Increased heart rate during pregnancy 2nd trimester causes. Increased heart rate during pregnancy: norm and pathology, symptoms and treatment. How to lower a pregnant woman's heart rate

During the period of bearing a child, fundamental changes in all processes and the functioning of organs occur in a woman’s body. This is necessary to ensure that the fetus receives the necessary substances.

Often expectant mothers experience palpitations and shortness of breath. The heart rate may also increase slightly during pregnancy, usually by no more than 10-15 units per minute.

From a physiological point of view, this is a normal phenomenon, but if the numbers significantly exceed the norm or do not reach the borderline values and at the same time the woman feels dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, then this may indicate the development of serious diseases.

In this case, you need to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examinations to prevent negative consequences for yourself and the child.

Pulse during pregnancy

Normally, an adult's heart rate should be between 80 and 90 beats per minute. This value is so unstable that it can fluctuate under conditions of changes in humidity and air temperature, when taking medications or during psychological and physical stress.

At the same time, the number of reductions varies slightly.

For expectant mothers, due to the correction of hormonal levels, uterine growth and other features of pregnancy, an increase in contractions by 10-20 units is considered normal and does not cause any particular concern.

When the heart pushes blood into the vessels, they expand and oscillate. This phenomenon is called heartbeat.

If the number of beats increases, the heart begins to contract intensively to ensure the supply of oxygen, activating metabolic processes.

This is often observed during pregnancy, when the heart needs to pump a large volume of blood due to physiological characteristics. At the same time, the load increases along with the weight, which forces the organ to accelerate movement.

Why is it important to monitor your heart rate?

When there is a stable upward increase in the rate, tachycardia develops. If there is a prolonged slowdown of the pulse below 60 beats, then bradycardia appears. The irregular rhythm is called arrhythmia.

This can be dangerous for both mother and child, since the failure is often caused by diseases of the heart or other organs. Therefore, if this indicator changes and symptoms of pathology appear, you should consult a doctor to eliminate discomfort.

How lack of treatment can affect pregnancy

If the value is slightly higher than the normal pulse, then usually the change in the indicator does not cause any complications. Tachycardia during pregnancy can only be a temporary phenomenon and disappears on its own after delivery.

However, with a significant increase in heart rate, the expectant mother sometimes loses consciousness, which is fraught with injury. Staying in this state for a long time is dangerous due to oxygen starvation, which can cause retarded growth and development of the fetus.

A constant extremely low pulse, in turn, can cause spontaneous cardiac arrest.

Features by trimester

During pregnancy, the normal heart rate is between 100-115 beats. But despite this, in certain weeks the indicators may increase or decrease slightly depending on the physiological processes occurring at this stage.

Normal in early pregnancy

From the very first days of conception, a woman’s body has to provide the fetus with everything it needs. He needs to work for two to provide oxygen and other nutrients in sufficient quantities to the unborn baby.

Therefore, a rapid pulse is considered a physiological norm.

In addition, toxicosis can increase the heart rate. At the same time, if discomfort is not felt and the woman feels well in the early stages even with increased or decreased values, then there is no reason to worry.

The rate of reductions in the first three months

In the first trimester, the level should not exceed 110 beats. If there is a slight increase at rest, this may indicate increased physical activity due to pregnancy. Which will also not be a pathology.

Along with this, blood pressure also changes, the elasticity of blood vessels decreases, which makes it possible to provide the placenta and the baby with the necessary substances without interruption. When the vessels are relaxed, blood pressure goes down, so the 1st trimester is marked by low blood pressure and a high pulse.

Normal from 13 to 25 weeks

During this period, most of the child’s vital organs are formed, the indicator gradually decreases, the pulse ranges from 85 to 90 beats.

But in the second trimester at week 25, the load on the cardiac system increases again, which entails an increase in the frequency of strokes.

By this moment, the cardiovascular system has completely completed its formation, and in order for the child to receive the necessary oxygen, blood circulation in the mother’s body increases again. Therefore, after week 25, the pulse should be about 120 beats per minute.

