Last updated: January 29, 2023
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What Is The Difference Between A Pregnant Lady’s Pulse And A Normal Pulse? (Explained)
Last updated: January 29, 2023
Table of Contents
The pulse is called heart speed. Everyone knows that a common woman’s heart beats 60–100 times a minute, but very few know that a pregnant woman’s pulse beats more than an ordinary woman’s.
The pulse of pregnant women beats 20–15 times faster in a minute. The reason is that when a woman is pregnant, the heart makes 30 to 50 percent more blood, which improves blood flow, which is very useful for the health of a pregnant woman and her child.
Due to increased blood pumping, it is normal for a pregnant woman to have more heart palpitations than usual.
The amount of blood the heart pumps (cardiac output) rises by 30 to 50% during pregnancy. The heart rate rises from the normal prepregnancy rate of about 70 beats per minute to as high as 90 beats per minute as cardiac output rises.
Let’s get into the details by reading this blog post.
Reasons For Variations In Pulse Rate
Hormonal changes in a woman’s body are common during pregnancy. And this change causes a woman’s pulse rate to increase because a pregnant woman’s body needs more blood due to pregnancy, which causes the heart to pump more blood and dilute the blood, resulting in a pregnant woman’s pulse beating faster.
The speed of the pulse rate in a pregnant woman depends on physical factors, such as age, fitness, health, pregnancy complications, blood pressure problems, etc.
The pulse rate varies if pregnant women have twin pregnancies. In this process, the heart will have to pump a lot of blood, causing the heartbeat to be speedy.
The pulse rate is 10–20 beats per minute higher in the last months of pregnancy. In this condition, pregnant women should contact their gynecologists to deal with any emergency.
Distinguish Between Normal Pulse & Pregnant Woman Pulse
| Non-Pregnant Woman’s Pulse | Pregnant Woman’s Pulse |
| A non-pregnant woman’s heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute | A pregnant woman’s heart rate is 20-30 per minute higher |
| A normal woman’s pulse rate can increase due to her medical condition | The pulse rate of a pregnant woman depends on factors like age, pregnancy complications, etc. |
| It is normal to feel a pulse in the abdomen for no reason. You can feel the pulse if you lie down and raise your knees. | Women feel a pulse in their abdomen when they are pregnant. Pregnancy increases blood flow, causing the abdominal aorta to beat faster. |
| One in every five women is at risk of having a stroke. The risk of stroke increases with age. Various factors increase the risk of stroke in women. For example: using birth control pills, frequently smoking, and having high rates of depression. | A pregnant woman is more likely to have a stroke than an ordinary woman with high blood pressure during pregnancy. Changes in hormones and blood clots are symptoms of a stroke. Pregnancy is more likely to cause blood clots, which can lead to stroke. |
Pregnant Woman Pulse Rate
The pulse rate varies in each trimester which is as follows:
| No. | Trimester | Pulse Rate (bpm) |
| 1. | 1st trimester | 63 – 105 |
| 2. | 2nd trimester | 67 – 115 |
| 3. | 3rd trimester | 64 – 123 |
How Many Pulse Points Are In The Human Body?
If we are talking about the artery here, there are seven (7) places in the human body where the pulse can be detected:
- Radial pulse (in the wrist)
- Brachial pulse (Inside your elbow)
- Carotid pulse (toward your neck)
- Dorsalis pulse (above the foot)
- Abdominal pulse (Inside the stomach)
- Femoral pulse (in the groin)
- Popliteal pulse (Knee side)
All these arteries have a pulse near the skin, so they have the importance of a pulse point in the human body. By placing your hands on these points, you can check your pulse.
The easiest way is to check the radial pulse (wrist). The trick is to put your three fingers on the wrist and feel the heart. If the vibration is felt, count it for 15 seconds and then multiply it by 4. You will know how many times your heart beats in a minute.
While checking the pulse, you must have a clock to help measure the heartbeat. The pulse can sometimes be felt in different places at different times, depending on the blood flow and the proximity of the artery to the heart.
Is It Normal To Feel A Pulse In The Stomach?
Yes, it may be that the pregnant feels more pulse rate in the abdomen. This happens because the baby is on top of the aorta in the mother’s stomach.
Due to pregnancy, the blood flow in the body increases by 50%, due to which the abdominal aorta beats at a higher speed. And the pregnant woman feels more pulse movements.
Can Your Pulse Reveal Pregnancy?
