Magnesium seems to help. I take Natural Calm. Definitely keeping well hydrated is important, no matter, and it may be difficult for your heart to pump effectively if you're not. Stress seems to be a factor for me, as well as fatigue.

I've had full cardiac workups done in the past and shown no problems, so I definitely feel like it's something being triggered by pregnancy and the nutritional needs therein.