Indicators in the 3rd trimester

At the last stage of pregnancy, the load on the heart is very large, as the child grows rapidly and the volume of circulating blood increases by 1.5 liters.

The pregnant woman's body, in addition to ensuring the blood supply to the unborn baby, sets aside a reserve in case of bleeding during childbirth.

A woman may experience increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and swelling. The norm in the third trimester reaches 120 beats per minute, and the average ranges from 110 to 135 beats. To prevent the development of complications, a woman is recommended to undergo regular examination by a gynecologist.

How to measure your pulse yourself

The doctor measures the pulse at every consultation, but sometimes situations arise when the necessary device is not at hand. In this case, self-monitoring can be done even at home.

It is enough to press the pulsating artery on the neck or wrist with your finger.

Having felt the blows, you need to time one minute and count the number of taps. It is very important to carry out the test at rest, some time after eating.

What does a high pulse mean?

An increased pulse is a rapid heartbeat. Typically, when a rhythm disturbance occurs, the patient complains of:

Instability of blood pressure. It can increase or decrease to extremely high or low numbers.
Shortness of breath, lack of air.
Discomfort in the area of the heart and sternum.
Cold, sticky sweat that appears along with a feeling of fear, and for no apparent reason.
Manifestation of a distinct rapid heartbeat.
Instability of cardiac function in the unborn child. The disorder can be seen on a CT scan. Fetal tachycardia and signs of oxygen starvation are diagnosed. An ultrasound can show disturbances in blood flow in the uteroplacental areas.

Main reasons for high values

In addition to physiological characteristics, an increase in heart rate can be caused by increased workload, excessive weight and growth of the fetus. In addition, there are a number of reasons that lead to pathological changes:

Lying on your back for a long time.
Avitaminosis.
COPD, pulmonary emphysema.
Tachycardia provoked by chronic pathologies of a woman.
Metabolic disorders or thyroid disease.
Having bad habits.
Pathologies of the structure of the upper chamber of the heart, when any overexcitation can provoke an increase in heart rate.
Blood loss, circulatory system disease.
Taking medications that provoke the development of tachycardia.
Poor nutrition, in particular abuse of coffee, energy drinks, and strong tea.
Overeating, love of fatty and salty foods.
Stressful situations.
Anemia.
Electrolyte imbalance.
Heart pathologies, such as hypertension, ischemia, pericarditis, loss of arterial elasticity and heart disease.

How to reduce the rate

If the heart rate is constantly elevated, then it is necessary to identify the reasons for this. When no concomitant pathologies requiring immediate intervention are found, stabilization of the condition is recommended.

For this purpose they prescribe:

Performing breathing exercises.
Walks in the open air. Swimming or yoga, which helps normalize the functionality of the nervous system and vascular tone.
Massage the carotid sinuses when attacks occur to quickly lower the pulse. To do this, you can easily rub the surface of the neck on the side in the area of the carotid artery; the procedure takes no more than 10-15 minutes.
Take plant-based sedatives, for example, motherwort, valerian, lemon balm, mint, hawthorn.
Take vitamins to replenish all necessary substances, including potassium and magnesium.
Adjust your diet and daily routine, and lose weight if necessary.

When a high pulse and the onset of an attack are diagnosed, it is necessary to sit the woman down and give her water. After drinking 250 ml in small sips, she needs to lie down and relax. You can take several deep breaths.

Low heart rate

A low reading is quite rare and means a slower heart rate. When it is below 60 beats, the condition is called bradycardia. Most often, this situation is found in professional athletes.

A woman in this condition complains of nausea, dizziness and lightheadedness. When the reading is below 40 beats, cardiac arrest may occur due to a sharp decrease in pressure, so consultation with a cardiologist in this case is mandatory.

Possible causes of low heart rate

A decrease in this indicator in athletes is not a pathology, since they have a trained cardiovascular system. In other cases, the development of bradycardia can be observed with:

Diseases of the kidneys, liver.
Heart problems.
Pathologies of the thyroid gland.
Hypotension.
Damage to the central nervous system.
Lowering blood pressure after taking medications.
Lack of nutrients and microelements, in particular calcium and potassium.
Pathologies of the circulatory and endocrine systems.

