Feeling your heart flutter or race during pregnancy can be unsettling. As your body works harder to support your baby, your heart pumps more blood, and hormones shift, sometimes making your heartbeat feel faster or irregular.
Still, some flutters signal something more. If you notice frequent pounding, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath, it’s important to pay attention.
Understanding what’s typical and what needs medical care helps you stay calm and confident throughout your pregnancy.
Key Takeaways
- Mild heart flutters often result from normal pregnancy changes.
- Persistent or uncomfortable flutters may need medical evaluation.
- Healthy habits and regular checkups help manage heart rhythm changes.
Understanding Heart Flutters During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your heart works harder to support both you and your baby. The extra blood flow, hormonal changes, and physical demands can sometimes cause fluttering or irregular heartbeats that may feel unusual but are often harmless.
Recognizing what’s typical helps you stay informed and calm.
What Are Heart Flutters?
Heart flutters, also called palpitations, feel like your heart is skipping beats, fluttering, or pounding faster than normal. You might notice them when you’re resting, lying down, or after standing up quickly.
These sensations happen because your heart’s rhythm briefly changes. In most cases, the rhythm returns to normal within seconds.
Some people describe flutters as a “racing” or “thumping” heartbeat. Others feel a light vibration in the chest or throat.
Keeping track of when they occur—such as after caffeine, stress, or physical activity—can help your healthcare provider identify possible triggers.
If you ever feel faint, short of breath, or have chest pain with flutters, contact your doctor right away.
How Pregnancy Affects Heart Function
During pregnancy, your body’s blood volume increases by up to 50%. This extra blood helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your baby but also means your heart must pump harder and faster.
Hormonal changes, especially higher levels of progesterone and estrogen, can make your heart beat more quickly and irregularly at times. These hormones relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure slightly, which can lead to temporary dizziness or lightheadedness.
Your heart rate often rises by 10–20 beats per minute as pregnancy progresses. This is a normal adjustment that helps maintain healthy circulation.
If you had a heart condition before pregnancy, such as an arrhythmia or thyroid disorder, you may notice more frequent or stronger palpitations. In these cases, regular monitoring is important.
Common Symptoms Experienced by Pregnant Women
You might feel fluttering, pounding, or a sensation that your heart is skipping beats. These episodes can last a few seconds or minutes and may come and go throughout the day.
Other related symptoms can include:
- Mild shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Warm flushes or sweating
These symptoms often appear in the third trimester, when your heart is under its greatest workload. Staying hydrated, avoiding caffeine, and practicing slow, deep breathing can help reduce episodes.
If symptoms become frequent or are paired with chest discomfort, fainting, or confusion, seek medical care. Your provider can check for underlying causes and make sure both you and your baby remain healthy.
Normal Versus Concerning Heart Flutters
During pregnancy, your heart works harder to meet increased blood and oxygen demands. Some flutters are harmless, but others can signal heart strain or an underlying condition that needs medical attention.
Understanding which sensations are typical and which require evaluation helps protect both you and your baby.
What Is Considered Normal?
Mild heart flutters or palpitations are common during pregnancy. They often feel like your heart is skipping a beat or fluttering for a few seconds.
These occur because your blood volume increases by about 40–50%, forcing your heart to pump faster. Hormonal changes, especially higher progesterone levels, can also make your heartbeat feel more noticeable.
You might feel these sensations more when lying down, after light exercise, or during emotional stress.
Typical features of normal flutters:
| Feature | Description |
| Duration | Brief, lasting seconds |
| Frequency | Occasional, not daily |
| Associated symptoms | None or mild lightheadedness |
| Triggers | Fatigue, caffeine, dehydration, stress |
Staying hydrated, avoiding caffeine, and practicing slow breathing can help reduce normal flutters.
Signs That Warrant Medical Attention
Some heart flutters point to a more serious issue. You should contact your healthcare provider if you experience persistent or intense palpitations that last longer than a minute or occur with other symptoms.
Seek medical evaluation if you notice:
- Shortness of breath or chest discomfort
- Fainting or dizziness
- Swelling in your hands, feet, or face
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat that feels sustained
These signs can indicate arrhythmias or heart conditions such as valve disorders or cardiomyopathy. Pregnant women with pre-existing heart disease or anemia are at higher risk and may need closer monitoring, including an ECG or echocardiogram.
Prompt evaluation helps ensure your heart and circulation adapt safely to pregnancy changes.
Differences in the Third Trimester
By the third trimester, your heart pumps at its peak output. The uterus presses on major veins, which can affect blood return to the heart and increase the chance of flutters.
You may notice stronger or more frequent sensations, especially when lying on your back. Switching to your left side can improve circulation and reduce flutters.
Because your cardiovascular system is under its greatest strain, any new or worsening symptoms—like breathlessness, chest pain, or swelling—should be reported right away.
