Heart palpitations for 2 days straight?

[scottishmommy]

My heart is driving me crazy! I've been having palpitations and an irregular heart beat for two days straight. I called my midwife, who said I should go to the ER if I start feeling short of breath or dizzy. She also is going to set up a cardiologist consult. Ugh, this is so annoying. Has anyone else experienced this during pregnancy? I'm 23 weeks btw.

[Lula's Mom]

When you say 2 days straight, do you mean it's constant? Or just yesterday and today? If it's constant that would concern me too. But I definitely experienced palpitations during my last pregnancy (my 3rd). Everything I read and everyone here said it was not an unusual thing, and it was just due to the huge increase in blood.  So you are probably fine.

[scottishmommy]

Yes is constant. My heart is skipping a 10 beats a minute, and my heart rate is pretty elevated. I'm not particularly concerned, I'm sure it's just a benign pregnancy symptom, but it's so annoying! I can't sleep with this horrible flip floppy feeling!

[elisheva]

Yes, it's pretty normal though it sure doesn't feel like it!!! Can you relate it at all to anything you've eaten? Even when I'm not pregnant, MSG will make my heart skip a beat as will aged cheese in any but the smallest quantity. It can  go on for hours and hours.

Bu, for two days straight and in the absence of being able to link it to something you've eaten/drunk, I'd be tempted to go to the ER anyway just to get reassurance that all is well.

[scottishmommy]

Well I did go to the er today because I was feeling short of breath and weak. Boy howdy, they really take care of you fast if you're a pregnant woman with heart palpitations! I was in and out in less than an hour. Anyway, the EKG was normal so they sent me home. I took some magnesium supplements and I hope that helps. I have to say that this pregnancy is really getting me down. I still have morning sickness, and SPD and now heart palpitations! I told DH that this might be our last baby! I don't know if I can handle another pregnancy!

[kathrineg]

I get those, I went to a cardiologist (who was great) and he assured me that it's normal and that his wife drove him nuts with them when she was pregnant, and he said that they would just get worse. Frustrating and uncomfortable. He said I could take a betablocker if they started really bothering me. You might be at that point. I took betablockers before pregnancy and they were wonderful. (I'm 24 weeks by the way!)

[Strong Mama]

Did you have an ECHO cardiogram just to be safe? I would ask for one. I had postpartum cardiomyopathy and died 5 died later(they did resusitate obviously lol) from cardiac arrest. My heart was beating 5 beats pm at 170, my heart was enlarged from the pregnancy. Palps/swelling/shortness of breath, they are all signs of this.

[tourist.]

I had tons of heart palpitations, I'd say constant, with my first pregnancy from about week 7 to week 10, then they went away.  I also had an EKG that came back normal, and my OB said not to worry about it.  I've had the palpitations this pregnancy as well, again with most being from weeks 7-10.  Unfortunately, they've returned in the third trimester but thankfully they're not nearly as bad as they were earlier on. 

I hope you get some relief!  They are absolutely maddening!

[kathrineg]

For me, at least, they're going to do a sonogram (same thing as an echocardiogram) when I'm further along in the pregnancy, to ensure that everything is okay even with the increased blood flow of pregnancy. I get one every 6 months anyway.

So, OP, definitely ask your cardiologist about an echocardiogram! They're not invasive or painful. Just some cold goop and a lot of reassurance :)

[Monkey Keeper]

Count me in. I had an echo primarily because I have a history of pre-eclampsia and pregancy induced hypertension. It too was clear, but the cardiologist wanted a follow-up at term to ensure that nothing was amiss. The symptoms abated, and I actually went on to have my first pregnancy without and hypertensive issues! The cardiologist was pretty sure that I would end up with hypertensive issues again, so I was pleasantly surprised.

[scottishmommy]

Originally Posted by Strong Mama 

Did you have an ECHO cardiogram just to be safe? I would ask for one. I had postpartum cardiomyopathy and died 5 died later(they did resusitate obviously lol) from cardiac arrest. My heart was beating 5 beats pm at 170, my heart was enlarged from the pregnancy. Palps/swelling/shortness of breath, they are all signs of this.