When to sound the alarm

If a woman notices a significantly slow or rapid pulse, she should consult a doctor.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

The presence of constant nausea, regardless of the stage of pregnancy.
Increased fatigue, constant weakness and apathy towards everything.
Frequent dizziness to the point of fainting.
Breathing problems, shortness of breath.
Poor general health.

Since all these symptoms can develop into diseases of the cardiovascular system if ignored for a long time, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner to exclude such complications. If the examination does not show pathological changes, drugs that strengthen the heart are prescribed, for example, Euphyllin, atropine sulfate, magnesium, calcium, potassium.

A very high heart rate may be indicated by:

Nausea with gag reflex.
Dizziness with low blood pressure, sometimes loss of consciousness.
Headache with rapid heartbeat, which may indicate hypotension.

Pulsation in the abdominal area with varying intensity, usually localized in the lower part.

Methods for normalizing an indicator

If a woman feels unwell, she should consult a doctor. But if she knows what her typical heart rate is, certain measures can be taken.

Eat right, remove strong tea and coffee from your diet, and avoid overeating.
Avoid increased physical activity.
Take herbal-based sedatives.
Follow a daily routine, and you need to get enough rest day and night.

For bradycardia, in order to normalize the health of a pregnant woman, doctors recommend:

Walk more often and ventilate the room.
Eat healthy, avoiding weight gain and heavy meals.
Adjust your regime so that night and day rest take the required number of hours, and avoid overwork.
Train the cardiovascular system with special gymnastics for pregnant women.

Changes in heart rate during pregnancy are a physiological norm. But when the indicators reach borderline numbers and the woman feels a deterioration in her health, she urgently needs to consult a specialist.

You can increase or decrease your heart rate with minor deviations at home by normalizing your regimen, nutrition, physical activity and taking vitamin complexes.

Often during pregnancy, women experience tachycardia, shortness of breath, a beating heart, cardiac irregularities, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes the expectant mother feels a pulse in her neck, sometimes it is even visible. An increased heart rate during pregnancy causes a woman a lot of trouble. But is there something dangerous in this?

Normal heart rate during pregnancy

When a woman is expecting a baby, the volume of blood that the heart must pump increases. By the end of pregnancy - by 1.5 liters. As the heart tries to adapt to the increased stress, the heart rate increases. Therefore, an elevated heart rate during pregnancy is a natural condition. But to what extent is this phenomenon considered normal?

It's all individual. As a rule, the pulse can increase by 10-15 units: if before pregnancy the heart rate was 90 beats, then while expecting a child the norm is a pulse of 100.

When does your heart rate increase during pregnancy?

In the second trimester of pregnancy: until the 20th week, the pulse should be normal. At approximately 27 weeks at the beginning of the third trimester, the pulse reaches its apogee (becomes high) and lasts until 32 weeks, after which it returns to normal.
During physical activity.
Lying on your back.
With weight gain, which also affects the load on the heart.
With hormonal changes.
When there is a deficiency of microelements, which can cause tachycardia, hypotension, and anemia. Tachycardia is often combined with a decrease in blood pressure during pregnancy.
With pathologically high pulse during pregnancy. Tachycardia can be caused by certain diseases and poor lifestyle choices. It is worth considering that during pregnancy the sensitivity of the body changes. For example, some products that previously did not cause problems for women may become harmful during this period:
Any products or medications containing caffeine.
Medications. For example, often ordinary naphthyzine - nasal drops - significantly increases the pulse during pregnancy. Therefore, you should treat any medications with great caution, even if they seem to be the safest.

High pulse during pregnancy, in what cases is treatment necessary?

It is necessary to clearly distinguish: in which cases a rapid pulse does not pose a threat to the health of a pregnant woman, and when medical intervention is required. To do this, as a rule, the expectant mother needs to lie down and calm down. There is no need to worry about the baby, because, firstly, the pregnant woman’s body adapts to the changes, and secondly, the fetus is also protected from any influences. Even in cases when a woman’s pulse reaches 140 beats per minute, the baby’s heart at this time beats at a frequency that is natural for him, and he does not experience hypoxia.

