During pregnancy, the heart rate of most women increases due to the need for more blood and increased body mass. This can cause problems for women with existing heart conditions, including rhythm problems and heart failure. Women with artificial valves may also need to adjust their medications.
Just like many other bodily functions, heart rate during pregnancy changes for most women. It tends to increase, because more blood is needed and a large part of the blood goes to the uterus. With more blood and body mass, the heart has to pump harder to circulate blood properly. Although this increases slightly during the first trimester, heart rate tends to change more during the second trimester. Some of the problems that can occur, especially in women who are unhealthy or have existing heart problems, include rhythm problems and possible heart failure.
Heart rate during pregnancy tends to increase for most women. Some women’s heart will be able to pump the extra blood without increasing the heart rate, but this normally only happens with very fit women and is rare. One reason for the increased heart rate is that more blood is being produced, so the heart has to pump out all the extra blood and has to send that blood to the uterus.
Changes in a woman’s body mass also cause her heart rate to change during pregnancy. It gets bigger as the baby grows, so blood has to travel a larger area. Unlike the overweight, who usually have health problems, health problems with an increased heart rate tend to be nominal during pregnancy.
More blood will be needed from the time the baby starts growing inside the mother. At the same time, there is normally no noticeable increase in heart rate during pregnancy until the second trimester. This is because the fetus begins to grow rapidly during the second trimester, facilitating the need for extra blood.
Heart conditions can become a concern during pregnancy, especially since the heart rate during pregnancy normally increases and there is extra stress on the heart. The least worrisome condition may be problems with your heart rhythm, as this is normal for most women and shouldn’t lead to further problems. Heart failure can occur in pregnant women with weaker hearts because the heart cannot respond optimally to excess blood.
Women with artificial valves may have heart infections or may need to use blood thinners so blood can pass through the valve. Those with artificial valves should talk to their healthcare providers, because adjustments to their medications may be needed. At the same time, if the increased heart rate causes or brings out a heart condition, it increases the chance that the baby also has a heart condition.
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