21 weeks pregnant and feeling light headed and breathless

[montym]

It feels like I can't expand my lungs properly to breathe and my head is a bit floaty. I am drinking plenty of water and eating well so I don't think it's that. Anyone else experienced similar or have any suggestions as to the cause of it? I hope I don't have this for the next 19 weeks!

[mrsgboring]

Could be low iron, but I have that feeling too on and off during pg and have never been anaemic. I think it could also be low BP. Mention to mw, but it may be nothing at all.

It helps to distract yourself from it rather than think about it, as if you focus too much on your breathing, you can make yourself hyperventilate (I actually gave myself panic attacks at that stage of pregnancy, fretting about whether I'd be able to breathe in the night)

[bubblagirl]

i had this alot at that stage of pregnancy gp says it was where baby was pressing on lungs i was tending to breathe deeper and quicker and basically hyperventilating slightly

i had to train myself to breathe deep and slowly it did pass its slight panic attacks which your not aware of at time its quite common as lungs have pressure from baby and subconsciously were breathing erratically to make up for this

it also wouldnt hurt to get iron levels checked i had anemia but the breathlessness was me breathing to fast it helped when i taught myself how to breathe properly huge difference

[drivingmecrackers]

montym i'm at the same stage as you and had exactly the same thing this morning! had blood test results (routine not due to symptoms) back the other day and turns out I am slightly anaemic so have been prescribed iron tablets. i haven't got round to taking them yet so i'm hoping that's why i felt dodgy this morning

[beaniepix]

What is your heart rate? I've just found that mine is around 100bpm which makes me feel breathless and light-headed. Am planning to go to GP tomorrow to discuss. I think anaemia can contribute to higher heartrate but not sure...

[drivingmecrackers]

mine is 88bpm (resting)..

[mistlethrush]

I had very similar sensations - I went to accupuncture and my breathing would return to normal as I had treatment - it was just amazing.

[countrylover]

I had exactly the same thing around 24 weeks, had a blood test and it was indeed low iron levels. I thought it was just one of those pregnancy things and that I'd be feeling like that until the end.

A week of Floridax (iron tablets over the counter, two a day) later and I felt soooo much better. Previously I wasn't able to walk up one flight of stairs without feeling like I was going to pass out and commuting was becoming unbearable. Now I feel fresh as a daisy at 34 weeks - NOT! But at least the major exhaustion and dizziness has gone.