You need to be wary if, in addition to a rapid pulse, a pregnant woman exhibits other unpleasant symptoms:

weakness;
dizziness;
nausea;
loss of consciousness;
lack of air.

If these symptoms occur, you should undergo an examination in order to recognize their cause. Usually there is no reason for alarm, and the doctor simply prescribes magnesium, potassium, and vitamins for mom.

At this time, you need to visit your gynecologist regularly: at each visit, he measures the pulse and blood pressure of the pregnant woman. The doctor can objectively assess her condition - after all, often a woman who is preparing to become a mother feels the problem not so much physically, but at the emotional level.

And hormonal changes affect the nervous system - that’s why a rapid pulse during pregnancy appears during neurosis. In such cases, the doctor prescribes the usual sedative medications to his patient. At the same time, it is not necessary to take complex medications. Elementary motherwort and valerian are perfect. If they are not enough, then you can take Novopassit, which is approved during pregnancy.

From the moment of pregnancy, a woman automatically falls into a separate category of patients who differ in their individual anatomical and physiological characteristics, and require a specialized therapeutic and diagnostic approach throughout the entire period of gestation.

The threshold heart rate for a healthy pregnant woman is 100 beats per minute, provided that this figure increases gradually as the pregnancy period increases. When the heart rate is maintained in the range of 110-115 beats per minute for a long time, the cardiovascular system of the pregnant woman and the developing fetus experiences mutual stress.

The physiological increase in heart rate during pregnancy is due to those structural and functional changes that adapt the female body to bearing a child. This phenomenon can be called a compensatory mechanism, which is activated under the influence of such factors:

Structural changes in the walls of blood vessels. From the moment the placenta is formed, this additional organ begins to secrete biologically active substances of a hormonal nature into the bloodstream of a pregnant woman, which reduce the tone of the vascular walls. Under the influence of these substances, blood vessels become less sensitive to nerve impulses and endogenous (internal) vasoconstrictor factors. This physiological process is typical only during pregnancy, since it ensures complete blood supply to the developing fetus and the placenta itself. Taking into account the laws of physics, relaxation of the walls of blood vessels leads to an increase in their lumen and a decrease in blood pressure. The body's normal reaction to a decrease in blood pressure is always an increase in heart rate and pulse.
Increased circulating blood volume. Due to the appearance of the uteroplacental circulation, the volume of circulating blood in a pregnant woman increases by 1.5-2 times. Thus, a reserve volume of blood (about 2 liters) is formed in the female body, which is necessary to protect against sudden (postpartum) bleeding. Only by increasing the heart rate and pulse will the expectant mother’s heart be able to handle a new volume of blood.
Weight gain in a pregnant woman. The appearance of extra pounds due to the accumulation of fluid or fatty tissue is accompanied by an increased load on the cardiovascular system. Without damage to the female body, an increase of 10 to 12 kg can result during the entire gestation cycle. Each subsequent kilogram will affect the condition of the heart and blood vessels.

If the expectant mother records an increase in heart rate within 100-105 beats per minute, and does not feel any changes in her health, then she has no reason to worry.

The process of bearing a child does not always go smoothly and without any peculiarities. Many pregnant women are faced with external and internal provoking factors that can lead to a pathological increase in pulse rate. These factors include:

