Shortness of breath and heart palpitations « Back to Group Discussions

[SaharaSwims]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone else has been experiencing heart palpitations combined with shortness of breath?

There's no chest pains, however, it feels like I'm running out of oxygen and occurs after I do something really simple like bending over to get something (not running up the stairs :)) It's been happening lots, but this morning it was happening every 2 minutes and I thought it was kind of concerning.

I called our local health nurse - she said to call 911 and then my nurse from my clinic said to hang tight till my regular appnt tomorrow.

I'm feeling much better now and wasn't toooo worried, but a little.

Otherwise my pregnancy has been very good and healthy (knock, knock) - no concerns....

[Sasha's Mama]

This happens to me when my iron gets low. Once I get it back up it goes away. Hopefully you get an answer at your appt. tomorrow! :)

[TalkToMeNow]

I had this problem during my second trimester. I ended up seeing a cardiologist, but it just resolved on it's own. It turns out I was very anemic during that time, so that may be your problem as well.

[dashley111]

I third that!  I have had a lot of problems with anemia that my doc ended up diagnosing because I was having heart palpitations pretty often, especially when trying to relax. 

[IwannaBanRN]

When I was pregnant with my first, they detected a gestational heart murmur. It went away after I had him. It was just the extra bloodflow causing occasional irregular heartbeats.

[TalkToMeNow]

I was diagnosed with a murmur as well, but it doesn't seem to be related to the palpitations. I still have the murmur, but the palpitations stopped. Kind of odd! I have to follow up on the murmur with the cardiologist a couple months after the baby is born.

[TalkToMeNow]

Oh, sahara I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned that what you described is exactly what palpitations feel like. Your heart feels like it skips a beat and you can't catch your breath at the same time. It is scary. But I think it is fairly common during pregnancy.

I have hypothyroidism as well as anemia, and I'm pretty sure being hypo can cause palps. In addition to iron levels, you may want to get your thyroid levels checked. It's a fairly simple fix if the issue is either of those.

[SaharaSwims]

Thanks everyone.

I had a good doctor's visit today and she said that because this has been happening most often in the morning - it could be related to insulin levels and that I should always carry protein-like snacks with me. The strong heart beating sensation is from the extra blood volume getting pumped around.

Also my blood pressure was not high 100/60. 

Am feeling just fine about it all - must eat more frequently i guess and take it easy!

[KayPea]

I've had low blood pressure too - and have had those same feelings. Moreso during my first pregnancy, but definitely during this one too. But my midwives thought it was just a blood volume thing - you make serum faster than red blood cells, so when you are going through a period of blood-building, it can take a while for your red cells to catch up. Dilute blood = breathlessness. 

I also get heart palpitations when I don't drink enough water. And it always surprises me how much water I need to drink. 

Last pregnancy I had LOTS of episodes of breathlessness, and palpitations, and even tachycardia (a condition which I had previously, it was just aggravated by pregnancy) to the point where for pretty much the whole second trimester I had to sleep sitting up or I couldn't breathe. I had heart tracings and saw a cardiologist and everything was normal. My doctor said that the biggest risk to me from such things was fainting, which I never did, and that I should take it easy when I feel this way, which it sounds like to me you are already doing. 

[Eternal_Howl]

I've been getting shortness of breath and it feels like I can't breathe, but it's just everything squashing my lungs. I've also had a few heart palpatations and one particularly noticeable time a week ago where my heart started racing really fast and 'loud' and it did that for about six beats and then quietened down. So far my BP has been in the lower end of normal (which is normal for me anyway), so I suspect it's just my body trying to equalize things out when there's a bit of a lull.

I mentioned it to my midwife and she checked my BP and just said that if it keeps happening, come in so we can monitor you. But it's so sporadic that I really think this is a normal part of the pregnancy (for me anyway).

[xakana]

This is constant for me. It's just a part of my pregnancies. I'm royally sick of it, I might add. Lying on my side does help a little. Also, check to see if it's linked to what you're eating or if you're drinking enough. Caffeine can do this--even if it's never done it to you before and you're typically a reverse-reaction person (I have ADHD, caffeine is a relaxant to me, except during THIS pregnancy, apparently!).

[birdhappy85]

Ugh, I just started getting shortness of breath at 34 weeks. I swore during my entire pregnancy that I'd be lucky enough to not deal with baby kicking my ribs or my stomach feeling crowded up high since I'm tall and have a long torso. Thankfully the baby is head down and the feet still don't come close to my ribs, but I think her butt is pressing against my stomach now because I feel like I can't breathe every time I eat! It's so gross feeling, like even small meals feel as if I've overeaten. Wearing underwire bras makes breathing difficult too. Also, I don't like lying on my left side. I know that side is supposed to be the one that gives the best blood flow, but it is most uncomfortable for me. I swear my heart beats harder and faster when on my left side and it is too much for me at times. I prefer my right side. I don't like my heart racing! I'll be so glad when the baby is out and I can breathe again.

[octanebeetle27]

Just wanted to add myself to the shortness of breath/heart palpitations crew. I really don't remember having the palpitations with my other four pregnancies but I'm not worried. Just like "Oh great, another annoying thing to put up with." I don't know if I can give up my holy cup of coffee though. Oh that would make me so sad and quite possibly ruin my mood permanently until Baby gets here. I'm so ready to feel like a normal person again!!

[LiLStar]

I've had a weird thing.. it'll happen when I'm sitting/at rest and only last a few seconds. My head/face feels sort of flushed/warm and I feel throbbing. it doesn't hurt, no headache or anything, and it doesn't feel like my heart is racing or anything. Just bizarre. My blood pressure has been consistently low.. actually, at my last prenatal it was TOO low! 

[Abraisme]

I've had this happen too.  Like my temples slowly feel like they're being pressed (or a pressure sensation).  I went to my chiro and had him spend a long time adjusting my neck.  It seemed to help, as I haven't had it since.  I'm not sure if it was coincidence though..

And I've also been short of breath the last few days.  Ugh.

Oh, and my heart races when I lay on my left side too.  I almost always sleep on my right side.  I figure that my body knows what is best, if it's comfortable, then it's probably fine. 
 

Originally Posted by LiLStar 

I've had a weird thing.. it'll happen when I'm sitting/at rest and only last a few seconds. My head/face feels sort of flushed/warm and I feel throbbing. it doesn't hurt, no headache or anything, and it doesn't feel like my heart is racing or anything. Just bizarre. My blood pressure has been consistently low.. actually, at my last prenatal it was TOO low! 

[Krystal323]

good to hear i'm not the only one who's experienced this!  every pregnancy, something new likes to throw you for a loop!

I had major shortness of breath and heart pounding, esp. in the first trimester, to where I'd have to drink water and nap it off.  I never had morning sickness,but oh my gosh, I was so exhausted!  Then  later on, it happened much less, but especially right after having a soda or something overly sugary/carb-heavy.  So I've been caffeine-free for over a month now (GO ME! lol), and come to think of it, it hasn't happened since...

=)