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I'm 33 & 30 weeks pregnant. I can't seem to get my pulse under 100. It can elevate to 120+ just by walking from one side of the room to the other! Forget stairs! I can't go upstairs while I'm on the phone because I can't talk without sounding winded! I'm glad to see I'm not alone, it's such an uneasy feeling. I occa__sionally get palpitations, but the results from the holter monitor were "normal" so my dr. told me not to worry.

I am 23 weeks and have been having this rapid pulse (105-120) for a few weeks now. I went to my obgyn and he seemed to think it was anxiety! But, I'm not anxious. I wonder why he didn't tell me it was a normal side effect of pregnancy? My rapid heartrate is also accompianed by shortness of breath. It's very uncomfortable, especially at night whem I am trying to sleep! It's like I just went for a run...

Hi, all. Just to update, what i've learned after doing the whole cardiologist thing, is basically that the racing heart, is okay as long as it doesn't develop into shortness of breath and fainting. (not that a little of those things aren't normal in pregnancy, too, but I think it's supposed to be a regular occurance for it to be considered a serious problem). And as long as our blood pressure doesn't drop too much either, it should be okay. It still drives me CRAZY that i can't even bend down to pick something up without my heart going up to 130! And I'm only 20 weeks! I still do think it's worth getting an echocardiogram to just make sure the heart is in good condition though, since there can be some serious problems down the road otherwise. And if you do have a mitral valve prolapse, they'll probably want to give you antibiotics at delivery, which is what I found out i'll have to do. Best of luck to everyone. Wendy

sorry WB i didnt get back to you, the doctors havent mentioned that they can cross the placenta, and i have read on some sights they ARE safe and on others they ARE NOT, so i am none the wiser, i have stopped taking mine to see if i still need them, i feel a little bit like c___p, but my anxietys have alot to do with it to, so good luck ladies, and if your unsure about anything go to your docs, not everyones problems are always the same, i know it makes us feel at ease, but be carefull xxxxxxx

Hi everyone. I just thought I'd ask for an update on how everyone who posted here is doing, if you've learned anything more about your specific situation etc. Thanks! :o) Wendy (sorry if this got posted more than once, i kept getting an error message)

Before getting pregnant the second time, I went through a whole series of tests because of chest pain--EKG, echo, nuclear stress test, halter monitor. All showed nothing was wrong...turned out to be anxiety. I've had palipations and a rapid heart rate my whole life, which is why the chest pain scared me. Plus my brother had angioplasty at 35 and my dad had quadruple bypa__s at 50. I'm now 22 weeks with my second child. The last week or so, my heart rate has been about 120 all the time. It scares me, especially since I'm on an alpha/beta blocker. During delivery with my daugther, my heart rate went up to about 180 right when she was born. They called down cardiology and pumped me full of drugs. I'm scared about what's going to happen this time, although I feel better knowing I'm taking medication and the doctor's are aware of the problem. It also helps that I had all those tests done before getting pregnant. Just wanted to share my story. I, too am comforted after reading what everyone else has gone through.

I know that this thread has been around for quite a while, but it's sure rea__sured me. I'm in week 37 of my pregnancy now. During pregnancy, my heart rate is normally between 90 and 120. Last Monday night, I was sitting in the bathtub relaxing, when all of a sudden I felt a little "flip" just below my rib cage and at the same time my heart rate skyrocketed. I've had frequent palpitations, but this time it just went up and stayed up. I said to my husband "We have to go to the hospital now". About 2 minutes later our whole family had piled in the car and were on our way. When I registered at the hospital, the intake nurse checked my pulse and it was 259!!! They rushed me right in to a room, hooked up the ECG doohickeys, gave me oxygen and started an IV. My pulse didn't go down. After a bit, about 45 minutes after my heart rate initially went up, they gave me some sort of medication through the IV (starts with a 'D' - that's the best I can do - lol) that made me feel AWFUL. It felt like I was sinking into the bed. After 3 or 4 minutes my heart rate went down to about 130. They monitored me for a bit more, sent me for a non-stress test to check the baby (his heart rate was fine), and eventually sent me home. It was TERRIFYING. I still don't know why this happened. The only info. the doctor gave me was basically that it may or may not happen again. Lots of help, Doc. It hasn't happened since, but I have had lots of palpitations. I'm worried that labor might shoot it up again. Anyhow, thanks for letting me share my story. Glad to know that it's not just me, but sorry that others have experienced similar. :) Sorry so long!!

