Racing heart

zipscheer07 · March 2014

Hey ladies. So I dont know if I should call my doctor on this or what. I wanted to see if any of you had this first. So on Sunday, I was taking a shower and I started to feel weird. My heart started racing so I had to hold on the ledge of the shower and let the water rinse out my hair. Once I got out it still felt like I was going to pass out and had the same heart racing for about an hour. I laid down thinking that would help but nothing. It took a long time. Has anyone had this? TIA

shellbell813 · March 2014

I have this fairly regularly. It's a type of heart palpitations. From what I understand it's common to experience in pregnancy. ( I've had them for my whole life). I'm not a doctor though, so I would suggest calling your doctor just in case.

Eta: it helps me to lay down and just focus on my breathing to try and call myself down.

Mztwilson · March 2014

I had the same problem. My ob referred me to a cardiologist. He is having me wear a heart monitor for 30 days ( only have 4 days left) and then I'll have an echo. From what he said heart palipitations are common during pregnancy as well as a racing heart. However they like to monitor it and see if they can find the underlying problem if it's not pregnancy related. I'd defiantly bring it up to your ob!

Eta my resting heart rate would be around 100 and even the slightest activity such as walking around the house brings it up to 110-130.

abastian00 · March 2014

I had this early on in my pregnancy, and still a bit now from time to time. I agree with PPs that you should call you doctor (always better safe than sorry) but for me it is always a blood-sugar issue. Happens to me in the shower ALL the time!

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

I have this and it's likely related to anemia along with pregnancy. Just at rest my HR is 120s. Walking around the house or anything quickly gets it up to 140s. Going up the stairs puts me in 150s. But call your doc so they are aware.

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

@abastian00‌ - you said it happens w blood sugar, high or low? Just curious bc after passing my 2 hour GD screen I had sugar in my urine 2 weeks later at my appt and this was the first time it happened

thx!!

zipscheer07 · March 2014

Thanks ladies. I put a call in. Just waiting for the nurse to call back. I just felt like anything I did wasnt bringing it down.

abastian00 · March 2014

BabyCurtiss2014 - low blood sugar. (I passed my GD too, so I don't think it's necessarily related.) I tend to get light headed, nauseous and heart-racy when I'm not eating every couple of hours (was that way a bit pre-preg as well) and for some reason scenarios where I am upright and get overheated (like in the shower or working out) tend to exacerbate it. It's no fun - but I've learned I just have to eat really often. (Not that I'm complaining!)

shellbell813 · March 2014

zipscheer07 said:
Thanks ladies. I put a call in. Just waiting for the nurse to call back. I just felt like anything I did wasnt bringing it down.

Glad you called. Let us know what your Dr says. I know that for me, even though I get that feeling regularly, it's still pretty terrifying.

zipscheer07 · March 2014

She called and said to keep an eye on it and if it happens again, like some PP said, they will send me to get a heard monitor and go to a cardiologist. Hoping it was a random thing because all you think about is the baby. Thanks ladies for all the comments/advice

mslovesbo · March 2014

I am glad you asked your doctor, you can never be too safe.
I have experienced this a couple of times, sometimes even while I was at rest. I thought it might be High Blood Pressure (I had no idea what HBP felt like) and started monitering my BP a few times a day. It turns out I have Low Blood Pressure...which isn't a big deal unless you pass out from it. I am also anemic, so that could come into play as well.
For now, I try to limit possible triggers (taking the stairs too fast, standing in the hot shower with the curtain closed, and usually when it happens it is rather short -- 1-3 minutes).
Keep us updated!

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

Thanks @abastian00‌! I'm going to do the fasting blood draw again tomorrow to rule out GD. I wouldn't have had to do it but since I freaked out now they want to double check...sigh lol

flerlgirl · March 2014

FWIW, I have this issue as well. My doctor keeps an eye on it and tells me to keep him informed and otherwise it isn't dangerous (unless you start passing out all the time or something). So I hope that helps reassure you! Feel better.

mrs.forrister · April 2014

I'm dealing with this now. I saw a cardiologist two weeks ago and he just said to take it easy. If I pass out to call him and he would do tests. I had this with my first pregnancy and all the tests came back normal so he doesn't see the need to test again. It has started sooner with this pregnancy than the first one. It's annoying. It wakes me up at night. When I eat crappy/sugary foods and/or drink caffeine it happens a lot more than when I eat and drink healthy. That has made me really watch what I eat. Cardiologist said it's very common in pregnancy.

emslade982 · April 2014

I had this about 6 weeks ago when I fainted at school and had severe heart palpitations. I had to go see a cardiologist who had me wear a Holter Meter for a few days to check for problems. They said I had a slight arrhythmia which is probably a result of my pregnancy since I have no history of heart problems. The cardiologist said no more stairs and take all activities slower (no bedrest yet thank God!) I was also diagnosed as anemic when my OB did bloodwork too at the same time, and he said anemia makes heart issues worse. I am going much slower now and taking iron supplements and my heart does not race nearly as much or as severe as it did. I still have issues when overheated or exerting myself too much, but it's bearable for 10 more weeks. Good luck!

hlp2709 · April 2014

Glad u called keep ur eye on it for sure

mschware · April 2014

I have this often too.. My doc sent me to a cardiologist cuz my BP was doing big fluctuations too, and after I had an echo they just said everything looks good but basically I have heart palpitations which isn't a big deal. So I'm guessing that's prob what you're going through. I've heard a lot of women having this issue. Always good to check it out tho

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