Severe form of toxicosis in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. This condition often develops in expectant mothers while taking progesterone and antispasmodics, which are prescribed to prevent spontaneous termination of pregnancy (miscarriage). Severe toxicosis is accompanied not only by a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in pulse rate, but also by severe dizziness, up to loss of consciousness.
Regular exposure to stress and limited oxygen supply to a woman’s body.
High blood pressure. An increase in blood pressure not only creates additional stress on the cardiovascular system, but may also indicate the development of preeclampsia. This serious condition poses a potential threat to the health of the mother and child. Its main symptoms are swelling, high blood pressure and the appearance of protein in a urine test, which indicates a malfunction of the kidneys.
Congenital or acquired heart diseases. Heart defects and myocardial dystrophy can provoke a pathological increase in heart rate.
Decreased hemoglobin levels in the blood (anemia, anemia). Iron deficiency anemia is one of the conditions that is diagnosed in every third pregnant woman. Harmonious development of the fetus is impossible without sufficient supply of iron from the mother's body. If the consumption of this element is not replenished by food products, then the expectant mother develops hemoglobin deficiency and tissue hypoxia (oxygen starvation), which the body tries to compensate for by increasing the heart rate and pulse.
Diseases of the thyroid gland, which are accompanied by overproduction of thyroid hormones. Those biologically active substances that are produced by the thyroid gland fully regulate all metabolic processes in the human body. If the synthesis of these substances increases, then the pregnant woman records an increased heart rate day after day.

Important! In order to normalize blood pressure, a solution of magnesium sulfate or Magnesium is widely used in obstetric and gynecological practice. The use of this drug often leads to a temporary increase in heart rate in pregnant women.

How to bring your heart rate back to normal

If a comprehensive examination of a pregnant woman has ruled out diseases of the thyroid gland and cardiovascular system, hemoglobin deficiency, as well as the effects of other negative factors, then the following simple recommendations will help bring the rapid pulse back to normal:

Taking herbal medicines. Medicinal medications containing extracts of peppermint, motherwort, lemon balm, passionflower, valerian roots and rhizomes help to cope with increased heart rate and increased nervous excitability. Before using such drugs to reduce heart rate, you need to make sure that there is no individual intolerance to one of the herbal components.
Self-massage of the carotid sinuses. A gentle stroking effect on the carotid sinuses located in the lateral areas of the neck leads to a moderate decrease in heart rate and pulse. It is necessary to stroke simultaneously on both sides for 10 minutes. During the massage, it is recommended to avoid rough influence and pressure.
Taking multivitamin complexes containing B vitamins and potassium. The mentioned elements have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system and myocardium, while normalizing its contractile activity.

Breathing exercises are especially beneficial for pregnant women, as they saturate the expectant mother’s body with oxygen, calm the nervous system, and relieve excess stress on the heart and blood vessels. Therapeutic gymnastics includes the following stages:

Thoracic stage of breathing. A pregnant woman needs to lie on her back, place her hands on the area where the ribs are located so that the fingertips of both hands touch each other. A woman should have a pillow or a thick blanket made of a blanket in her popliteal area. After this, you need to take a deep breath through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Abdominal stage of breathing. While in a similar position, your hands must be placed on your stomach. After this, it is recommended to take a deep breath through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth. During the breathing process, it is important to ensure that the abdominal muscles take part.
Rhythmic breathing stage. While in a similar position, one palm should touch the neck, and the other hand should be in a relaxed state along the body. Next, with your mouth slightly open, you need to carry out rhythmic breathing movements.

The listed measures will be effective if the pregnant woman does not suffer from severe diseases of the cardiovascular system, rhythm disturbances and other pathologies of internal organs and systems.

Every expectant mother needs to remember that a persistent increase in heart rate above normal is a direct indication for visiting a cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist and treating gynecologist.

During pregnancy, changes occur in a woman’s body that affect all internal organs without exception. As the little man develops and grows, the body of the expectant mother has to work for two, providing all the necessary conditions for him. At the same time, increased load on the cardiovascular system can affect various indicators of its performance, for example, heart rate (HR) or, in simple terms, pulse. Therefore, it is important for expectant mothers to know what the normal heart rate value should be in their position, how to measure it correctly to avoid mistakes, and in what cases it is worth consulting a doctor immediately.

Basic rules and methods for measuring heart rate at home

The simplest and most accurate way to measure heart rate is with an electronic heart rate monitor, but not everyone has such a device. It’s not worth spending money on buying it if you don’t need to constantly measure your heart rate. Most modern tonometers (devices for measuring blood pressure) are also equipped with this function, and they are also found in the home medicine cabinet much more often, especially if there are elderly relatives at home.

