Normal Fetal Heart Rate
Healthcare providers measure fetal heart rate by the number of fetal heartbeats per minute during pregnancy. This measurement helps healthcare providers determine the well-being of the fetus during prenatal visits or labor.
Monitoring fetal heart rate during pregnancy has been a focus for doctors and midwives since the 1800s. In 1822, a French obstetrician gave the first written detailed description of fetal heart sounds. Nearly 100 years later, they found that very low heart rate indicated fetal distress.
The average fetal heart rate varies depending on the stage of pregnancy. Here’s generally what to expect:
What Is A Normal Pulse Rate For Pregnant Women
Having a stable pulse rate for pregnant women is crucial. Why? When the fetus is developing inside a mothers womb, it requires adequate blood flow in order to gain essential nutrients for its growth and development.
In fact, by the time women reach the third trimester, a heart rate increase from the baseline of about 20-25% is observed. Hence, the normal heart rate for pregnant women is about 70 to as high as 90 beats per minute. As for the upper limit, pregnant women are told that their heart beat must not exceed 140 beats per minute as this could be detrimental to the baby.
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Heart rate / heart beat
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High Heart Rate While Pregnant: Reasons Signs & Treatment
Be it physical, mental or emotional, a womans body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, one such change that might worry you is a change or rather increase in your heart rate. Heart palpitations are usually harmless and happen because of cardiovascular changes. However, in many instances this seemingly common change can indicate a problem in the heart or other parts of the body, more so if it is sudden. A sudden increase in the heart rate during pregnancy should not be taken lightly. So read on to know more about it.
Will I Have A Normal Delivery
In the majority of cases, a normal delivery at your local hospital is possible. During labour, a babys heart rate is monitored for signs of stress. If your babys heart rate is already high, this can make it difficult for the labour team to monitor your babys well-being.
Your obstetric team and the fetal team at GOSH will discuss the safest mode of delivery for you and your baby, and this may include the possibility of early delivery or a Caesarean section may be advised.
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Did The Fitbit Really Detect Ivonnes Pregnancy
We asked our expert family GP Philippa Kaye if tracking a higher heart rate can really reveal if youre pregnant and she agrees that yes, a higher heart rate is experienced by all women when theyre pregnant, but unless youre using a heart rate monitor, you just wont notice.
During the first trimester there is a slight increase in heart rate as well as a slight rise in temperature, she said.
In the story the woman noticed her heart rate being above 100, however if you were very fit and active and had a low resting heart rate such as 65, even a 10% increase would bring your heart rate up to 72 beats per minute which is still well within the normal range so you may not notice it, she added.
Diagnosis Of High Heart Rate During Pregnancy
A healthy heart during a normal emotional state works at a speed of 60 – 80 beats per minute. Such a reduction regime makes it possible to provide the human body with sufficient quantities of substances necessary for normal work: vitamins and microelements. During the period of gestation, the volume of circulating blood increases, serving both the fetus and the expectant mother. Accordingly, in a pregnant woman, the number of strokes to a hundred may increase somewhat, and in some cases up to 115. Such an increase in physicians’ indices is called physiological tachycardia.
Diagnosis of high heart rate during pregnancy does not require any additional equipment. This procedure is performed by a woman at every appointment with a doctor . But with such a measurement, a pregnant woman can quite easily cope on her own. It is not superfluous to control the heart rate and at home. To make such a measurement is not difficult, it is necessary to know only where, and how to count.
Whether the therapist, cardiologist, obstetrician-gynecologist or doctor of any other specialization, at his admission, without fail, checks the pulse rate of the pregnant woman. But a woman in a position is herself obliged to monitor this indicator on a daily basis. To define it is not difficult:
You can also measure heart rate with the help of a modern electronic tonometer, which can now be purchased at any pharmacy.
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Heart Rate During Pregnancy Recommendations By Acog
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggest a pregnant woman should use her Rate of Perceived Exertion or the Talk Test.
ACOG states that a pregnant womans heart rate fluctuates throughout gestation, therefore making it difficult for you to determine from a number on a heart rate monitor just how hard your body is actually working.
Because of this, they recommend you use the Rate of Perceived Exertion and the Talk Test as it can be more effective.
