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Pregnancy

Breathlessness, not anemic

10 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 29/04/2017 23:57

Breathlessness, not anemic, at nearly 10weeks?

I have felt short of breath slightly, and a little dizzy when standing up, since about 8 weeks but today I had to climb four flights of stairs (about 40-50steps) and at the top my lungs felt really overworked and my heart was hammering. I also got lightheaded a little. It recovered quick after a 5 minute seat but it kind of worried me!

I've give up the gym since being pg as I'm suffering with tiredness, sickness and had a bad family situation for three weeks but I'm hoping to get back.

I'm I just super unfit? Pregnancy related or something sinister?

My mums recovering from a heart attack so I have super health anxiety at the moment.

I was tested for anemia at about 5 and 8.5 weeks... All is ok there.

OP posts:
Itsmeitscathy · 30/04/2017 00:02

Phone NHS 24 or whatever your equivalent is - it's probably nothing but if it's something it's better to get checked.

OnNaturesCourse · 30/04/2017 00:08

I definitely will if it happens again! It's scary. I'm tucked up in bed now so at the moment I'm ok. I just hate feeling like I'm pestering the doctors etc xx

OP posts:
mummabubs · 30/04/2017 09:30

If in doubt check with your midwife but if it helps I'm 17 weeks and started to notice breathlessness much more from around 10 weeks onwards (I was a size 10 pre-pregnancy and am also not anaemic). I swear I read somewhere that it's around this time that the uterus starts moving up so there's less room for you to breathe into so some people will notice breathlessness?

OnNaturesCourse · 30/04/2017 10:27

I know it starts moving up but didn't realise it could have such a effect already. Doing some, reading however it would seem like I'm not alone with the issue. Definitely going to keep a eye on it and talk to midwife.

OP posts:
WellErrr · 30/04/2017 10:30

This was normal in all my pregnancies.

Rest more, but do seek medical advice if you feel it's needed.

OnNaturesCourse · 30/04/2017 10:35

well ... Did you have the struggle with stairs too? I'm used to running up them or at least going quick so I'm thinking I maybe need to slow down?

OP posts:
sophr2017 · 30/04/2017 10:39

My MW told me breathlessness was completely normal at any point from first trimester because of the increase in bloody running through your body, I also struggled with stairs!

Always worth checking with them though!

RobberBride · 30/04/2017 12:15

I'm not saying don't get checked out, but I posted this at exactly the same point in pregnancy:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2773274-Did-you-get-breathless-lightheaded-in-early-pregnancy

It got a lot better around week 17. However I have continued to get lightheaded spells throughout pregnancy, especially second tri.

One thing worth looking at is exactly what your iron levels are. I wasn't anemic but was close to the border. In second tri I ended up very slightly anemic and so took some extra iron in addition to what is in Pregnacare.

Now 36 weeks and at the top of the stairs I am no longer as breathless, but my calf and thigh muscles kill me. (I've only put on a stone so I think it is sleep deprivation rather than weakness!)

RobberBride · 30/04/2017 12:18

And yes, don't run up stairs or take them two at a time. Partly because of breathlessness, but more importantly all of your ligaments are getting stretchier and you are much more likely to pull/hurt something, so you should make sure you are putting the whole foot flat on each step. My (normally very healthy) friend ended up limping for weeks after a normal speed dash up King's Cross stairs, her daily commute for years, meant she yanked something out of place.

GraceBlish · 30/04/2017 18:38

Very normal - blood volume increases by 50% when pregnant so much more pumping for heart and vessels to do :)

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