Why do pregnant women have an increased heart rate? What pulse is considered high during pregnancy and what to do at home to reduce it

The pulse is an important biomarker of the body’s condition, which is why it is important for every pregnant woman to know the normal pulse rate, as well as those changes in it, the appearance of which should immediately consult a doctor. The information is especially relevant for those who believe that everything is fine with their heart and blood vessels.

The pulse is determined due to vibrations of the arterial wall against the background of heart contractions. The average heart rate is 72 beats/min, while the acceptable limits are determined from 60 to 100 beats/min. Some people (most often athletes) experience physiological bradycardia, when the pulse is 40-50 beats/min. This is also a variant of the norm, since a person has a well-developed heart muscle, which, although less frequently, contracts more strongly.

During pregnancy, the pulse, on the contrary, increases, since the process of bearing a child is associated with many changes in a woman’s body. Some of them concern its cardiovascular system.

The pulse can be determined without much difficulty. To do this, just place two or three fingers of your right hand (except the thumb) on the inside of your left wrist. By pressing a little, you can feel tremors under your fingers, the number of which is counted over 60 seconds. If necessary, you can conduct a similar study on the right hand and compare the results. Normally, they should not differ much.

Video Which pulse is considered normal and which is considered dangerous to health?

Features of hemodynamics in pregnant women

To ensure normal fetal development, a woman's heart must work harder because as the baby grows, more blood needs to be pumped into the uterus.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, a fifth of a woman's total blood flow passes through the uterus.
It is noted that in pregnant women, the amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output) increases from the initial volume by 30-50%.
As cardiac output increases, the resting heart rate also becomes higher than normal.
Upon reaching 30 weeks of pregnancy, cardiac output decreases slightly, then at delivery it increases by 30%.
After childbirth, cardiac output decreases rapidly at first, and then this process slows down.
Normalization of the pulse to the usual values occurs approximately 6 weeks after birth.

Some heart murmurs and heart rhythm disturbances may occur because the heart is working harder. Sometimes a pregnant woman may feel these disturbances. These changes are normal during pregnancy. However, other abnormal heart sounds and rhythms (such as diastolic murmurs and fast, irregular heart rhythms) that are more common in pregnant women may require treatment.

Blood pressure, as a rule, decreases in the second trimester, while in the third it may return to normal levels.

Pregnant women experience an increase in blood volume of approximately 50%. The amount of fluid in the blood increases more than the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen. Thus, despite the fact that a pregnant woman has more blood in her body, laboratory tests show moderate anemia, which is normal. For unknown reasons, the number of white blood cells (which eliminate viral and infectious agents) increases slightly during pregnancy and increases markedly during labor and the first few days after birth.

The large size of the uterus interferes with the return of blood from the legs and pelvis to the heart. As a result, swelling is observed, especially in the ankle area. Varicose veins usually develop on the legs and in the vaginal opening (vulva). Such changes sometimes cause discomfort.

Normal heart rate during pregnancy

The normal heart rate during pregnancy depends on several factors. First of all, this includes the age of the pregnant woman, her level of activity and health status, which should have been assessed before pregnancy.

In a state of rest, a pregnant woman’s pulse is on average determined at 80-90 beats/min. If you are expecting twins or if this is your second pregnancy, blood flow will be increased, resulting in a significantly faster heart rate. In the last trimester of pregnancy, the pulse most often increases by 10-20 beats/min.

Is a rapid pulse dangerous during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your heart rate often increases when you exercise. In some cases, even when lying on her back, a pregnant woman has a rapid pulse. This is due to increased body weight, which leads to additional stress on the heart and blood vessels.

If the expectant mother has pronounced changes in hormonal levels or a lack of microelements, this can contribute to tachycardia, as well as anemia or hypotension. Tachycardia is very common during pregnancy along with low blood pressure. An acceleration of heart rate during pregnancy can always be observed against the background of certain diseases or even an unhealthy lifestyle.

It is important to understand that pregnancy is accompanied by a change in the sensitivity of the female body, often expressed in a decrease in tolerance to foods that previously did not cause any problems. As a result, previously habitual substances during pregnancy can cause certain harm to the body (both mother and child). In addition, a pregnant woman should be extremely careful with medications that at first glance seem harmless. For example, various medications in the form of a spray for rhinitis can cause an increase in heart rate during pregnancy due to vasospasm.

