Severe Breathlessness - 38 weeks

[Bellabelloo]

I have suffered from breathlessness throughout my pregnancy but even walking up the stairs or getting up off a sofa leaves me wheezing and gasping for breath! It's so embarrassing! Anyone else? It scares me a bit as I have had cancer and my mind always fears the worst, so I am trying to be sensible and put it down to the baby leaving less space for my lungs to expand?

Does anyone else suffer?

X

[Testificateman]

Question. Are you wheezing inhaling or exhaling?

[Bellabelloo]

Both...

[bilknapplapp]

I would call your maternity unit, just to be on the safe side. No doubt it's simply one of those oh-so-glamourising pregnancy symptoms, but I had the same when pregnant and they took it very seriously and wanted to check me out. All the best!

[IRegretNothing]

I second the advice to get it checked out. Breathlesssness is also a symptom of anaemia which is common in pregnancy so maybe a blood test is a good idea too.
This might ne rubbish runbish advice and hopefully someone medically informed will be along to correct me but if you are petite and have a short torso, could it just be baby displacing organs and putting pressure on your lungs so you can't catch your breath fully?

[Bellabelloo]

Ok. I did mention it early on but they didn't seem bothered. I have an appointment on Weds, so will bring it up then. As soon as I've had the baby I will be able to have CT scans again.

[Bellabelloo]

I'm actually tall! But think the baby has definitely made full use of my torso as he is measuring big, but my bump isn't very big. So he could be pressing on my diaphragm. Hope that's the answer!! X

[IRegretNothing]

Fingers crossed, I should think it's a pregnancy thing. I wasn't hugely wheezy but I've had poor friends who were really huffing and puffing. Don't be embarrassed by the way, people won't judge you for it!
Hmmn, I suppose it's all relative, if you're tall maybe baby is longer so you'd still be squashed! Good job babies are so cute and worth it all, why else would we put ourselves through it eh?!

[mellysam]

Please definitely tell someone, I don't want to panic you but at the end of my twin pregnancy I was wheezy and breathless, turns out I had fluid on my lungs (I also had massive swollen legs, way too much fluid in my body overall). I didn't realise, not a nice thing to have, and it was only discovered when the shit hit the fan just after I gave birth.

[Bellabelloo]

Ok. I will definitely tell them. Thank you. X

[HandbagCrab]

breathlessness in pregnancy can be a sign of blood clots in your lungs which is easy to treat but can be fatal. I had lots of tests and it was a giant baby lodged in my ribcage but it's much better to be checked out. I accessed help through my gp. Hope you are well :)

[peanutbutter310]

I am only 28 weeks, but have had this since about week 12. Initially they were slightly dismissive, but as it got worse they took it more seriously and I ended up having a lot of tests on my heart and lungs. In both cases, they were testing for problems with quite serious consequences (PE, etc).

In my case, and hopefully yours, it is just an annoying pregnancy symptom, but it's definitely worth getting it checked to give you that piece of mind.

[gamerchick]

Iron

[PeachBellini123]

Do you suffer from asthma? Mine got worse during pregnancy as baby was taking up so much room! I think women can develop it during pregnancy as well.

[littletike]

Please get checked - I was like this towards the end of my pregnancy and blamed it on asthma/hayfever and being unfit. I was severely anaemic and it was missed.

Please get your bloods checked because if it is anaemia it needs to be sorted before you give birth.