Heart palpitations, which may feel like the heart is beating faster or harder than normal, are quite common during pregnancy and, although they are frightening, they are not usually a sign of any problem. Still, it's always a good idea to report these new pregnancy symptoms to a healthcare professional. The exception to this rule is women with a history of heart conditions - in which case palpitations can be a sign of a serious condition and should be monitored closely.
What is the reason of this?
During pregnancy, the body's blood volume increases to support the growing fetus, and this increase in blood means that cardiac output, or the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute, increases by 30 to 50%. For heart output to increase, either heart rate (the rate at which the heart beats), stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped with each beat) or both must increase. This means your heart is working harder to keep up, especially during the second and third trimesters.
Arrhythmia, when the heart beats in an irregular or abnormal rhythm, is the most common heart complication during pregnancy, however, palpitations are not always a sign of a problem and can be a normal, harmless pregnancy symptom. Even so, it's always a good idea to let your healthcare provider know about any new symptoms that arise.
Women who have had heart conditions in the past should contact a healthcare provider immediately after experiencing palpitations.
Tips
Arrhythmia treatments are similar to treatments given to non-pregnant patients, but because a less number of researches has been done on the effects of most drugs during pregnancy, healthcare providers may choose to monitor closely rather than prescribe medication. If your healthcare provider has prescribed medication, take it too, because it has weighed the lack of knowledge about medications against heart risk during pregnancy.
Even if you and your doctor decide that your palpitations are not a sign of a problem, it can still be frightening. Avoiding physically and mentally stressful situations and taking plenty of time to relax can help limit palpitations in the future. Making sure you keep to all your prenatal appointments so that your symptoms are well monitored, getting plenty of rest, sticking to a healthy weight, and taking the medications you're prescribed are also important parts of heart health during pregnancy.