Could a slow heart rate be normal during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, there may be a decrease in heart rate, that is, below 60 beats/min. This condition is defined in medicine under the term “bradycardia”. As a rule, a woman does not experience any discomfort. But sometimes a slow pulse causes syncope and dizziness, and low blood pressure may also occur.

Bradycardia in pregnant women is quite rare, but it is still important to remember that this condition can lead to certain heart diseases. Therefore, if the expectant mother notices such a condition, you need to inform the doctor about it. It is worth noting that a slight slowdown in heart rate does not have a negative effect on the general health of the expectant mother, and also does not pose any danger to the child.

When does normal heart rate become pathological?

Every pregnant woman needs to understand exactly when an accelerated pulse is normal, and in what case it indicates the development of a pathological condition. Quite often, it is enough for a pregnant woman to calm down for her heart rate to normalize. To do this, you can simply lie down comfortably and relax a little.

If, in addition to an accelerated heart rate, a pregnant woman has complaints such as weakness, nausea, dizziness, lack of air, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Additionally, you should consult your doctor before traveling long distances or starting any exercise program during pregnancy. Depending on the health of the mother and child, the doctor may set restrictions on physical activity or reduce the level of exercise.

Video Tachycardia during pregnancy

Optimal heartbeat during pregnancy is a very important clinical indicator. The heart is a kind of motor that pumps blood to all vital organs. If its work is disrupted, the health of the expectant mother deteriorates, and the intrauterine development of the baby is also significantly disrupted.

Reasons for the increase

During pregnancy, the female body begins to work differently. This is largely due to the abundance of various hormones that are released during the period of gestation.

All these hormonal substances have a strong effect on cardiac activity. Ultimately, this condition contributes to the appearance of a high pulse in the expectant mother.

Pregnancy is a physiological period when the functioning of the cardiovascular system changes. In the early stages of pregnancy, the heart rate, as a rule, does not change. A change in this indicator indicates trouble in the female body. In this case, additional diagnostic methods are required, aimed at identifying the cause that led to the development of this condition.

The number of heartbeats per minute in pregnant women begins to increase by the second trimester. Usually it increases by 10-20 beats per minute relative to the average norm and is 85-90. This reaction is completely physiological. By the third trimester of pregnancy, most women's heart rate can increase to 120 beats per minute.

A rapid pulse in the first weeks of fetal development is an extremely unfavorable indicator. Usually it indicates the presence of some pathology in the female body.

Anemia, accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood, often leads to the development of this condition. To compensate for these violations, the prescription of special compensating drugs is required.

An increased heart rate may also occur if if the expectant mother is carrying twins or triplets. Reviews from mothers who had multiple pregnancies indicate that by the end of 35-38 weeks of pregnancy they were seriously worried about tachycardia. To correct these disorders in this case, the prescription of medications is required.

An increased heart rate also occurs with any pathology of the kidneys, liver and other organs. If the expectant mother falls ill with some kind of infectious pathology, then one of the symptoms of intoxication is a rapid heartbeat. At the same time, the pulse increases due to various viral and bacterial toxins that are formed during any infection.

Quite often, an increase in heart rate occurs in expectant mothers after physical exertion. Lifting weights can also provoke tachycardia. Excessively fast walking also leads to the development of adverse symptoms.

How does it manifest?

Quite often, the expectant mother feels a rapid heartbeat only in the middle of the second trimester of pregnancy. If this symptom appears earlier and more clearly, the woman should consult a doctor immediately.

A rapid heartbeat makes the expectant mother feel dizzy. Usually this symptom appears when changing body position. Some women also experience headaches. The severity of pain is usually moderate.

Some expectant mothers feel severe chilliness in their arms and legs. The skin becomes pale. Severe tachycardia, accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the heart, can also cause the lips to turn blue.

How to reduce?

An attack of tachycardia or rapid heart rate can occur at any time. Their frequency may also be different. If the expectant mother has any heart disease, then she develops attacks of palpitations much more often. Normally, the heart rate should correspond to the period of pregnancy.

