Heart palpitations during pregnancy

[mizzoutd]

Has anyone else had these with their pregnancies?  I have had a few in the past while not pregnant and did see a cardiologist, but they were never able to find anything because they were so infrequent. 

I started having them pretty regularly with this (2nd) pregnancy and decided to head back to the cardiologist.  They gave me an event monitor to wear for 30 days and were able to record some of the palpitations to come up with a diagnosis.  They've told me that I have PSVT (Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) that is basically a "short-circuit" in my heart and all the extra blood and hormones are causing them to be more frequent.  If I get stressed out, over-heated, or exert myself too much, my heart starts racing and pounding for several minutes. The doctor has said it's not a serious, life-threatening condition, but I do need to be careful of passing out when I'm having one because my heart rate gets so high.  

He has given me the option of taking some medication to prevent them, but I'm weary about taking anything while pregnant. I looked up the medications that he suggested and they are pregnancy category C, so that makes me even more nervous to take them.  

Anyone else had this issue and elected to either take the medication or just wait them out until your pregnancy is over?  I plan to talk to my OB about all of this at my appointment this Friday, but for now, just looking for some other opinions from anyone that has had the same or similar issue.  TIA!

[Doll15]

I haven't experienced during, only after pregnancy. I'm sorry this seems stressful. I would be nervous about the medication as well. Did you let doctor know you didn't feel comfortable with the medications? Did he give his opinion one way or the other about not taking them?

If he warns you against skipping them, I'd take them but if he says it's an option but not necessary or he isn't going to push them because of pregnancy. I'd delay and see if you can try relaxing techniques to decrease the palpitations

[katie0919]

I have been having what I would call a racing heart (so I guess heart palpitations is accurate?) during this pregnancy. It makes me feel like a nervous wreck sometimes! They have eased up a bit finally, but were extremely annoying for a while there. I would definitely get your OB's opinion and go from there! I would say as long as the benefits outweigh the risks, then you are good to take the medicine but completely understand being over cautious.

[mizzoutd]

Doll15- I did tell him that I really prefer not to take medication if it's not completely necessary. He seemed to agree with me at first, but every time I have one now and he gets a report, he calls me and says, "You know, we can start you on medication. I worry about your heartrate being that high and you passing out." I've told him that I've never felt light-headed with them and always immediately sit down if I start to feel it happening. My thought has been to delay taking the medication as long as possible and just try to wait it out.

[Doll15]

I would take the medication to your OB to get their thoughts. You could be delaying t and causing more stress for yourself worrying about it when an OB may say that there are minimal risks at this stage of pregnancy.

[icedtea]

I agree with Doll15 and would check with my OB. I understand avoiding meds, but the OB might have a different cost/benefit analysis of it.

[icedtea]

Also, sorry you're having this!

[tortor4]

I've had SVT since I was little and it's definitely much worse and more frequent during pregnancy for me. I've always been told it is life threatening and could lead to a heart attack. That could be old information but just what I remember being told. When I saw a cardiologist during my last pregnancy he told me he wouldn't start me back up on medication until after I gave birth. What were the medications? I was on lanoxin and verapimil (probably spelled wrong) for a while when I was younger and my mom also remembers being told I couldn't be on them during pregnancy.

Strangely for me gagging or throwing up seems to set it off but usually if I sit it slows while I'm sitting but as soon as I stand it starts back up again. Usually it stops on its own eventually. Only once this pregnancy it wouldn't slow while sitting so I had to go to the ER.

Try to stay super hydrated, I've noticed that I have more episodes if I'm not drinking enough water. Sorry you're dealing with this, it can be a pain!

[mizzoutd]

tortor4- The medications he suggested are Metoprolol and Diltiazem. Thanks for the input! It's more annoying than anything, to say the least. With all the research I've done online and from what my cardiologist has told me, the SVT episodes are very common and won't cause any other heart issues, such as heart attacks. He also said they should decrease drastically as soon as I give birth, so here's hoping for that!

[viola]

I had them last pregnancy. I read that they were fairly common and didn't do anything about them. I probably would not take the medication if I were you. Mine stopped completely after my circulatory system regulated back down after birth

[fluffydamn]

Lurker here also due in May. I have SVT and I take 50mg extended release metoprolol. My heart rate gets anywhere from 160-190s. If your heart rate gets 180 or higher, it can compromise blood flow to baby as the body is just sending blood flow to vital organs. My OB is fine with me taking it and wants me to stay on it. He said later on towards the end of the pregnancy they will check baby more frequently for weight gain.

I've had only one episode during this pregnancy and OB just had me take another dose. It took care of it. (That was when I was on 25mg ER and he bumped me to 50) it's also a low dose. It helps also with palpitations, because my heart would feel funny then beat hard and take off.

If you find yourself with svt acting up, you can bare down like you are pooping, cough, or splash cold water on your face. It will create a response that will help your body reset the circuit and calm your heart back down. It sucks and it's stressing to feel. If you need to talk or anything you can pm me if you need.

Hope this helps

[mizzoutd]

fluffydamn - Thanks for this advice! I talked to my OB and my maternal-fetal medicine doctor and they both were ok with me taking the metoprolol, if they continue and I need it. So, that made me feel a bit better. I'm still going to hold off for now, since they are pretty infrequent, but now I know that I'm ok to start the medication, if needed.