Out of breath

[Littlebean13]

I'm 26 weeks pregnant today and for the past couple of weeks I seem to be getting out of breath for no reason at all. I haven't put a lot of weight on and my bump is still fairly small. I can be sat on the sofa watching tv and suddenly I feel like I've run a marathon. It's the same when I'm laid in bed I get heart palpations and have to sit up and steady my breathing. Is this normal or should I mention it to my midwife at my next app? Totally clueless first timer here!

[Doctorbrownbear]

What are your iron levels like? What you describe sounds like aneamia. I felt exactly like that in my last pregnancy and had to take iron supplement. My levels are ok this time but at 34 wks I am breathless because baby is squashing my lungs but no palpataions.

[MummyLuce]

Yep I had it and I had low iron xx

[Littlebean13]

Oh dear :( had my last midwife app a couple of weeks ago and everything was fine. Not got another app now for three weeks so I'll give her a ring in the morning and have a chat with her. Thank for the advice ladies!

[IComeFromALandDownUnder]

Agree with the other posters - low iron. Your iron levels drop around this time which is why you should get tested at 28 weeks at the latest.

[RevengeWiggle]

Yes another vote for low iron, I couldn't walk up the stairs without my heart racing. You can get a supplement called spatone which is gentler than pills.

[Solars]

Hi I'm suffering with breathlessness too and it's down to my iron levels. I would make an appointment with your gp and the can prescribe you with the tablets.

[worldgonecrazy]

I had similar and it was overbreathing related to a pregnancy-induced heart murmur. I was take in for tests, as the doctors were concerned about blood clots on the lung, which is a known minor risk of pregnancy. I had lung x-ray, a full sonograph of the heart muscle and arterial blood gas tests, but everything was okay. The heart murmur is caused by the increased blood volume of pregancy and has now disappeared.

The best thing to do is get down to the GPs asap and get yourself checked over.

I also took Spatone during pregnancy and had no problems with anaemia.

[Shellywelly1973]

Hiya op. Another one recommending Spatone.

I found Spatone a liquid iron supplement great during 3 of my oregnancies. You can get it in supermarket's nowadays whereas only Holland & Barrett sold it 9 years ago when I first took it.

It might be a good idea to get to the G.P or call your M.W & arrange blood tests.

Take care

[Littlebean13]

Thanks ladies. Rung my midwife and left her a message, just waiting for her to ring me back so hopefully I'll get it all sorted. Thanks for your replies!