You can detect your heart palpitations yourself. To do this, count the pulse on the radial artery. You can also determine this indicator using a tonometer. Almost all modern devices used to determine blood pressure have a counting and pulse function.

If a woman has detected an increased heart rate, then in this case she needs Immediate consultation with a doctor. First, the expectant mother will be examined by a therapist.

If necessary, this specialist can refer the woman for a consultation with a cardiologist. If one of the woman’s close relatives has severe heart disease, then her condition should be monitored more carefully.

To identify pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the cardiologist will prescribe an ECG and echocardiography. Using such research methods, many heart diseases can be successfully detected. If they have been identified, the specialist will prescribe a complex of therapy for the expectant mother.

Treatment

To compensate for the violations that have arisen, doctors advise expectant mothers to carefully monitor their daily routine. Adequate sleep is an important component of therapy. The expectant mother should sleep at least 8 hours a day. If during the daytime she feels the need to sleep, then she should definitely rest.

Limiting physical activity is a very important principle of general treatment. It is especially important to control them from the very first weeks of pregnancy. By the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, the expectant mother must monitor any physical activity. A woman with tachycardia should not lift heavy things.

Regular walks in the fresh air are a great alternative to exercise. Such a promenade will be useful not only for the expectant mother, but also for her baby. The expectant mother should take walks regularly, at least 35-40 minutes a day. For walks outside, you should choose comfortable clothes that will be warm and will not restrict your movements.

Various psycho-emotional stress can also provoke heart rhythm disturbances. It is no coincidence that doctors strongly recommend that expectant mothers not be nervous and not worry about trifles. An expectant mother should include only positive emotions in her life.

Pregnant women who have a rapid heartbeat should not drink coffee or strong tea. The substances they contain lead to increased work of the heart, which is manifested by the development of tachycardia. It is better for pregnant women to drink herbal teas or berry fruit drinks. The best drink is ordinary purified water.

You can normalize your heart rate with the help of special breathing exercises. Such practices have been successfully used for many years. Attending special breathing exercise classes during pregnancy will not only help prepare for childbirth, but will also promote optimal functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Doctors recommend to expectant mothers Be sure to record all heart rate measurement results obtained. They should be entered in a special notebook. Such notes will also be very helpful to the doctor when the expectant mother comes for a consultation.

Such monitoring should be carried out at least 1-2 times a day. A woman who suffers from tachycardia should definitely measure and record her pulse after exercise.

Drug therapy

If, despite following the correct daily routine, the expectant mother experiences unfavorable symptoms, then she is prescribed medications. During pregnancy, doctors try not to resort to prescribing potent drugs.

Sedative herbs can normalize heart rate. Teas made from lemon balm, mint or motherwort, have a calming effect on the nervous system. This also helps to normalize the heart rate.

Brew herbs according to the instructions on the label. If the expectant mother has any allergies or intolerance to medicinal herbs, then in this case they should not be consumed. Before taking even herbal medications, it is very important to consult your doctor first.

An increased heart rate indicates an increased rate of contraction of the heart muscle. The causes of tachycardia can be different and sometimes are physiological in nature. High heart rate during pregnancy – should you worry? What are the causes of tachycardia in expectant mothers?

Why does it happen?

Transformation of biological systems can cause increased heart rate in pregnant women. Tachycardia does not always indicate pathologies - the causes can be very trivial and no special treatment is required. But if the pulse significantly exceeds the permissible values, then medical help cannot be avoided - this condition is dangerous for the baby and mother.

Important! Tachycardia in pregnant women is indicated by pulse readings above 110 beats/min.

A high heart rate is a sign of pregnancy. Immediately after conception, significant changes occur in the cardiovascular system - the heart begins to prepare to pump more blood, which causes tachycardia. In the early stages, the pulse increases due to toxicosis.

In the second trimester, a healthy woman's heart rate should average 85 beats/min. If this is not observed, then it is necessary to reconsider the diet and drinking regime, and consult a cardiologist. By the 26th week, the formation of the child’s cardiovascular system ends, which increases the load on the pregnant woman’s heart - it has to pump 1.5 liters more blood. This is why high heart rate occurs in the third trimester. Preeclampsia and excess weight can also cause tachycardia in later stages.

