Many changes take place in the cardiovascular system in early pregnancy. There is an increase in cardiac output of about 40 per cent and heart rate increases by between 10 and 20 beats per minute in most women. Apart from these expected changes, palpitations in pregnancy are common.
Without a lot more information it’s difficult to assess whether your tachycardia is anything to be concerned about or not. It is important to try to establish the cause of your increased pulse rate, and I would suggest that you should see your GP so that some investigations can be done. Your GP will want to examine you and to organise an ECG to assess the rhythm. It may be that the rhythm is normal, meaning that you have a sinus tachycardia (fast pulse). Sinus tachycardia is common in pregnancy and may occur in association with anaemia (also very common – especially in the last few months). However, other possible causes of a sinus tachycardia include lung conditions such as asthma, pulmonary embolism (clot on the lung) and infection. It’s likely that if you were suffering from any of these conditions, you would have specific symptoms to suggest that this was the case. An examination by your GP will exclude any such problem. The most common rhythm disturbance in pregnancy is gestational supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition that is essentially harmless to mother and baby. Thyroid disease can often cause abnormalities in heart rhythm and a blood test to check that your thyroid gland is functioning normally will probably be requested.
It would be wise to cut out coffee, tea, and chocolate, along with alcohol and cigarettes, as these can all cause palpitations. Anxiety is also a common cause of tachycardia, and if you feel that anxiety may be a factor for you, it would be a good idea to spend time relaxing in a way that suits you. Yoga, meditation, swimming, or just walking in the fresh air are all good ways to relax at your stage of pregnancy. I wish you well with your delivery.