Your doctor may recommend more frequent checkups or additional monitoring during this stage to ensure both your heart and your baby remain healthy.
Causes of Heart Flutters in Pregnancy
Your heart works harder during pregnancy to support both you and your baby. Increased blood volume, hormonal changes, and shifts in hydration and electrolytes can all influence how your heart beats and may cause flutters or palpitations.
Physiological Changes in Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your blood volume can rise by up to 40–50%, which makes your heart pump more blood with each beat. This extra demand can raise your heart rate by 10–20 beats per minute.
Your heart and blood vessels adapt to handle this increased workload. These normal cardiovascular adjustments sometimes make you more aware of your heartbeat, leading to sensations of fluttering or pounding.
Mild shortness of breath or lightheadedness may accompany these sensations. However, if you experience chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath, you should contact your healthcare provider.
| Change | Typical Effect |
| Increased blood volume | Higher heart rate |
| Expanded blood vessels | Lower blood pressure |
| Greater cardiac output | More noticeable heartbeat |
Impact of Hormonal Shifts
Hormones such as progesterone and estrogen rise steadily during pregnancy. These hormones help relax blood vessels, which improves blood flow but can also cause your heart to beat faster.
Progesterone can make your heart more sensitive to stimulation, sometimes triggering palpitations. Estrogen affects how your body regulates fluid and electrolytes, which can further influence heart rhythm.
You may notice flutters more often during periods of stress, fatigue, or after caffeine intake. Tracking when they occur can help you and your doctor identify possible triggers.
Role of Electrolytes and Hydration
Your body’s electrolyte balance—especially levels of potassium, sodium, and magnesium—plays a key role in keeping your heartbeat steady. Dehydration or excessive sweating can upset this balance, increasing the chance of heart flutters.
Drinking enough water and eating foods rich in electrolytes, such as bananas, leafy greens, and yogurt, helps maintain normal heart rhythm.
If you experience frequent palpitations, your healthcare provider may check your electrolyte levels. Staying hydrated and avoiding excessive caffeine or energy drinks can reduce episodes and support overall heart health during pregnancy.
Arrhythmias and Other Heart Rhythm Disorders
During pregnancy, changes in blood volume, hormones, and heart rate can alter how your heart beats. Some rhythm changes are harmless, while others may signal an underlying heart condition that needs medical attention.
Understanding the different types, warning signs, and testing methods helps you know when to seek care.
Types of Arrhythmias in Pregnant Women
You may notice your heart racing or skipping beats during pregnancy. These sensations often come from benign arrhythmias, such as sinus tachycardia or premature atrial and ventricular contractions.
They are common and usually resolve after delivery.
More serious arrhythmias include supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial fibrillation (AF), and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). These can occur in women with or without structural heart disease.
Pregnant women with congenital or acquired heart conditions face a higher risk of sustained rhythm disturbances.
Hormonal changes, increased blood flow, and stress on the cardiovascular system can trigger these irregular rhythms. While most are mild, persistent or severe symptoms—like fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath—require prompt evaluation.
Common arrhythmias in pregnancy:
| Type | Description | Typical Outcome |
| Sinus tachycardia | Normal increase in heart rate | Usually benign |
| Premature beats | Early atrial or ventricular contractions | Often self-limited |
| SVT / AF / VA | Sustained abnormal rhythms | May need treatment |
When Arrhythmias Become a Concern
You should contact your healthcare provider if you experience frequent palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort, or fainting. These symptoms can indicate a serious arrhythmia that affects blood flow to you and your baby.
Women with preexisting heart disease, thyroid disorders, or electrolyte imbalances have a higher chance of developing sustained arrhythmias. Persistent irregular rhythms can lead to complications such as heart failure or reduced oxygen delivery to the fetus.
Treatment decisions depend on the severity of symptoms and the type of arrhythmia. Electrical cardioversion, medications like adenosine, and rate control drugs are sometimes used safely during pregnancy under medical supervision.
Your care team balances maternal safety with fetal well-being when choosing therapy.
Diagnostic Approaches
Doctors use several methods to confirm a suspected arrhythmia. The most common is an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records your heart’s electrical activity.
For intermittent symptoms, you might wear a Holter monitor or event recorder to track your rhythm over a longer period.
Echocardiography helps identify structural heart problems that may contribute to rhythm disturbances. Blood tests can check for thyroid or electrolyte issues that affect heart rhythm.
If needed, electrophysiologic studies or imaging tests are performed with careful attention to fetal safety. Your cardiologist and obstetrician work together to interpret results and guide treatment, ensuring both you and your baby remain stable throughout pregnancy.