Causes of tachycardia in pregnant women:

vitamin deficiency, anemia, unbalanced diet;
pulmonary emphysema - often occurs in women who smoke;
violation of metabolic processes;
pathological changes in the upper cardiac chamber, heart and vascular diseases;
infectious diseases accompanied by high fever;
bleeding.

The pulse may increase after lying on your back for a long time - the uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels and heart, causing it to contract more often. An attack of tachycardia can be triggered by overeating, excessive indulgence in salty foods, caffeinated drinks, stress, and overwork. A decrease in heart rate occurs with a deficiency of magnesium, potassium, and iron.

Symptoms

Attacks of tachycardia in pregnant women have clear signs; they can be aggravated by high or low blood pressure.

Symptoms of high heart rate with normal blood pressure:

nausea, toxicosis may increase;
distinct or muffled pulsation in the lower abdomen - occurs not only with tachycardia, but also with hiccups in the fetus;
low blood pressure and high pulse are accompanied by headache and heart pain, severe dizziness begins, and fainting is possible;
hypotension in combination with tachycardia often provokes the appearance of causeless fear and panic attacks;
with tachycardia and high blood pressure, breathing disorders can begin - this condition is dangerous not only for health, but also for life.

Important! In order to promptly recognize pathology, a pregnant woman should measure her pulse and blood pressure at the same time every day, and then record the measurement results in a special diary.

How to reduce high heart rate

It is difficult to treat any disease during pregnancy; many medications are prohibited from being taken during this period. A woman should not take any medications to lower her heart rate on her own - only a specialist can identify the cause of tachycardia and prescribe adequate and safe treatment.

If a rapid pulse occurs due to stress or emotional overstrain, then doctors recommend drinking herbal teas with mint, valerian, and motherwort. From tablets, pregnant women are allowed to use mild sedatives on a natural basis. Persen is the safest remedy for eliminating attacks of rapid pulse. It contains extracts from lemon balm, valerian and mint. The drug is contraindicated for hypotension and diseases of the biliary tract. To normalize the heart rate, special medications may be prescribed - Verapamil, Adenosine.

For frequent attacks, it is necessary to take medications that contain magnesium - they promote the restoration of myocardial tissue. Panangin is an effective drug that contains potassium and magnesium in optimal proportions for pregnant women.

You can normalize your heart rate and reduce the likelihood of tachycardia attacks by following simple recommendations:

If your heart rate increases, you should slowly drink a glass of warm water, to which you can add 5 ml of honey and a few drops of lemon juice.
Lie down, close your eyes, relax as much as possible, take a few deep breaths.
Spend more time outdoors.
Eat healthy, don't overeat, and avoid drinking caffeinated drinks.
Monitor weight, blood pressure, heart rate.
Do not use medications without first consulting a doctor - even harmless drops for a runny nose can cause tachycardia.

What to do at home

Among alternative medicine there are many recipes that help fight rapid heart rate. But not all herbs are safe for pregnant women, so traditional medicines can only be taken with the advice of a doctor. Most often, herbs are used individually or in the form of collections.

To normalize heart rate and improve sleep quality, you can prepare a mixture. Mix 20 g of horsetail, 50 g of hawthorn inflorescences, 30 g of knotweed. Brew 12 g of the mixture with 350 ml of boiling water, leave in a closed container for 40 minutes. Take 80 ml three times a day.

Calming collection:

valerian root – 100 g;
motherwort – 110 g;
yarrow – 50 g;
anise seeds – 55 g.

All ingredients must be crushed, 10 g of the mixture poured into 220 ml of boiling water. After an hour, strain the infusion and drink the entire portion of the drink in small portions throughout the day.

Infusion of lemon balm copes well with rapid pulses - pour 200 ml of boiling water and 100 g of chopped herbs. Place the mixture in a dark place for 10 days, strain. Take diluted - 5 ml of medicine per 120 ml of water. You need to drink the infusion 3-4 times a day, the last time half an hour before bedtime.

Coriander helps with tachycardia - grind 10 g of seeds, pour 240 ml of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. Drink 5 ml of infusion in the morning and evening.

