Are heart palpitations normal in pregnancy?

Yes, heart palpitations are quite common during pregnancy. Your body goes through many changes, and your heart works harder to support you and your baby. This can sometimes make your heartbeat feel faster or stronger than usual.

When should I worry about heart palpitations while pregnant?

You should speak to your doctor if palpitations happen often, last too long, or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.

What Causes Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy?

Pregnancy brings many changes to your body, and your heart is no exception. You might notice your heart beating faster or stronger than usual. This feeling is known as a heart palpitation. It can feel like a flutter, a skipped beat or a sudden racing heartbeat. You may not expect your heart to act differently during pregnancy, but it’s actually quite common. These changes are often a normal part of how your body adjusts to support your baby. Still, the feeling can be strange or even worrying when you’re expecting. But don’t worry, most of the time, heart palpitations during pregnancy are harmless and linked to the normal changes your body goes through during this time.

What Are Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy?

Heart palpitations make your heart feel like it’s pounding hard, racing, fluttering, or even skipping a beat. Some pregnant individuals describe it as their heart doing flips or feeling like it stops for a moment. These sensations can come and go and might feel more noticeable at different times of the day. For many, palpitations are common as you move into the third trimester when your body is working harder to support your growing baby. While they can be alarming, they’re usually not dangerous and often fade after delivery.

Why Do Heart Palpitations Happen in Pregnancy?

Your body goes through massive changes when you’re pregnant. Your heart also works overtime to keep up with the demands of pregnancy. This is why palpitations might happen:

Increased blood volume: Your body produces about 40-50 per cent more blood to nourish your baby. This extra blood means your heart has to pump harder and faster, which can lead to palpitations.
Hormonal shifts: Changes in hormones, like oestrogen, can affect your heart’s rhythm and make it feel irregular.
Faster heart rate: Your heart rate may increase by 10-20 beats per minute to handle the extra blood flow in the third trimester, when about 20 per cent of your blood goes to your uterus.
Anxiety or stress: Feeling worried or stressed about pregnancy can make your heart race or flutter.
Dietary triggers: Foods or drinks with caffeine, high sugar, fat, or salt can cause your heart to speed up.
Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can disrupt electrolytes, which are minerals that help control your heart’s rhythm.
Low blood sugar or blood pressure: These are common in pregnancy in the first or second trimesters and can trigger palpitations.
Anaemia: A low red blood cell count can make your heart work harder.
Extra weight: Carrying extra weight before or during pregnancy can put more strain on your heart.

In rare cases, palpitations might point to something more serious, like an underlying heart condition (such as arrhythmia or pulmonary hypertension), thyroid issues, or damage from a previous pregnancy. But for most people, palpitations are a normal part of pregnancy’s physical changes.

Symptoms of Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy

Palpitations can feel different for everyone. You might experience one or more of these sensations:

A fluttering or flopping feeling in your chest.
Your heart is pounding so hard you can hear it in your ears.
A sensation like your heart skips a beat or stops briefly.
A racing heartbeat that feels too fast.
Feeling lightheaded, uneasy, or sweaty when palpitations happen.

These symptoms can be mild or intense, and they might come with other feelings like dizziness or nervousness. Noticing what else you feel when palpitations occur can help your doctor figure out what’s causing them.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Most heart palpitations during pregnancy are harmless, but it’s important to pay attention to how often they happen and if they come with other symptoms. Contact your doctor if:

Palpitations happen frequently or feel more intense over time.
They last longer than 30 seconds.
Your resting heart rate is over 100 beats per minute (you can check this by feeling your pulse on your wrist or neck for 60 seconds).
You notice swelling in your hands, feet, or legs that comes on suddenly or is painful.
You feel extremely tired or fatigued beyond what’s normal for pregnancy.

Seek emergency help right away if palpitations come with:

Chest pain.
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath when you’re not active.
Sudden vision changes like blurry vision, flashes of light, or spots.
Fainting or blacking out.
A bloody cough.
Pain radiating down your arms.

These could signal serious conditions like preeclampsia (high blood pressure with protein in the urine), a blood clot, or a heart issue that needs urgent care.

Heart palpitations in pregnancy can be unsettling but are often a normal response to changes in your body. Increased blood flow, hormones, and stress can all play a role. Always tell your doctor about them if they’re frequent or come with concerning symptoms like chest pain or fainting.

FAQs on What Causes Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy?

Are heart palpitations normal in pregnancy?
Yes, heart palpitations are quite common during pregnancy. Your body goes through many changes, and your heart works harder to support you and your baby. This can sometimes make your heartbeat feel faster or stronger than usual.
When should I worry about heart palpitations while pregnant?
You should speak to your doctor if palpitations happen often, last too long, or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.