How Can Pregnant Women Best Avoid Exposure To The Zika Virus
The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito bites and through intercourse with individuals who have a Zika virus infection. The infection has been linked to severe birth defects including microcephaly. Current CDC recommendations include avoiding travel to countries with known Zika outbreaks and decreasing sexual transmission by avoiding intercourse when the partner has recently traveled to endemic areas. High risk areas include Africa, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and the Caribbean, but it is a good idea to check the CDC website to see when additional areas are added. It is also important to avoid mosquito bites whenever possible as the mosquito that carries the virus is present in many portions of the USA and it is a matter of time before these mosquitos will become carriers. It is recommended to use an insect repellent that contains DEET, wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants where possible, and stay in places that have air-conditioning or screens on windows and doors. Use a bug spray that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. Removing all sources of still water including flowerpots, animal water bowls, and childrens pools can also be an important source of protection.
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Are There Limitations On Exercise During Pregnancy
In the past, women were cautioned against strenuous aerobic exercise during pregnancy. This is no longer true. Most women can carry on with their pre-pregnancy exercising as routine with no trouble.
You should always talk to your doctor before beginning to exercise during your pregnancy. Certain conditions or symptoms might cause your doctor to advise you not to exercise. This includes:
- pre-existing heart or lung disease
- high blood pressure
- cervical problems
- high risk for preterm birth
Most women will be able to exercise as usual while pregnant. You may need to alter your routine if you usually participate in sports or activities that might pose a significant risk of injury, as you are more susceptible to injury when you are pregnant. This is in part because your balance is thrown off by the changes in your body. You should avoid anything that put you at risk for abdominal injury, falls, or joint injury. This includes most contact sports , vigorous racquet sports , and exercise involving balance .
Its important to pay attention to how you feel while youre exercising. If you notice the following symptoms, stop exercising right away and call your doctor:
- vaginal bleeding
- uterine contractions
Is It Normal To Have A High Heart Rate During Pregnancy
The normal heart rate of a healthy person is between 60 and 80 per minute. However, during pregnancy, it is quite common for this rate to go up to 100. An increased heart rate is called tachycardia and is a common occurrence during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, your body will constantly work hard to provide nourishment to your growing baby. As your pregnancy progresses, the amount of blood required by your baby will increase and your heart will beat faster to pump more blood into the system.
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Heart Rate In Training
Since physical exercises have different degrees of intensity, it is also necessary to calculate the normal pulse in an adult during training, taking into account individual characteristics and type of load.
With little physical activity, your heart rate calculation will look like this.
With vigorous or high activity , the count will be slightly different. The upper limit of the heart rate is calculated in the same way, but the next two indicators are calculated differently.
If we summarize all the calculations, then the normal pulse of a healthy person during adequate physical activity should not go beyond 50-85% of the upper limit of the heart rate.
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What Heart Rate Is Too High For Pregnancy
If you exercised regularly before pregnancy, theres no need to focus on your heart rate for exercise during pregnancy. Years ago, some experts recommended a heart rate of no more than 140 beats a minute for exercise during pregnancy. Today, however, heart rate limits arent typically imposed during pregnancy.
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Is Sexual Intercourse Safe During Pregnancy
Research indicates that sexual intercourse is safe in the absence of ruptured membranes, bleeding, or placenta previa, but pregnant women engage in sex less often as their pregnancy progresses. No studies have suggested that any particular position is unsafe, although a 1993 study demonstrated a 2-fold increased incidence of preterm membrane rupture with the male-superior position compared to other positions. ACOG states that sexual activity during pregnancy is safe for most women right up until labor, unless there is a specific contraindication.
ACOG specifically cautions that a woman should limit or avoid sex if she has a history of preterm labor or birth, more than one miscarriage, placenta previa, infection, bleeding, and/or breaking of the amniotic sac or leaking amniotic fluid. ACOG discusses that, as part of natural sexuality, couples may need to try different positions as the womans stomach grows. Vaginal penetration by the male is not as deep with the male facing the womans back, and this may be more comfortable for the pregnant woman.
How To Take Care Of Your Heart During Pregnancy
The physiological changes that take place during pregnancy are often awe-inspiring, and likely overwhelming for expectant mothers. The growing fetus impacts every single organincluding your heart. It experiences some extreme changes during pregnancy, froma 50% increase in the bodys blood volume to anincreased pregnancy heart rate. Your heart is a key to optimal health during pregnancy and every other season of life, too. Heres how to take care of it.