This is what really scares me to be honest. During my first pregnancy, I didn't experience any palpitations or shortness of breath. In fact I was singing professionally right up until my due date. I'm only six months in and I feel like I can't breath, and I need to sit constantly, etc. I don't know. I certainly don't have any of the risk factors for pp cardiomyopathy, but still, maybe I should insist on an echo just to be safe. If you don't mind me asking, did you ever have health problems before, or did this just come out of the blue?

[Strong Mama]

I never had any heart problems EVER. I ran 4 miles a day and weighed 135 pounds before pregnancy. I worked out daily, and worked a fulltime job. I was healthy as a horse. Here is a checklist you can print off and fill out and show your dr, it shows the risks of PPCM.

Focused medical history for PPCM screening, looking for early symptoms of heart failure, during last month of pregnancy:

1. Orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat):
a)None =0 points; b)Need to elevate head = 1 point; c)Need to elevate upper body 45º or more = 2 points

2. Dyspnea (shortness of breath on exertion):
a)None = 0 points; b)Climbing 8 or more steps = 1 point; c)Walking on level = 2 points

3. Unexplained cough:
a)None = 0 points; b)Night-time = 1 point; c)Day & Night = 2 points

4. Swelling (pitting edema) lower extremities:
a)None = 0 points; b)Below knee = 1 point; c)Above and below Knee and/or hands/face = 2 points.

5. Excessive weight gain during last month of pregnancy:
a)Under 2 pounds per week = 0 points; b)2 to 4 pounds per week = 1 point; c)over 4 pounds per week = 2 points.

6. Palpitations (sensation of irregular heart beats):
a)None = 0 points; b)When lying down at night = 1 point; c)Day and night, any position = 2 points

Scoring and action: (Validation to-date indicates that score of 5 or more always associated with decreasing LVEF.)
0 - 2 = low risk, continued observation
3 - 4 = mild risk, consider doing blood BNP and CRP; echo if ↑
5 or more = high risk, do blood BNP, CRP, echocardiogram

 

[scottishmommy]

Strong mama, thanks for the info. I will definitely bring this up with my midwife. How scary for you and your family. Have you made a full recovery? I hope so! HUGS

[Strong Mama]

Tyhanks, not a recovery yet. Heart is working at 35%, so disabled for now. Hopefully in the long years ahead, with the meds I will make a recovery.

[mt_gooseberry]

I get palpitations frequently when I'm NOT pregnant, not to mention shortness of breath during exertion and high heart rate.  I've seen a doc about it, and they've recommended I see a specialist (which I haven't gotten around to) but that they don't see anything obviously wrong--probably just an ideopathy.  When I am pregnant these symptoms REALLY intensify.  My last labor they gave me an EKG (which is the same thing as an echocardiogram or ECG, btw) just to be on the safe side b/c of my history.  Nothing went wrong, though, and we're just monitoring symptoms again this time around.  I'm not considered high risk or anything b/c of it.  I also get nervous about it, though, b/c my cousin's wife had to have emergency heart surgery when she was pregnant and she had no previous risk factors.  Luckily she has made a full recovery and is now pregnant with twins!  Reading that it seems to be a common thing during pregnancy to have palpitations (also known as arrhythmias) makes me feel a bit better.  Sending good vibes and prayers your way, Strong Mama.

[Strong Mama]

No, an EKG is not the same as an ECHO. My EKG is normal, my ECHO shows my heart is weak, large and working at 35%. Just to clarify, dont want to confuse OP. Thanks for the well wishes, gooseberry :)

[mt_gooseberry]

Originally Posted by Strong Mama 

No, an EKG is not the same as an ECHO. My EKG is normal, my ECHO shows my heart is weak, large and working at 35%. Just to clarify, dont want to confuse OP. Thanks for the well wishes, gooseberry :)

Oh, guess I was misinformed.  Thanks for the correction!