Circulation & Breathing
Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy
A racing or fluttering heartbeat is common as your heart pumps more blood in pregnancy — usually harmless, but needs checking if it comes with chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness.
Written and fact-checked by the ParentVibes editorial team against WHO, NHS, ACOG and peer-reviewed guidance. Not yet reviewed by a named clinician.
Quick facts
- How common
- Very common, especially in the third trimester
- Main cause
- Increased blood volume and a faster heart rate
- Usual pattern
- Brief flutters or a pounding sensation
- Get help if
- Palpitations with chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness
- Also check
- Iron levels and thyroid function if persistent
Noticing your heart flutter, skip a beat, or suddenly pound in your chest can be startling, especially if it happens out of nowhere. In pregnancy, this is usually your heart responding to the substantial extra work it's doing — pumping considerably more blood around your body to support your growing baby.
For most people, palpitations are brief, infrequent and nothing to worry about. This guide explains why your heart works differently in pregnancy, what's considered a normal part of that, and the warning signs — like palpitations with chest pain or fainting — that mean you should get checked promptly.
What are heart palpitations in pregnancy?
Heart palpitations are a heightened awareness of your own heartbeat — it might feel like it's racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping a beat. In pregnancy, palpitations become more common as your blood volume rises substantially by the third trimester, and your heart rate increases to pump this extra blood around your body and to your baby.
Most palpitations in pregnancy are brief, come and go, and aren't linked to any underlying heart problem — they're simply a sign your cardiovascular system is working harder. They tend to become more noticeable in the second and third trimesters as these changes peak, and usually settle again after birth.
Your heart is doing more work
By the third trimester, your heart may be pumping noticeably more blood per minute than before pregnancy. Feeling this extra effort as an occasional flutter or pounding is common and, on its own, not a cause for alarm.
What causes heart palpitations in pregnancy?
Palpitations are usually linked to the normal cardiovascular changes of pregnancy, though a few other factors can contribute:
Increased blood volume
Your body produces significantly more blood during pregnancy, and your heart has to beat faster and harder to circulate it.
A naturally faster resting heart rate
Your resting heart rate typically rises during pregnancy, which can make you more aware of your own heartbeat, especially at rest or lying down.
Anaemia
Low iron reduces the oxygen your blood carries, so your heart compensates by beating faster — this can feel like palpitations, often alongside tiredness and breathlessness.
Caffeine, stress or anxiety
These can all trigger or worsen palpitations in pregnancy, just as at other times.
Hormonal changes
Fluctuating hormones can affect your heart rhythm and how noticeable your heartbeat feels.
An overactive thyroid
Thyroid problems can cause palpitations and are checked for if symptoms are persistent or come with other signs, such as unexplained weight loss or heat intolerance.
Common triggers to note
- Caffeine or energy drinks
- Lying on your back
- Feeling stressed or anxious
- Dehydration
When heart palpitations are normal
Occasional, brief palpitations are common in pregnancy and usually not a cause for concern. These patterns are reassuring:
- A palpitation lasts a few seconds and then settles on its own.
- You feel well in yourself before and after, without chest pain or breathlessness.
- Palpitations happen occasionally, rather than continuously.
- They're not linked to fainting, dizziness or chest pain.
| Usually normal palpitations | Needs medical attention | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Seconds, settles on its own | Sustained, fast, doesn't settle |
| Other symptoms | None, or mild lightheadedness | Chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting |
| Frequency | Occasional | Frequent or worsening |
| How you feel | Well between episodes | Unwell, anxious about your heart |
Note the pattern
If you notice a trigger — caffeine, lying flat, stress — avoiding it and seeing whether palpitations improve can be reassuring in itself.
Warning signs — get medical help now
Occasionally palpitations point to something that needs urgent assessment. Contact your doctor or midwife urgently, or go to your nearest emergency department, if you have:
Seek urgent medical care if you have
- Palpitations together with chest pain.
- Palpitations with severe or sudden breathlessness.