It is a fact that women’s pulse rate increases during pregnancy. But it is difficult to say that pregnancy can be detected by pulse rate (as shown in TV dramas).
A high pulse rate is often caused by too much running or tiring work. Exercise also causes an irregular heartbeat, so detecting pregnancy from a high pulse rate is almost impossible.
If your heart beats abnormally, it is essential to see a cardiologist and not risk your life by considering it a sign of pregnancy.
Can You Feel Your Pulse More When Pregnant?
When a woman is pregnant, her body needs many nutrients. When these nutrients are added to a woman’s body in high doses, the result is that the heart provides 50 percent more blood, due to the reason the heartbeat increases.
Suppose the pulse rate of a woman is 70 beats per minute; the heart rate increases by 90–100 beats per minute when the same woman is pregnant.
In the last month of pregnancy, pulse speed increases as the heart pump 20% of your body’s blood into the uterus, which is essential for the baby’s health. Because of this, a pregnant woman feels her pulse rate increase.
What Is The Normal Heart Rate For A Pregnant Woman?
According to research, a woman’s pulse rate is 60-70 beats per minute, but the pulse rate of a pregnant woman should be 100-140 beats per minute; if it increases to more than 140 beats per minute during pregnancy, it is a sign of danger.
In such a situation, a pregnant woman should consult her gynecologist immediately and explain her condition.
Is It Normal To Have A Fast Heartbeat When You Are Not Pregnant?
Yes, it is expected that your heartbeat speeds up for thousands of reasons, some of which are listed below:
- Exercise: The randomization of the pulse is regular due to movement.
- Overweight work or stair climbing: Overweight work or stair climbing raises the heart rate.
- Disease: An abnormal heartbeat is often not a sign of danger, even if you have the disease.
- Running: The pulse rate increases due to physical work such as running.
- Caffeine: Excessive caffeine consumption causes an abnormal heart rate.
- Depression: It is also common to have an irregular pulse due to depression.
- Fatigue: Overfatigue is also the main reason for an increased heart rate.
- Hormonal problems: Hormonal disorders can also affect the pulse rate at random.
- Fear: The heart beats at high speed even because of problems like fear.
- Drug abuse: Overuse of substances can affect health by causing irregular heartbeats.
It is normal to increase the pulse rate while sitting, but it is a sign of danger if it constantly improves. In such a case, consult the cardiologist and tell him about your condition so that the heart disease can be prevented in time.
Is It Possible To Hear Your Heartbeat In Your Ear?
It is possible in certain conditions, such as your body position. If you are sitting with your head on your arm or hand, then it is possible that you can hear your heartbeat.
Is It Worrisome To Hear A Pulse In Your Ears?
You often feel the heartbeat in your ear, the symptoms of which include ear pain, ear injury, constant ringing in the ear, ear wax blockage, and ear infection.
It is also called pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is a small blood vessel that mixes with the fluid in the ear drum and is a treatable condition.
What Is A Resting Heart Rate?
A higher resting pulse rate means your heart works better and is fitter.
When you’re sitting or lying down and resting, your body doesn’t need much blood, so when your heart pumps the least amount of blood, this is called your resting pulse rate. This condition is also known as bradycardia.
What Is A Fast Heart Rate?
It is called tachycardia when the pulse rate exceeds 60–100 beats per minute. This state of the heart occurs when we are engaged in an activity such as running, exercising, or under the pressure of fear.
This is because these symptoms cause the heart to pump more blood to circulate throughout the body, which increases the pulse rate.
Conclusion
- The human body regulates the heart rate itself so that the heart can respond to whatever activity we do. That’s why the heart beats fast when we are busy running away or in a fearful state, and when resting, it usually beats.
- Pulse rates can be checked using an electronic pulse meter, a pulse rate monitor, or a hand pulse.
- The aorta is a vital artery that takes blood from the heart and supplies it to the entire body.
- Apart from supplying blood to the body as needed, the heart also provides oxygen and removes carbon dioxide and waste from the body.
- Increases in pulse rate are usual in ordinary women, but if the pulse does not return to normal after enough time, consult a doctor immediately.
- A child’s resting heart rate varies from birth to adulthood. With age, the pulse rate becomes normal at 60–100 beats per minute.
- If a pregnant woman’s pulse rate is greater than 70 to 90 beats per minute, inform your gynecologist immediately about your symptoms.
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