To normalize the heart rate, you can mix 20 g of crushed leaves of watch and mint, add 10 g of valerian root, 7 g of hop cones. Brew the mixture with 260 ml of boiling water, cover the container, and leave for 20 minutes. Strain, divide the medicine into 2 servings, drink in the morning and evening.

Honeysuckle berries in any form, honey, are good for normalizing heart rate. If a rapid pulse is accompanied by high blood pressure, then twice a day you can take 100 ml of a drink made from equal amounts of beet juice and honey. Beetroot juice should not be drunk immediately - it must stand for at least 20 minutes so that all toxic components evaporate.

Consequences

Tachycardia is a natural companion of pregnancy. Rare attacks without deterioration in well-being are even beneficial - blood circulation improves, more oxygen and nutrients enter the placenta. But sometimes a rapid pulse can cause serious complications.

Why is tachycardia dangerous during pregnancy?

constant heart rhythm disturbances can cause miscarriage, premature birth, or fetal death in the womb;
delay in the development of the baby, the occurrence of congenital pathologies;
difficult childbirth;
a woman may develop chronic insomnia and heart failure;
the functioning of the body's protective functions deteriorates.

Important! Sometimes tachycardia is diagnosed in the fetus, which indicates hypoxia and the development of serious pathologies in the baby.

A slight increase in heart rate is normal during pregnancy. If tachycardia is not accompanied by deterioration in health, then this condition does not pose a danger to the woman and baby. Dizziness, shortness of breath, increased fatigue - if such signs appear against the background of an increase in heart rate, you should urgently consult a gynecologist and cardiologist.

Pregnancy is often called a borderline state. For all nine months, a woman’s organs and systems function under strain, withstanding maximum loads to support the life of the mother and the growing fetus. According to physiological transformations, the usual health parameters also change, one of which is the pulse. For the health and well-being of a woman and her baby, the correct interpretation of certain characteristics of the pulse, which makes it possible to distinguish between normal and pathological, is very important.

Normal heart rate during pregnancy

The pulse is the periodic dilatation of blood vessels, palpable (palpable), which normally occurs during contractions of the left ventricle of the heart. If a healthy woman has an optimal heart rate of 60-70 beats per minute, then during pregnancy its value can increase to 110-120 beats.

This heart rate should not be a cause for concern and is explained by the increased load on the heart and blood vessels during pregnancy. Physiological tachycardia (fast pulse) is an adaptive reaction that allows the heart of the expectant mother to pump increased volumes of blood - about 1.5 liters above normal.

information Indicators of normal pulsation in pregnant women vary slightly depending on the gestational age and have individual differences for each woman. On average, the physiological standard for pulsation speed during pregnancy is 10-15 beats higher than before it.

Increased heart rate during pregnancy

Increased heart rate in a pregnant woman has a physiological and pathological root cause. The first of these includes:

emotionally triggered moments (joy, fear, excitement);
positional tachycardia (accelerated heart rate when lying on your back);
physical activity (or sports activities);
hormonal changes during pregnancy

information Tachycardia in these situations is temporary and is not accompanied by a deterioration in the well-being of the expectant mother or other pathological signs. Even in cases of short-term acceleration of the pulse to 140 beats per minute, this variant of physiological tachycardia does not require correction with medications and a reason to visit a doctor for additional examination.

Pathological tachycardia in pregnant women is provoked by:

uncontrolled use of medications (vasoconstrictor action);
maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle (consumption of caffeine-containing products and smoking);
pathological conditions and diseases (toxicosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, hormonal dysfunctions, autonomic reactions, acute and chronic infections)

information In such cases, tachycardia is accompanied by deterioration of health and complaints of lack of air, nausea, palpitations, sweating and a feeling of heat, dizziness. The best tactic in any of these situations is to immediately contact a medical facility for examination and treatment of the pathology that caused the rapid pulse.