Managing and Preventing Heart Flutters
You can reduce heart flutters during pregnancy by maintaining heart health, staying hydrated, and keeping your activity level safe and consistent. Small daily habits often make the biggest difference in preventing irregular heartbeats and easing discomfort.
Lifestyle Adjustments for Heart Health
You can support your heart by limiting triggers that strain your cardiovascular system. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and chocolate, can increase heart rate and cause palpitations.
Try switching to decaffeinated drinks or herbal teas. Get enough sleep, ideally 7–9 hours each night.
Fatigue can worsen heart flutters and increase stress hormones. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or prenatal yoga to manage anxiety.
Eat balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid skipping meals, as low blood sugar can cause your heart to race.
| Helpful Habits | Why They Matter |
| Limit caffeine | Reduces heart stimulation |
| Rest regularly | Lowers stress and heart strain |
| Eat balanced meals | Keeps blood sugar stable |
Importance of Hydration and Electrolyte Balance
Your blood volume increases during pregnancy, so proper hydration is essential. Aim for about 8–10 cups of water a day, adjusting for temperature and activity level.
Dehydration can cause your heart to beat faster or feel irregular.
Keep your electrolytes balanced. These minerals—such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—help control heart rhythm.
You can get them through foods like bananas, yogurt, leafy greens, and nuts.
If you sweat more or experience vomiting, consider an electrolyte drink with low sugar. Avoid energy drinks, as they often contain caffeine and additives that may worsen palpitations.
Safe Exercise and Activity Recommendations
Regular, moderate exercise helps your heart adapt to pregnancy changes. Walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga can improve circulation and reduce stress.
Always warm up before activity and cool down afterward.
Avoid overexertion or exercises that cause dizziness or shortness of breath. Listen to your body—if your heart races or you feel faint, stop and rest.
Consult your healthcare provider before starting new workouts. They can help tailor an activity plan that supports both your heart health and pregnancy needs.
Treatment Options for Abnormal Heart Flutters
Abnormal heart flutters during pregnancy often relate to changes in blood volume and hormones. Some cases involve arrhythmias that need medical care.
Treatment depends on the cause, the type of rhythm disturbance, and how it affects your health and your baby’s well-being.
When Is Treatment Needed?
You may need treatment if your heart flutters come with dizziness, chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath. These symptoms can signal a more serious arrhythmia.
Mild, short episodes usually don’t need medication. Your provider may first check for triggers like caffeine, dehydration, thyroid issues, or anemia.
Correcting these can often stop the symptoms.
If tests show a sustained or irregular rhythm, such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or atrial fibrillation, your doctor may recommend medication to control your heart rate or rhythm.
Drugs like beta-blockers or digoxin are sometimes used because they have a safer record in pregnancy.
In rare cases, if the arrhythmia causes low blood pressure or affects oxygen flow to the fetus, hospital monitoring or urgent treatment may be needed.
Overview of Cardioversion During Pregnancy
Cardioversion is a procedure that restores a normal heart rhythm when medication does not work or when the arrhythmia is causing serious symptoms. It can be performed using electrical energy or medication.
Electrical cardioversion is considered safe during pregnancy when necessary. The electric current is delivered through pads on your chest under controlled conditions.
It does not harm the baby because the current does not pass through the uterus.
Your care team monitors your heart rhythm, oxygen levels, and the baby’s heartbeat throughout the procedure.
The goal is to quickly return your heart to a normal rhythm and reduce strain on your cardiovascular system.
Drug-based cardioversion may use medications such as adenosine or flecainide, depending on the type of arrhythmia.
These are used carefully and only when benefits outweigh risks.
Collaborative Care with Cardiologists
Managing abnormal heart flutters during pregnancy often requires team-based care. You may see both an obstetrician and a cardiologist who specialize in high-risk pregnancies.
The cardiologist can interpret ECG or Holter monitor results and guide medication choices. The obstetrician tracks how treatments affect fetal growth and delivery plans.
In some cases, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist joins the team. Together, they plan safe timing for procedures like cardioversion or delivery if your arrhythmia worsens near term.
Navigating Heart Changes During Pregnancy
Heart flutters during pregnancy are often a natural part of your body’s adjustment to support your growing baby. Increased blood volume, hormonal shifts, and higher cardiac output all play a role in making your heartbeat feel stronger or irregular at times. While most flutters are harmless and temporary, persistent or intense episodes, especially those paired with chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, should never be ignored. Recognizing the difference between normal pregnancy changes and potential heart concerns ensures both you and your baby remain healthy.
If you’re experiencing heart flutters or have concerns about your cardiovascular health during pregnancy, Cardiovascular Group (CVG Cares) offers comprehensive cardiac evaluations and tailored care for expectant mothers. Our expert cardiologists collaborate closely with obstetric teams to monitor your heart health and provide safe, effective treatment when needed.
