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Why can normal pregnancy cause a faster pulse rate?
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prenatal development
An ultrasound image of a human fetus.
During a normal pregnancy, the pulse rate is typically a trifle more rapid than in a nonpregnant state. This increase is a physiological necessity, as the heart must beat more frequently to effectively circulate the larger volume of blood present in the mother's body.1
This elevated pulse reflects the heart's increased workload, which is required to meet the oxygen and nutritional demands of both the motherās tissues and the growing fetus.1