If technical means are not available, you can always measure your pulse manually; all you need is a stopwatch, which is found in almost every phone. Any major artery (ulnar, brachial, temporal, femoral, or popliteal) is suitable for measurement, but the wrist or neck is easiest to use.

- how to correctly measure heart rate on the cervical artery?

The carotid artery is clearly visible on both the left and right sides of the neck; thanks to its size and accessibility, even a weak and rare pulse can be clearly distinguished in this place. In order to get correct readings, you must:

Prepare a stopwatch in advance.
Sit down and take a comfortable position.
Use two fingers to feel the pulsation in the depression in the neck.
Count the blood pulses for 1 minute.

In no case is it necessary to put strong pressure on the artery; this can lead to disruption of the blood supply to the brain, dizziness and even fainting.

- how to correctly measure heart rate on the wrist?

This method can be used on both the left and right hand, but practice shows that measurements on the left are more accurate, since it is closer to the heart. The sequence of actions is practically no different from that used when measuring the pulse on the cervical artery; you also need to prepare a stopwatch and take a comfortable sitting position. Place your left hand palm up and clasp your wrist with your right hand so that your index, middle and ring fingers are above the artery. In this position, blood impulses are most easily distinguishable.

- heart rate measurement for 10 seconds

This is how much athletes usually calculate their heart rate in order to control the work of the heart, but the only advantage of this method is its speed. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for accurate measurements, since its error can be 15-20 beats per minute.

To obtain reliable data, it is necessary to take measurements for at least a minute. A more accurate result can be obtained by repeating the procedure several times.

What should a normal heart rate be?

For a healthy adult, the normal heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. During periods of physical activity, this value can increase to 120 beats - this is a completely natural phenomenon, since working muscles need additional oxygen supplied with accelerating blood flow.

During pregnancy, the pulse may also increase by an average of 10-15 units (but in some cases up to 40); as a rule, this phenomenon is purely physiological in nature and is not a cause for concern.

Factors affecting heart rate during pregnancy

There are several reasons why a pregnant woman’s pulse may change, and most of them do not indicate the presence of any pathology. These reasons include:

changes in hormonal levels (increased levels of sex hormones);
an increase in blood volume in the body by an average of 1.5 liters;
displacement of internal organs (including the heart) due to the growing uterus;
rapid weight gain;
stress and unstable emotional state;
severe toxicosis, causing a disturbance in the water-salt balance in the body.

As a rule, several reasons in combination affect an increase or decrease in heart rate, and before taking any measures, you must always consult a doctor, because self-medication during pregnancy can cause irreparable harm to the baby’s body.

Slow heart rate

Doctors call a decrease in heart rate bradycardia; it is not a separate disease, but only a symptom. During pregnancy, we can talk about bradycardia if the pulse drops below 60 beats per minute. This condition is quite rare and may be accompanied by dizziness, weakness, nausea and fainting. If such symptoms occur, you should immediately report them to the doctor managing your pregnancy, as they may be evidence of an exacerbation of a chronic disease or the emergence of a new one.

Increased heart rate

As mentioned earlier, palpitations or tachycardia in one form or another is observed in the vast majority of pregnant women. The accelerated work of the heart is explained by the fact that the growing body requires an increasing amount of oxygen and nutrients, which it receives from the mother’s blood. Therefore, the peak of physiological (natural) tachycardia during pregnancy usually occurs at the end of the second or beginning of the third trimester, when the baby is growing most actively. In the last few weeks, the heart rate, on the contrary, returns to normal, as the body of both mother and child prepares for the upcoming birth.

The main reasons leading to an increase in heart rate during pregnancy are:

high blood pressure;
overweight;
stress and emotional stress;
sleeping in the wrong position (on the back), which causes compression of the abdominal aorta;
active physical activity, sports;
drinking coffee, strong tea and other products containing caffeine;
medications that contribute to the occurrence of tachycardia.