Susan--it sounds like you're really on top of your situation, and I guess since everything turned out okay with the last pregnancy, chances are you'll be in even better shape this time since you've been on the meds. Best of luck for smooth sailing. My cardio swears 120 is okay (mine is often 130, and he just isn't concerned). Nicole--That sounds REALLY SCARY!! I'm glad you were able to get it taken care of so effectively. Did they consider inducing you? (I'm having twins, so to me 37 weeks is totally considered full term). How does a palpitation feel differently from the heart racing? Did they do an echocardiogram where they take an u/s of the heart itself? Hang in there! Wendy

I knew I could rely on this Website to get some a__surance! I am 32 weeks and about a week ago started getting palpitations that have got worse. It started as one here and there and now, especially at night time, they come in a cycle and won't stop unless I get up and move around. I have just spent 2 nights in hospital where they recorded abnormal ECG's and I am off to the cardiologist tonight. It's very scary and I am afraid to go to sleep, as this is when they get really bad. Does anyone else experience the long cycle of palpitations????????

Donna--I've only had really short palps, but it sounds like you're getting the help you need--the cardiologist will likely do an echocardiogram to see the heart itself, and if everything looks fine, they'll likely tell you it's just one of the joys of pregnancy, and if there IS an issue, then they can give you something. It might help also to sleep sitting up a bit, or propped up with pillows. Good luck with everything, let us know how it turns out, okay? Wendy

Thanks for the advice Wendy. I have been diagnosed with an ectopic heart beat, which sometimes happens here and there and at other times continues for hours - yuk. Still having tests done to see why. Could be pregnancy, mineral deficiency, thyroid. It's not dangerous because there is a 'normal' beat happening in between each of the ectopics....... Yes, another one of those 'joys'. Glad there are lots of real 'joys' to balance it out!!!

Yes, I had it with my first at 6 months, and it stopped upon giving birth. This time around it started as soon as I was pregnant and is much worse. It only happens when I'm generally still. This time I have a lot more pain in my chest and had one episode last for 6 hours of 120 bpm. My doctor is checking into it, but I have a feeling it's all just crazy hormones. Ah, womanhood.

Hi everyone! I have the same thing, my heart start racing really fast and most of the time I start to panic!!! But it doesn't do it everyday, just about once a week or so!! I have told my doctor and he said it is part of pregnancy and not to worry unless it goes above 150 bpm. I am pregnant with my 4th child and I am 38! I am 19 weeks right now and this all started about 10 weeks!! I just hope that it goes away and won't affect the baby. I was so glad to read all of your messages. If I ever go to the hospital I hope there is something they can do. This gets in the way of getting much needed rest!! Take Care!! :)

i am a cna in a nursing home, and one day i had one of the nurses take my b/p 'cause i was feeling strange, had had a nosebleed(never get those), and my b/p was fine but i was tachycardic(fast heartbeat-over 100). they sent me to my doc, and he told me that dehydration can cause tachycardia, even if you don't feel dehydrated. he said, especially while preggo, you need lots of water. duh, i knew that! he also told me that your body doesn't absorb the water like it should, and to drink gatorade also, the electrolytes in it help keep you hydrated. it helped me, so i hope this helps you guys! good luck!

"Me too" Thank you for your advice. I feel like all i do is drink water, and yet i often feel thirsty. In the first trimester i drank a lot of pedialite, and I think i'll go pick some more up. I'm also going for a blood test tomorrow to chec thyroid and iron levels, since those can also cause tachycardia. Thanks again. Good luck to you! Wendy

An update to all - I posted when I was just over 3 weeks, and I am now in my 12th week of pregnancy. The heart rate has normalized to about 80 - 85 in most circ_mstances. I still experience occasional palpitations and pounding, but the chest pain and shortness of breath is mostly gone. I have been on a holter for almost 30 days, and though it did catch the flutters, nothing appears to be abnormal. I'm hoping to continue feeling better, and hope you all experience relief as well! Just wanted to let you know things did improve over time.