How to lower your heart rate during pregnancy

In most cases, tachycardia in pregnant women does not require special therapy. In cases where the general condition of the expectant mother does not suffer, and tachycardia does not exceed 120-130 per minute, you should pay attention to:

daily routine (duration of night sleep, daytime rest);
body weight (adjust your diet, eliminating overeating);
taking medications (after consulting with your doctor);
posture during sleep and rest (use the position lying on your side, excluding sudden movements and lifting);
physical and mental stress (eliminate stress and physical strain, adjust sports activities);
content in the diet of foods and drinks that provoke tachycardia (exclude coffee and tea from the menu, replacing them with compote and chicory)

information These recommendations will help normalize the heart rate and will bring undoubted benefits to the health of the woman and her unborn baby. In some cases, it is necessary to conduct an additional examination - take a blood test, record an electrocardiogram, and examine your hormonal status.

Reduced heart rate in a pregnant woman

A decrease in heart rate below normal is called bradycardia. This symptom often accompanies hypotension - low blood pressure. During pregnancy, minor bradycardia can be regarded as a physiological condition, especially in trained women and athletes.

The good health of the expectant mother, the absence of any complaints and normal laboratory tests during regular examinations confirm the physiological nature of bradycardia up to 70 beats per minute. In any case, a decrease in heart rate below 60 per minute should be a reason for medical consultation. The appearance of bradycardia may be the first symptom:

increased intracranial pressure due to brain pathology;
diseases of the urinary and biliary tract (jaundice, uremia, colic);
uncontrolled use of certain medications (cardiac glycosides);
endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism)

How to increase your heart rate during pregnancy

If a pathology is detected in a pregnant woman, bradycardia should be treated by a doctor. If the examination does not reveal any abnormalities, the expectant mother is recommended:

regular walks in the fresh air;
, rich in vitamins and microelements;
special sets of gymnastic exercises for pregnant women;
rational daily routine and sufficient rest;
light tonic drinks - green or black tea;
daily heart rate monitoring

information Compliance with these routine steps will allow a woman to safely endure her pregnancy and give birth to a healthy, full-term baby.

When pregnancy occurs, big changes occur in the life of every woman, both physiologically and emotionally. Therefore, the expectant mother has to monitor various sensations so as not to miss even the most seemingly insignificant deviation from the norm. Then it will be possible to take appropriate measures to prevent the manifestation of any undesirable consequences both for herself and for the unborn child.

One of these sensations, which is difficult, as they say, to pass by and not notice, is the pulse in pregnant women. Indeed, often in this position, a woman experiences increased heart rate, it seems that her heart is jumping out of her chest, or severe shortness of breath. All this, of course, cannot but worry. For doctors, such phenomena in the life of a pregnant woman are not news, but the expectant mother herself does not always know what is the norm when she is carrying a child, and what are deviations from it.

You need to know: tachycardia does not pose a serious danger to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby - doctors consider this condition of a woman to be completely acceptable during pregnancy. The alarm should only be sounded if there is nausea and vomiting, which may indicate that the expectant mother has some kind of disease.

Therefore, it is no coincidence that she begins to worry, especially when her pulse is known earlier, and wonders how much this can affect the child, what caused the high pulse, or vice versa, low. Maybe this is the result of some serious problems with the body. Very often, an unstable pulse can be caused by an excited state or emotional stress. Therefore, at such moments, the expectant mother often has difficulty breathing and begins to feel dizzy.

Even eating food can raise your heart rate. Researchers note that during pregnancy the heart rate rarely remains normal. And, of course, when a woman gains excess weight during pregnancy, walks out of the store with heavy bags, and drinks coffee, is it any wonder that her heart rate increases? But when the pulse accelerates for no apparent reason, for example, when a woman is not engaged in physical work, then most likely there is some kind of disease. Often they are neurological in nature. Therefore, you need to try to avoid stress and other exciting moments.

Pulse is a variable value

First we need to consider what the pulse is, as such. Pulse is a physiological phenomenon that shows vibrations of the walls of the artery with a frequency determined for this phenomenon. The heart muscle expels blood and causes oscillations in the blood vessels as they expand. This frequency may have different normal values for different categories, which, for example, differ in age and other parameters.

Researchers consider the pulse to be not a constant value. It can quickly change for a short time from various factors that currently affect the body of a pregnant woman. For example, some of these reasons include:

the patient is in a state of severe emotional shock;
against the background of hormonal adjustments in the body of a pregnant woman;
during and after undergoing significant physical exertion;
as a result of poor nutrition, when foods that contribute to changes in heart rate were consumed;
the pregnant woman was in a supine position for a long time, mostly on her back
as a result of lack of nutrients;

Pulse during pregnancy

When a woman’s body prepares for upcoming motherhood, the process of global restructuring begins in it. Suffice it to say that to the numerous changes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman, another important “rearrangement” in the blood supply system is added. It is expressed in addition to the main one - by the placental circulation.