Heart rate indicators during pregnancy can reach 110-120 beats per minute even in a calm state, which is not considered a deviation from the norm. A rapid heartbeat may be accompanied by the same symptoms as a slow heartbeat: nausea, dizziness, weakness, faintness. In itself, it does not pose a danger to the child or mother, but if a woman faints, she can seriously injure not only herself, but also the baby. Therefore, if such symptoms occur, it is necessary to consult a specialist who can prescribe the correct therapy to reduce heart rate.

In rare cases, the cause of tachycardia may be an infectious disease or an exacerbation of chronic heart disease. In order to eliminate the risk of complications, it is necessary to consult a cardiologist and undergo an examination (EGC or EchoCG).

In what cases should you sound the alarm?

If your heart rate drops below 40 beats per minute or rises above 120, there is cause for concern.

A decrease in heart rate can be caused by:

diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, as well as liver and kidneys;
low blood pressure;
disorders of the thyroid gland;
medications that contribute to hypotension.

Common causes of tachycardia are:

hypertension;
iron deficiency anemia (which often affects pregnant women);
hormonal disbalance;
disturbances in the functioning of the heart or blood vessels.

Only a specialist who has experience working with women during pregnancy can determine the exact cause and prescribe the correct, and most importantly safe, treatment.

How can I get my heart rate back to normal?

As a rule, to reduce heart rate, vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed that help improve heart function, herbal sedatives (Persen, valerian, motherwort or special preparations based on them), as well as self-massage (collar area). In addition, to reduce the risk of tachycardia, you can also follow the following recommendations:

normalize the daily routine, devote more time to sleep and rest;
adjust your diet, make it more balanced;
do not overeat and control weight, eat small portions;
reduce physical activity, give preference to walks in the fresh air;
do not sleep on your back;
Do not under any circumstances take any medications without a doctor’s prescription.

For bradycardia not caused by serious pathologies, in most cases, additional intake of vitamin and mineral complexes with magnesium and potassium, as well as mild medications that help increase blood pressure (prescribed by a doctor), is sufficient.

Finally

A change in heart rate during pregnancy is an absolutely natural phenomenon, caused by the processes occurring in a woman’s body during this period. Minor deviations from the normal value are not a cause for concern, but if any symptoms of concern occur, it is best to contact your doctor immediately to find out the possible cause and make a correct diagnosis.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

Pregnancy is a natural state for women, but they all perceive and tolerate it differently. In many ways, the condition of a pregnant woman depends on the physical form and athletic condition of her body, as well as on its health.

As the fetus grows, the load on the female body increases, and various negative symptoms may appear, including increased frequency. This is especially noticeable in the last trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus reaches its maximum size. At this time, it is important to distinguish an increase in heart rate within the physiological norm for this period from pathological manifestations. They can be harmful to the woman and the developing pregnancy, so the expectant mother should know what she needs to do in such a situation.

As in the normal state and in the first two trimesters, in the third trimester of pregnancy the normal heart rate should be between 70 and 100 beats per minute. In this case, the indicator of 100 blows is considered the upper limit of the norm, acceptable in the case of light physical activity.

Heart rate indicators depend on various reasons. They can be physiological, caused by normal changes in the body, or pathological, dangerous for the body and requiring consultation with a doctor.

A high pulse during pregnancy in the third trimester can be triggered by elementary excitement. A woman worries, and often even fears, future childbirth, which provokes the release of the stress hormone cortisol into the blood. And it, in turn, leads to vasodilation and increased heart rate, increasing the load on the heart.

Physical activity can also cause an increase in heart rate, especially in large or multiple pregnancies.

The same thing happens if a woman gains too much weight - it negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which is already under serious strain as the fetus grows.

A slight increase in heart rate may occur due to the frequent position on the back, which a pregnant woman is forced to take in the last months of pregnancy due to an overly large belly. The same condition is experienced by women lying in the maternity hospital “for safekeeping”. In this case, a frequency of 120 beats per minute can be considered a normal option.

Exceeding the normal heart rate at rest indicates the possibility of various disorders in the body and serious diseases. This may indicate impaired kidney function, growth, thyroid dysfunction, gestational diabetes and many other problems. Some of them can be very dangerous and serious, so a pregnant woman needs to be especially attentive to herself and monitor her health. If there is a consistently high pulse rate, it is necessary to undergo an examination in order to exclude pathological causes of this condition in the pregnant woman and begin treatment.

