You’re trying to have a baby and scrutinizing every little pain, cramp, or possible pregnancy symptoms.
One day you suddenly can feel the pregnancy pulse in neck. Thus, you want to know if a heartbeat in neck sign of pregnancy.
This article is where you can get rid of your doubts and gain peace of mind.
Can You Feel A Pregnancy Pulse In Neck?
No, it is not likely that what you feel is the pregnancy pulse in neck. In most cases, pulsating neck pregnancy shows your heartbeat, not the baby’s heartbeat.
This happens due to the increase in your heart rate while pregnant, which has confused many people.
Babies’ hearts don’t contract as ours do as they receive oxygen and nutrition from the mother’s blood.
How To Check Pregnancy Pulse In Neck?
Although you can’t feel the fetus’s heart rate in your neck, checking the neck pulse when pregnant through the carotid artery is possible.
Before getting down to this task, keep in mind the following points to get an accurate pulse:
- Check the pulse at the same time each day.
- Take a few minutes of rest before taking the pulse.
- Count the heart rate for no less than 60 seconds unless your healthcare provider gives you other instructions.
Below are the steps to know your carotid artery pulse rate.
- Identify the neck area which is near the windpipe. You can check the rate either on the left or right side of your neck. Don’t do this if you have plaques in your neck carotid.
- Place the index finger and long finger tip in your neck groove along the windpipe to feel the heart rate. Remember to do this on only one side of the neck. Otherwise, you’ll feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint.
- Press down on the neck with just enough force to be able to feel the beatings. Avoid pushing too hard; that will hinder the blood flow
- Keep track of the time by watching the clock while you count the pulse rates
- Record the heartbeat.
Heart Beating Fast During Pregnancy
Is It Normal If My Heart Beats Fast During Pregnancy?
Irregular heart rates while pregnant are not uncommon. Normal people’s hearts often beat up to 100 beats per minute.
If you’re having a baby, the number of beats per minute is expected to increase by 25%, which can cause episodic heart palpitations (tachycardia).
The common symptoms of tachycardia are pounding, fluttering, or racing feelings.
Palpitations during pregnancy appear because the heart has to work more to keep the mother’s body functioning and simultaneously provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.
One can also experience heart conditions if she has other underlying medical conditions or a family history of heart problems.
Causes Of High Heart Rate During Pregnancy
Heart And Blood Flow Changes
While pregnant, the uterus needs more blood to provide everything the fetus needs to grow and develop.
Thus, the heart has to pump significantly more blood than usual (from 30% to 50%).
For an expectant mother, their hearts will beat 70 bpm to 100 bpm instead of 60 bpm to 80 bpm like normal people. Her pulse will reach its peak around her 3rd trimester.
Anxiety
This is another popular culprit behind heart beating fast during pregnancy. It’s easy to understand that pregnant women are anxious about this; having a baby is life-changing.
They need to consider the baby and their safety, how to prepare good financial conditions for him, how to raise them, etc.
Uterus Size Changes
The uterus grows bigger to hold the fetus inside, so more blood is needed for this change. As a result, abnormal heart beats will affect the mother.
Breast Changes
While you’re pregnant, the mammary glands start working to prepare your body for breastfeeding.
When your breast becomes bigger, and the tissues expand, there is also more mammary blood flow. Therefore, breast changes also result in a need for extra blood.
How To Deal With This?
Though irregular heartbeat is normal for most expectant mothers, they can still apply some methods below to bring their health back on the right track.
- Stay relaxed and avoid stress by taking a sip of chamomile tea sometimes.
- Ensure that you sleep well every night; lack of sleep can result in high blood pressure, which can worsen your state.
- Practice different techniques to relax: learn yoga, meditation, or deep breath.
- Drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
Where Can You Feel The Baby’s Heartbeat During Pregnancy?
Sometimes you feel the pulse in your abdomen and think it is your baby’s heartbeat. Unlike when you feel your baby kick from outside, this movement comes from your body.
In fact, it’s your abdominal aorta beating. And if you’re trying to feel the baby’s beating elsewhere in your body, it’s impossible that you will succeed.
If you don’t believe us, check for yourself. The heartbeat of the fetus (100 bpm to 120 bpm) is higher than that of the mother.
Just feel pulse all over your body pregnant, and you won’t find anything higher than 100 bpm when you press your body.
FAQs
What Does A Pregnant Pulse Feel Like?
As you’re trying to get pregnant, your pulse is thin and soft. Several months later, you’ll experience a fast heartbeat early pregnancy, and you can somewhat detect it.
The further along the way you are, the heart rate will get even faster, fuller, and more slippery.
When the delivery day approaches, you can feel a choppy, rough feeling in your pulse.
How To Regularize Heart Rate During Pregnancy?
It’s important that expectant mothers maintain a stable heart rate, as it will affect the fetus.
If it exceeds 140 bpm, it could be harmful to the baby. Below are some ways to regularize the pulse rate.
Exercising
It’s obvious that pregnant women must avoid strenuous movement. However, light aerobics for about two hours a week will effectively stabilize their pulse rate.
A Healthy Diet
A diet with rich-protein foods, lots of veggies, and fruits is also of great help in your journey to achieve stable heartbeats and a healthy weight.
Avoid Stress And Anxiety
As mentioned above, these two factors can cause tachycardia. Thus, if you can manage them through slow and deep breaths or meditation, you’ll see your heartbeat visibly improve.
Conclusion
After reading this, are you clear about the pregnancy pulse in neck and what it indicates. This is a normal case during your pregnancy.
We hope that we can fill you in with helpful tips to have a stable pulse rate and good health condition during pregnancy.
Thank you for reading!