This means that the heart bears an additional load - after all, it needs to pump much more blood than before. It happens that volumes increase by almost one and a half liters. In such a situation, the heart needs to adapt to new conditions, which is why it beats more often. This situation, of course, cannot be considered a pathology and can be a completely normal phenomenon, but provided that the frequency of strokes before pregnancy is known in order to draw an analogy. Moreover, there must be certain boundaries for any phenomenon, and a rapid pulse is no exception, because it cannot increase to infinity.

According to experts, the normal heart rate during pregnancy is an indicator when it increases no more than fifteen beats per minute. That is, if a pregnant woman’s pulse, which is normal for her, was, say, 80 beats per minute, then during pregnancy, a beat rate of 95 will not be a deviation from the norm.

It should be noted here that the first symptoms of increased heart rate are usually characteristic of the first trimester of pregnancy. The middle of the second trimester is usually the period of return to normal heart rate. But in any case, the heart rate should not exceed certain limits. For a pregnant woman, this figure should not exceed 100 - 110 beats per minute.

However, the matter is not limited to this. Over time, the volume of blood that the heart must pass through itself begins to increase, and the beat frequency increases again. At the 7th month of pregnancy, the pulse increases to 120 beats, and this is not considered a deviation from the norm. We can say that during this period the expectant mother achieves the highest results, maintaining this frequency almost until 32 weeks of pregnancy. But gradually it will return to its natural state.

Frequent pulse. Is he dangerous?

In most cases, the young female body tolerates such loads without any problems. This is, of course, if he is healthy and is not currently susceptible to any serious complications that are directly related to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and also when the age of the expectant mother is no more than thirty years. Otherwise, the chance of developing preeclampsia increases - this is the so-called late toxicosis of pregnancy.

To examine the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, whether there are any disturbances in their functioning, the pregnant woman is recommended to consult a therapist, and subsequently, if he deems it necessary, an examination by a cardiologist will be scheduled. In order to prevent the onset of any complications, of course, if there are good reasons for this, it is recommended that a pregnant woman be admitted to a hospital a week before the start of the 30th week of pregnancy in order to keep the situation under control and carry out the necessary procedures.

When you need medical help

Women during pregnancy often complain of an increased heart rate. As we said above, the presence of this symptom alone is not a reason for concern, much less for hospitalization or outpatient treatment. Now we should consider situations when a pregnant woman needs medical help. When, in addition to complaints of a rapid pulse, a woman is bothered by the following symptoms:

the patient experiences frequent dizziness;
the pregnant woman experiences a feeling of nausea;
general condition is unsatisfactory, weakness, apathy;
labored breathing,
fainting conditions;

These and other clearly negative symptoms, of course, should alert the pregnant woman and serve as a reason to contact her doctor in order to receive the necessary consultation and, if necessary, undergo a full examination.

It is possible that the cause of this condition may be a lack of essential substances and microelements in the body, for example, potassium and magnesium. The reason for a high pulse may be vitamin deficiency and the result of a weakened body. Although all complaints can boil down to the fact that this will only be the consequences of ordinary neuroses, since during this period women can be overly emotional and excitable.

However, this is not a reason for complacency and does not mean at all that one should not pay attention to such manifestations - in fact, there may be very serious reasons behind all this. And neurosis itself often leads to very dangerous complications. And we must not forget that sedatives are not recommended for pregnant women, only as prescribed by the supervising doctor.

Pulse rate

As mentioned above, pregnancy for a woman is a time of radical restructuring of the entire body. This does not happen by chance, but with the goal of creating the most acceptable conditions for the development of the fetus in the womb. Nature has its own unshakable laws and creates everything for the baby so that he receives plenty of oxygen and all the nutrients necessary for his development, which, of course, he is not able to obtain on his own. These are the reasons why researchers explain the frequent symptoms of “pounding heart” in pregnant women. After all, along with the blood comes oxygen and other substances important for the life of the mother and fetus. In a normal state, the average patient's heart beats at a rate of 60-80 beats per minute. During pregnancy, it begins to work for two.