Is a high heart rate dangerous for the fetus?

If a pregnant woman experiences an increase in heart rate combined with an increase in blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, weakness, loss of consciousness, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, or problems with the veins, she needs to urgently seek medical help.

Only in a hospital setting can doctors decide on the need to use one or another treatment to eliminate the cause of a high pulse.

A high pulse during pregnancy in the third trimester may indicate a deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the pregnant woman's diet. To prevent this from affecting the fetus, doctors recommend starting to take special vitamins enriched with essential substances even at the pregnancy planning stage.

A high pulse in the third trimester may indicate the development of gestosis, a serious complication also called “late toxicosis.” It is divided into four stages, with:

The first stage is manifested by edema.
The second is nephropathy.
The third is preeclampsia, accompanied by increased blood pressure, headaches, increased heart rate, irritability and digestive disorders, pain.
The last stage - eclampsia - is an extremely dangerous condition for the mother and fetus. It leads to fetal hypoxia, causes placental abruption, bleeding, premature birth and even the death of the child.

For a woman, this condition is fraught with the development of dangerous consequences - kidney failure, heart failure, pulmonary edema, stroke or heart attack.

Necessary examinations

If unpleasant symptoms appear and you go to the hospital, the doctor prescribes the following examinations:

Blood pressure measurement.
Ultrasound of the fetus.
Heart rate monitoring.
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
Blood analysis.
Analysis of urine.

These examinations and tests may be modified or supplemented by the doctor depending on the symptoms the pregnant woman has. They must identify the cause of this condition and confirm or exclude the doctor’s suspicions of the presence of a dangerous disease.

Actions to normalize heart rate

A high pulse during pregnancy in the third trimester requires drug correction only if it is associated with the presence of a dangerous pathology that threatens the pregnant woman and the fetus. In any situation, self-medication is strictly prohibited, as it can lead to even more risky consequences.

In most cases, to normalize a pregnant woman’s heart rate, it is enough to change her daily routine and reduce physical and psychological stress. It is very important to get a good night's sleep, so you need to improve your sleep, make it deep, calm and complete.

The nutrition of a pregnant woman also plays an important role. If her heart rate is high, she will have to reconsider her diet, eliminating coffee, strong tea, drinks containing caffeine and other stimulants that can lead to an increase in heart rate. It’s a good idea to reconsider the volume and quality of food eaten, especially if a pregnant woman is gaining weight too rapidly.

To prevent the body of a woman and child from suffering from a lack of nutrients, it is worth removing excess sweets, flour and fatty foods from the diet, and instead increasing the proportion of vegetables, fruits, berries and fish.

Medicines that lower the pulse can only be used with the permission of a doctor.The maximum that you can allow yourself at home is mild sedatives - mint tea, a weak decoction of valerian (cannot be taken too often or in large quantities), for high blood pressure - motherwort tincture. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the fact that herbal preparations themselves can become a source of an allergic reaction.

More information about tachycardia can be found in the video:

In order to avoid negative manifestations during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester, a pregnant woman needs to follow simple recommendations:

Give up any bad habits, especially alcohol and tobacco.
Monitor the water regime - both a lack of water and its excess can have a negative impact.
Stay outdoors more. If there is no medical need to lie down, you need to walk and move more.
Proper nutrition does not mean “eating for two,” but intelligently organizing your daily menu. If you can’t do it yourself, contact a specialist. Excess weight during pregnancy can not only lead to increased heart rate, but also cause diabetes and other endocrine problems not only in the pregnant woman, but also in the fetus.

If persistent pulse disturbances with other unfavorable symptoms appear, you should urgently seek help. Only quick intervention can prevent the development of the most dangerous consequences and preserve the pregnancy.

A woman does not need to panic or be overly nervous. Pregnancy is a wonderful time, and the health and well-being of the unborn child largely depends on the woman’s behavior now.