Pregnancy and Palpatations

[ryrysmom14]

I am a 33 yr old woman and mother a beautiful 2 year old son that developed PVC's during the last 2 months of pregnancy- July, 2000. I and my doctors were hoping that they would go away once the baby was delivered, but they are still with me. I had an echo and wore the holter monitor once right after the baby and then once last year when they increased in intensity. The echo was fine as were both holters- showed PVC's which I was told were benign. I have learned there is nothing I can do about them and I just live with them and they are a part of my everyday life- somedays better than others, but just bothersome. I am scared that when I become pregnant again, they will increase tremendously or develop into something more serious, so here are my questions.

1. When I had a cold 2 weeks ago, the PVC's were so much more frequent and intense. I am assuming from stress on my body. Pregnancy is such a huge stress- in your opinion, are they going to increase?
2. What are the chances of this developing into ventricular tachycardia while pregnant? At one point at the end of my pregnancy, my rate got so high (from anxiety about PVC's) that they thought I might have this. Thank goodness, it was a sinus tachycardia. Is this a real threat?
3. What part does sleep deprivation play in PVC's? They developed pretty much when I was completely uncomfortable in pregnancy and couldn't sleep. My son is a terrible sleeper and I have not slept through the night since July, 2000. When I get a pretty good night sleep, they do seem to be better.  

Thank you so much for your help!
Lorraine

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Lorraine,

Thanks for the questions.

(1) I don't know.  I would surmise that since you developed them for the first time with your previous pregnancy, that there is a good chance that they will continue or become more frequent during a second pregnancy.  I disagree with you, however, when you state that you just have to "live with them".  I provided some potential therapies in my discussion of italia64's question today that you might wish to read.

(2) In patients who otherwise have a normal heart, the prognosis of PVCs is similiar to patients without them.  If you have had a normal echo and normal holter (other than the PVCs), the chance for something bad happening as a result of the PVCs is very low.  Make sure that you have had a full medical evaluation, which might include an assessment for hyperthyroidism, among other things.

(3) You may be onto something here ... Sleep deprivation is a common precipitator for PACs, PVCs, and afib in many people.  I see a medical resident per year who develops afib in the setting of sleep deprivation.  The only way to know for you is to try to get more sleep -- which is like asking you to jump off a bridge, if your child is as active as mine!

[robin g]

I just turned 35 and delivered my third child in August. I had heart palpatations during my first two pregnancies but they went away after delivering. With my third child, the palpatations did not go away and they have increased - some days worse than others. I wore a monitor for 30 days and was told that I still had a normal sinus rythym so my doctor has stated that it's just stress and prescribed Hydroxyzine HCL. It makes me extremely tired but it does help with the anxiety that I feel when my heart skips those beats. (It also helps me rest a little better.)I think you are right about sleep deprivation. I have noticed that when I am really tired from those sleepless newborn nights and I have a packed schedule the next day I seem to have more palpatations than on other days. Hope this helps!