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Internal Fetal Heart Monitoring
This method uses a thin wire put on your babys scalp. The wireruns from the baby through your cervix. It is connected to the monitor.This method gives better readings because things like movement dont affectit. But it can only be done if the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the babyduring pregnancy has broken and the cervix is opened. Yourprovider may use internal monitoring when external monitoring is not givinga good reading. Or your provider may use this method to watch your babymore closely during labor.
During labor, your healthcare provider will watch your uterine contractionsand your babys heart rate. Your provider will note how often you arehaving contractions and how long each lasts. Because the fetal heart rateand contractions are recorded at the same time, these results can be lookedat together and compared.
Your provider may check the pressure inside your uterus while doinginternal fetal heart monitoring. To do this, he or she will put a thin tube through your cervix and into your uterus. The catheter will senduterine pressure readings to a monitor.
Prevention Of High Heart Rate During Pregnancy
In most cases, to quash this problem, or at least reduce its intensity, you can adhere to simple rules. Therefore, the prevention of high heart rate during pregnancy includes some recommendations.
In the event that the sounded methods failed to prevent the problem, you should consult your doctor, especially if other pathological symptoms also appear.
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High Pulse In Pregnancy
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What is the rapid pulse? This is the increased speed with which the human heart begins to contract. In medicine, this phenomenon is called tachycardia. Such a symptomatology does not threaten a person’s life, but is capable of giving him a lot of unpleasant minutes. Ignore it just is not worth it. In this article, try to understand how the emerging high pulse in pregnancy affects the development of the fetus and the health of the woman herself?
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Normal Fetal Heart Rate During Pregnancy
Brian Levine, MD, MS, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
How do you know if your babys heart rate is normal? This is a question that you probably have from the first time you hear your babys heartbeat. What you hear might really surprise you. Most people are not prepared for how quickly a babys heart beats in pregnancy.
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How To Lower A High Heart Rate During Pregnancy
In the past, healthcare providers used to recommend keeping your heart rate below 140 during pregnancyeven when exercising. Today, those limits arent typically used. In general, you dont need to measure or monitor your heart rate during pregnancy. That can be done during prenatal visits. If your provider notices that your heart rate increases more than 20 beats per minute over your pre-pregnancy heart rate, your physician may want you to take steps to bring it down by:
- Exercising regularly, with low impact activities like swimming or walking
- Eating a healthy diet of fruit, vegetables, and lean protein adding up to 2,200 to 2,900 calories a daythat includes limiting caffeine
- Getting regular prenatal care to make sure no health issues are missed
- Using relaxation techniques and meditation to manage stress
- Seeking treatment for anxiety or depression
If your heart rate increases, dont hesitate to talk to your provider for help.
What To Expect When Youre Expecting
People get busy this time of yearand were not talking about holiday parties: National statistics show that most babies are born between July and Septembermaking winter the most common time to conceive.
But thats not all. Thanks to the holidays, this is also the time of the year when people are most likely to get a new Fitbit tracker.
If youre a mom-to-be, dont delay on activating your device your tracker can be a great way to monitor whether youre hitting many of the prenatal wellness goals your doctor is likely to recommend. Below, how your bodyand dashboardmay change during pregnancy.
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Further Information And Support
Before birth, please call the Fetal Cardiac Nurse Specialists on 020 7762 6711 or send them an email to
After birth, you can call the Electrophysiology team on 020 7405 9200 extension 5298 or send an email to
Heartline Families is a support group for anyone affected by a childs heart problem. Call them on 0330 022 44 66 or visit their website at www.heartline.org.uk.
Antenatal Results and Choices is a registered charity that offers continued support and advice to parents who face difficult decisions regarding fetal abnormalities. Call them on 020 7631 0285 or visit their website at www.arc-org.uk
Childrens Heart Federation is a national charity and the umbrella body for voluntary organisations working to meet the needs of children and young people with congenital and acquired heart conditions and their families. Call their free helpline on 0808 808 5000 or visit their website at www.childrens-heart-fed.org.uk
British Heart Foundation is a national charity providing information and support to anyone of any age affected by heart problems. Call their helpline on 0300 330 3311 or visit their website at www.bhf.org.uk
Heart Rhythm Alliance a national charity for the support of patients with heart rhythm problems. Call them on 01789 867501 or visit their website at www.heartrhythmalliance.org