{"id":102531,"date":"2021-02-22T12:09:40","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T17:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/102531\/pregnancy-symptoms-heart-palpitations\/"},"modified":"2025-05-16T19:41:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T23:41:12","slug":"pregnancy-symptoms-heart-palpitations","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/102531\/pregnancy-symptoms-heart-palpitations\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart palpitations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heart palpitations, which can feel like the heart is beating faster or harder than usual, fluttering, or \u201cskipping beats,\u201d are fairly common during pregnancy, and usually aren\u2019t a sign of any trouble. However, it\u2019s always a good idea to report new pregnancy symptoms to a healthcare provider. The exception to this rule is if you have a history of a heart condition \u2014 in this case, palpitations can be a sign of a serious illness, and should be closely monitored.<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes them?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In pregnancy, the body\u2019s blood volume increases to support the growing fetus, and this increase in blood means that the cardiac output, or the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute, increases 30 to 50% to keep up. For the cardiac output to increase, either the heart rate (the speed at which the heart beats) or the stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped with each beat), or both, need to increase. This means the heart ends up working harder to keep up, especially in the second and third trimesters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrhythmia, where the heart beats irregularly, and which you feel as palpitations, is the most common heart complication during pregnancy. Still, palpitations aren\u2019t always a sign of a problem, and can be a normal, non-harmful pregnancy symptom. Even so, it\u2019s always a good idea to let your healthcare provider know about any new symptoms when they appear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Women who have had heart conditions in the past should get in touch with a healthcare provider right away after experiencing palpitations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Treatments for arrhythmia are similar to treatments given to non-pregnant patients, but since there is little research that has been done on the effects of most medications during pregnancy, healthcare providers may choose to monitor closely instead of prescribing medication right away for less clinically significant symptoms. This is a risk and benefit conversation that\u2019s essential to have between you and your medical team about what\u2019s safest for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you and your doctor have decided that your palpitations aren\u2019t a sign of a problem, they can still be scary. Avoiding physically and mentally stressful situations and taking plenty of time to regularly relax can help limit palpitations in the future. Making sure to keep all prenatal appointments so that your symptoms are well-monitored, staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, and sticking to any medication you\u2019ve been prescribed are all important parts of heart health during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/em><\/p>\n

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