To think my GP should offer me something? Pregnant & upset

[ABabyPanda]

I’m 21 weeks pregnant and for about a week and a half suffering from breathing difficulties. One day it was so bad my chest was hurting, I struggle to get a ‘big’ breath so I’m yawning all the time to try to get one but even then it’s usually a half-yawn. I’m huffing and puffing (with no exertion - I could be in bed or on the sofa and it’s still bad).

I saw my midwife last week who took bloods for low iron as I’d mentioned I’d read that this could be a factor. My iron is fine. She told me to get a GP appointment and go to A&E if it’s really bad.

Last week I phoned for an appointment and had a telephone appointment this evening. They have basically said there’s no such thing as pregnancy related asthma and they can’t do the asthma test due to coronavirus, he doesn’t feel it’s right to prescribe asthma medication as it could cause other issues (diabetes?!) which right is fair enough. He said he suggests breathing exercises. It’s probably the water round the baby and in worse case scenario they will need to deliver the baby early but he doesn’t think this will happen 🤨

I cannot fucking breathe! I’m only 21 weeks, what if this gets worse? Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve started having my humidifier on during the night but it’s not helping me during the day & it’s such a struggle. I’m seeing my midwife on Friday so I will ask again then but I really feel like something is more wrong that just baby fluid & if I get COVID I’m screwed. I’m really worried 😟

Definitely could also be anxiety. Maybe you've had some minor breathing trouble cause by the normal 'squishing' of organs your baby causes and now you've really, really noticed it and it's become worse with anxiety?

Not trying to be patronising as this sort of thing happens to me all the time - I'll fixate on a sensation and my anxiety worsens and prolongs it!

But as I and others mentioned, do check all avenues. That in itself will either find the cause or set your mind at ease.

OP do you have the same feeling when you wake first thing in the morning? Or when you aren’t thinking about it - ie is your mind preoccupied with something else then do you suddenly think “oh my chest feels ok”. If so, it probably is anxiety. Trying to take that “big” breath and not being able to is one of the symptoms, and if you keep trying (and the yawn is how I used to try and do it too) only makes it worse (you end up taking in too much air which makes you feel funny).
Having said that, as you’re pregnant there are lots of other issues that could cause breathlessness so rule them out too.

Perhaps try some meditation/relaxation/breathing techniques and see if they help?

I’ve had loads of useful advice thankyou, I honestly cried when I got off the phone to the GP as felt so helpless. It was just I was given no indication or advice as to what it could be bar it’s not at asthma as you don’t have asthma and this doesn’t start in pregnancy (again fair enough but to offer me nothing else but some bullshit breathing techniques which I still don’t understand what he means so I’m going to Google it!)

@bluebearss I only had my 20 week scan last Tuesday & no mention of irregular fluid. That’s when I saw the midwife (not my normal one) after the scan & mentioned it so she offered me the blood test for iron levels. Baby is still so small though I just didn’t think this would be an issue at this gestation?

My issues were stairs (had to stop for a breath half way up) and walking any distance and a half reasonable pace. Pre pregnancy could do a 10 mile trail race and more relevantly for the drs run up our notorious local hill street without stopping so loss of fitness was very quick.

Sitting/lying was positional too

My only symptom for Covid was breathlessness I couldn't walk and talk , I rang GP who told me to get a test and it was positive .

Can you afford to buy a pulse oximeter, they are about 20 pounds at Boots or Amazon. It will tell you how much oxygen is getting into your blood. If its 97 or over, you are fine - even if your breathing feels crappy, its not a breathing issue (so you can look for other possibilities) If its 92 or below you need to see a doctor that day. In between it just depends on if you can take some deep breaths and get it to move upwards etc.

I know how anxious pregnancies can be, add a pandemic and its 100x worse. I hope you get some answers soon.

I’m going to have a look for breathing stuff to see if it helps, as said I don’t quite understand what he means but I have found getting fresh air and standing up straight help when I really can’t get they breath so there may be other ways to widen the airways. I would rather start here then jump into A&E - will practice & see where I’m at in week. I can’t however deal with 20 more weeks of this

Google breathing pattern disorder, there will be a tonne of videos that will help.

