Bedridden third trimester.

[hereforasillygoosetime]

Did anyone else experience this when in 3rd trimester? I have to lie down for 90% of the day because I am so short of breath standing up/sitting/walking/moving in general.
I am on blood thinners already due to a blood clot in my first pregnancy 11 years ago, so it can't be an embolism. I am currently refusing to attend consultant appointments because the hospital is an hour away plus up to 3 hr waiting times on uncomfortable chairs when you get there (not an option when ya can barely breathe!) ... they keep sending me new appointment letters even though I've explained the problem.

Is it normal to be pretty much bedridden because the baby hasn't 'dropped'? I didn't get this with previous pregnancies. TIA

You need to put your baby first op

100bpm at rest is very high, I really think you need to be seen, at least by your gp.

Oh I understand because I have the same every Wednesday. It’s hot. It’s horrible and frankly I’ve felt like I’m about to pass out a few times however you do it because consultants are the medical professionals who will be able to help and potentially avoid a dreadful situation where your or baby’s health is at risk. It’s absolute bollocks that they only want to check injections as any nurse can do that and they wouldn’t waste consultant time on it. As it gets nearer the end the more important your consultant will be.

If you’re that bad you are bed ridden 90% of the time it is not normal and you need the medical help. I’d be phoning the maternity unit now if it was me.

@Karigan195 at my last appt the consultant literally asked me if I was still taking the injections and wrote down that I was in my maternity notes. The midwife there checked my bp and urine, felt babies heart rate and position and that was it. (Something local midwives do regularly).

I was a bit 🤨 at the point of the consultant appointment. She's then asked me to
Come in three weeks later to "check I'm still taking injections"

I know it’s physically difficult OP but I can’t believe you haven’t seen anyone already. Surely you know it’s not normal - you see women working in their third trimester!
I’m glad to hear you’re going to call the midwife but you really need to be seen ASAP if it’s as bad as you say. If you physically can’t breathe when you go to the appointments, make sure you’re taking someone with you and tell them to go and get medical help when you’re struggling in the waiting room!
It really needs to be seen to, you could have an underlying condition, lack or iron or other vitamins as pp’s have said.

I’m 39 weeks with my second and very breathless at times which is exhausting. My baby has engaged as well. What you are describing is not normal.

You need to see a consultant ASAP.

I would go to your local pregnancy assessment unit, it won't be the same as waiting for a booked consultant appointment. Explain how you need to lie down and they should find you a bed while doing checks on you. I hope you are ok OP but please do get seen, even if they did say its nothing it will take some stress away which should have an impact on how you are feeling.

How long is it since you saw a professional?

Wanna know what’s more inconvenient than going to hospital?
Dying.
Come on OP.

I hope OP comes back, I’m genuinely worried about her!

Hi sorry, I last saw the consultant and hospital midwife together just over 3 weeks ago. I am due to see consultant this week and also local midwife this Friday.
I have no childcare tonight, kids are in bed now, but will ring assessment unit first thing and head to hospital if they want me in to be checked. Thanks for all your help.

Good call op.
I just spoke to my friend is a midwife and she said while some breathlessness is normal, this level isn’t and if you were in her care you’d be going into hospital for further checks immediately. So I’m glad you’re making some moves to get checked out soon.

OP this is not normal - most people work up to 2/3/4 weeks before birth so to be self diagnosed bedridden because of how you feel is very extreme.

You really need to see someone. You've obviously been feeling like this for a while and it is very easy to normalize things and reality to shift.

You definitely can develop blood clots whilst on blood thinners (it’s just less likely than if you’re not). It sounds like you need to see a doctor fairly urgently.

I've just been reading up on anaemia and I think I may have it, I also have really strong cravings for weird things like chewing on wet flannels, crunchy things like ice etc. Looks like this is called Pica which is a symptom.
I'm 35 weeks pregnant now so don't think there will be enough time to sort with iron tablets in time for the birth.
I'm already at more risk of haemorrhagedue to the blood thinners I'm on 😫, and from what I'm reading haemorrhage while anemic can be fatal. Will definitely be seeking a blood test/assessment ASAP tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help everyone.

I’m glad you’re taking it seriously. And if it’s really bad you can have an iron infusion, I felt better by the next day. My ferritin was apparently the second lowest the department had ever recorded though, so it’s hardly surprising I felt better! My infusion was at 34 weeks I think...

Let us know how you get on op? And push for the tests if they don’t take you seriously, as you say it can be quite serious. You might be able to get injections which get into your system much quicker if you’re really low

I have just spoken to the local midwife, she said my blood test results from back in June showed low Iron (102?) and I should have been on tablets since then 🤷🏻‍♀️
I told her about all my symptoms etc she said come in tomorrow morning for a blood test, and she will order some tablets for me.

Glad to hear that some action is being taken, please ask them if they’re checking your ferritin stores as well as your HB count, if you’ve been low for 2 months. And get a plan for when you can get the results

I had this until a weel ago as the baby was facing upwards in a weird position. Hopefully you're baby moves soon. Im also on blood thinners so maybe something yo do with that?

You defo need to attend your appointments though

Ps dont worry about the haemorraging im sure you'll be fine, i was on the thinners and iron last pregnancy and they never mentioned it so hope it all goes as smoothly for you xx

Glad you have been told now, cross that no-one told you back in June how low your iron was . Unless you did not go back after the results. Even so, someone should have picked up a phone.

You do have time for the iron tablets to make a difference. I felt better within a week of starting them. Get lactulose too - they will probably constipate you.

Hope you feel better and the iron tablets work. I have been under consultant care twice with GWH Swindon and never waited even close to an hour for appointments let alone three so don't let this put you off attending.

I had the blood test yesterday morning and results will be ready tomorrow. Midwife who took the test and one I spoke to on phone didn't seem at all concerned about the heart rate/breathing/general anaemia etc etc

No one has prescribed me iron tablets yet can I buy them myself?

I'm a bit annoyed that I wasn't told about the low iron levels 8 weeks ago, and the info should have at least been passed on to the consultant surely?
Maybe it's really not a big deal because no one seems very concerned