- Fainting, or feeling like you're about to faint, during palpitations.
- A heartbeat that is fast and sustained — doesn't settle after a few seconds to a minute — or feels very irregular.
- Palpitations with sweating, cold clammy skin, or a sense that something is seriously wrong.
- Palpitations alongside a severe headache, vision changes or swelling of your face and hands.
If you ever notice your baby's movements have reduced or stopped, contact your maternity unit the same day.
Chest pain or fainting needs urgent care
Palpitations combined with chest pain, severe breathlessness or fainting can point to a heart rhythm problem that needs prompt assessment, often with an ECG. Don't wait for it to pass.
Self-care & reducing palpitations
You can't stop your heart working harder in pregnancy, but these steps can reduce how often palpitations happen:
Watch your triggers
- Cut back on caffeine from tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks.
- Notice if lying on your back brings them on, and switch to lying on your side.
- Stay well hydrated through the day.
Manage stress
- Try slow, deep breathing when you notice palpitations starting.
- Build short relaxation breaks into your day.
- Get enough rest and sleep where you can.
Support your overall health
- Eat iron-rich foods to help prevent anaemia.
- Keep up gentle, doctor-approved activity.
- Attend your routine antenatal blood tests, which check for anaemia and other causes.
If a palpitation starts
Sit or lie down, breathe slowly and calmly, and see if it settles within a minute or two. If it does, and you feel otherwise well, it's usually nothing to worry about — but do mention it at your next appointment.
When to consult a doctor
Book a non-urgent appointment with your doctor or midwife if:
- Palpitations are becoming more frequent or more noticeable.
- They're affecting your sleep or making you anxious.
- You have a personal or family history of heart problems.
- You have other symptoms like unexplained weight loss, heat intolerance or a tremor (possible thyroid signs).
- You'd simply like reassurance that what you're feeling is normal.
Log when palpitations happen
Noting the timing, duration and any triggers gives your midwife useful detail to work with at your next check-up.
Open the Pregnancy TrackerFrequently asked questions
Are heart palpitations normal in pregnancy?
Yes, they're very common, especially in the second and third trimesters, as your heart works harder to pump increased blood volume around your body.
Why does my heart race more in the third trimester?
Your blood volume peaks around this time, so your heart has to pump harder and faster than usual, which can make palpitations more noticeable.
Can anaemia cause palpitations?
Yes. Low iron reduces the oxygen your blood carries, so your heart beats faster to compensate — this can feel like palpitations, often alongside tiredness and breathlessness.
Should I cut out caffeine if I get palpitations?
Reducing caffeine often helps some people notice fewer palpitations. Speak to your midwife about safe caffeine limits in pregnancy.
When are heart palpitations an emergency in pregnancy?
Seek emergency care if palpitations come with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or a heartbeat that's fast, sustained or very irregular.
Will palpitations go away after I give birth?
Usually, yes — they tend to ease as your blood volume and heart rate gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels over the weeks after birth.
Your next steps
Track your pregnancy
Log symptoms week by week, get personalised tips, and see how your pregnancy is progressing.
Open Pregnancy TrackerPregnancy week-by-week
Follow your baby's growth and your body's changes from week 1 to 40 in plain language.
Explore the guideFind a gynaecologist
Have a personal concern? Book with a trusted obstetrician or gynaecologist near you.
Find a doctorRelated pregnancy symptoms
Helpful resources
Sources
- NHS — Pregnancy: common symptoms & concerns
- ACOG — Pregnancy resources (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
- WHO — Maternal health & pregnancy care
- NHS — Heart palpitations
Next review due: 6 January 2027.
Medical disclaimer
This page is general information about a common pregnancy symptom and does not replace personal medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. If you have severe pain, heavy bleeding, a bad headache with vision changes, reduced or absent baby movements, breathing difficulty, fever, or you feel something is seriously wrong, contact your doctor or midwife or go to your nearest emergency department straight away. When in doubt, always get checked — it is never a waste of anyone's time.
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