How to downgrade

If a pregnant woman suffers from an elevated pulse, then after the examination, and if the causes that contributed to its occurrence are discovered, high-quality and safe therapy will be recommended. As a result, the frequency of strokes will be reduced, while simultaneously eliminating the cause of the increase.

The most common causes that can cause heart palpitations are:

the pregnant woman is overweight;
the result of overeating;
as a consequence of the release of the hormone adrenaline
The pregnant woman's body lacks B vitamins.
use of certain medications.

Therefore, you should get rid of excess weight, consume less black coffee and chocolate, and learn how to rest properly.

You need to be able to relax. If a pregnant woman’s heart literally begins to pound at a frantic pace, then the first thing to do is take action. Wash your face with cold water, then tense your abdominal muscles. Finally, simply rub your fingers together.

Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or take medications suggested by colleagues or friends. Only on the recommendation of the doctor who is observing the woman. There are a few simple tips that can have a positive effect on lowering your heart rate without resorting to taking medications:

Ordinary water often helps lower your pulse if you drink it in small sips;
if a pregnant woman feels a rapid heartbeat, it is enough to lie down more comfortably and try to relax;
Slow but deep inhalations and exhalations help a lot;
Hiking is an excellent pulse “regulator” - feel free to go for a walk in the fresh air;
avoid foods that can increase your heart rate, and also do not transmit, try to always have potassium and magnesium in your diet;
Overwork is very harmful even for a healthy person; a woman with a fetus is categorically not recommended to overwork;
healthy sleep. Having a great night's sleep means being alert. Healthy sleep is already a good healer, sometimes replacing a whole group of medications.

If the pulse is slow

In addition to an increased pulse, patients also experience a phenomenon called a slow pulse. But here it should be noted that it is much less common. This phenomenon is often observed in pregnant women who previously devoted a lot of time to sports and have a healthy, resilient heart. But, of course, not only sports life is a consequence of a slow pulse; various pathologies can be hidden under this, among which are quite serious and concern not only the heart and blood vessels, but also kidney disorders, problems with the thyroid gland, liver and diseases of the nervous system.

Therefore, if symptoms are detected, you need to consult a doctor who will help find out the true cause of the development of this phenomenon. Such symptoms should not be taken lightly. Thus, numerous studies show that if the expectant mother had a lower than normal pulse during pregnancy, then their children, as a rule, are born with a lower weight. Symptoms of hypoxia are also observed in such children.

What first measures should a pregnant woman take if the symptoms of low heart rate are not very pronounced? First, change your daily routine a little:

reconsider your diet to see if it is properly composed;
The menu must include a tea drink - green or black;
if a pregnant woman leads an inactive lifestyle, try to make adjustments to it to make it more active;
rest should be set aside for certain hours and the daily routine should be strictly adhered to;
Walking in the fresh air should be mandatory.

When, during an examination, the doctor discovers that a slow pulse can pose a threat to both the expectant mother and the fetus, special and harmless medications will be selected for her. Although a pregnant woman’s pulse is measured at every preventive examination, she must also not forget, as they say, to keep her finger on the pulse.

Finally

Now we know what the normal pulse rate is for pregnant women, and what types there are. Basically, these are increased heart rhythms, but in rare cases the pulse can also be low. If there is no serious pathology behind this, then you can try to correct your heartbeat at home.

Otherwise, you must definitely contact a doctor who will identify the cause and prescribe adequate treatment. Also, now a pregnant woman knows that if there are no serious problems in the appearance of tachycardia or bradycardia, then after the baby is born, all symptoms will quickly disappear.

And it is now known that the pulse both decreases and increases, as a rule, during different periods of pregnancy. The increase is maximum in the third trimester, but almost before the birth it begins to decline. When choosing medications, a pregnant woman should not rely on the advice of friends, but only follow the doctor’s instructions.

In such cases, in most cases, medications with potassium and magnesium, vitamins and permitted doses of sedatives are prescribed. Provided that all recommendations are followed, the woman will give birth without any complications for her and the baby.