I had this whilst pregnant, work in A&e and all the staff checked me over worried about a dvt. However all my tests came back absolutely fine. I had it the whole rest of the pregnancy and they day she was born it literally went. It was the most horrible thing however for me seeing on the monitors that my saturation levels were absolutely normal made it a whole lot easier for me. I’m not denying your gp has been a bit crap. But it is actually quite a common thing in pregnancy. But I would definitely get checked for a dvt! X

Not being able to breathe is something you could definitely attend A&E for! Phone NHS 111 for advice.

Covid test might be advisable too.

@shesyourlobster

Sorry you are feeling unwell. Whilst I don't disagree with a lot of the comments above about seeking help (you know your own body best), what you're describing was a normal part of pregnancy for me. To be honest it only got worse as the baby got bigger. I could hardly talk on the phone, couldn't walk far (which made my daily commute into London hell) and night times were awful for both me and my partner who had to listen to me trying to breathe all night.

Sorry that's probably not what you wanted to hear.

Sorry but it was the same for me. Struggled from 20 weeks onwards with both pregnancies. First was worst and was hospitalised at 30 weeks for a week. Baby was just sat high and putting pressure on my lungs. See someone else if you are worried though.

I had this in pregnancy , I couldn't breathe properly at times but I think I was a little later on than yoj

I get this due to anxiety as well, and it can be a normal thing during pregnancy. But I would definitely want to get checked out just in case, follow your instincts. I would call 111.

@ABabyPanda

I’m going to have a look for breathing stuff to see if it helps, as said I don’t quite understand what he means but I have found getting fresh air and standing up straight help when I really can’t get they breath so there may be other ways to widen the airways. I would rather start here then jump into A&E - will practice & see where I’m at in week. I can’t however deal with 20 more weeks of this

Go to a pharmacy, and ask to speak to a pharmacist.

See if they think you may have an asthma/ chest infection problem.

Phone the GP’s surgery tomorrow, see if you can see another doctor.

Phone the midwife unit, see if you can speak to someone there.

Don’t be fobbed off, if you feel unwell

It’s not a normal part of pregnancy.

I had this - I felt like I couldn’t catch a breath. My midwife checked my iron levels regularly and they were perfect. I already had a blue inhaler as if I come down with a chest infection it floors me and I struggle to breathe. With all my bloods coming back fine, she told me to contact the surgery and request a prescription for a preventer inhaler. No appointment was needed they just prescribed it (pre COVID.) The difference it made was incredible, I could walk more than 20 steps without gasping for breath.

@NameChanger3002

GO TO A&E but stay calm xxx

^ This

@ABabyPanda I am experiencing exactly the same breathlessness as you are describing (since week 16, I am almost 25 weeks now). I have been to a&e (had various tests there) seen Gp (done various blood tests), seen midwife - they could not find anything, so I assume it is pregnancy related.

But if anything gets worse go to a&e - this was advise I got from my gp and midwife.

Go to A&E please op. You need to be checked.

I get the constant need to yawn from time to time, it's so annoying and genuinely feels like I can't breathe at times. I'm a nurse and can check my oxygen saturations at work; it's never below 97%, even when I feel like I can't get a breath. I've put it down to anxiety, but it is odd because it sometimes happens when I don't feel massively anxious. I find doing breathing exercises; slowly taking a breath, holding it, and breathing out again, helps, as does checking my saturations and telling myself rationally that I can breathe and walk and talk etc. Just my personal experience, probably a good idea to get it checked out in person if possible.

I had breathing difficulties in pregnancy. My midwife sent me to A&E who scanned me for a DVT and to check for a pulmonary embolism. I was fine, despite being really worried for a while.

It’s SO unlikely to be anything like that but as you’re pregnant, I think you should go to A&E. But don’t panic. Because if there’s one thing that can create abs exacerbate breathing difficulties, it’s panic. It’ll make you focus on it.

Hmm between pgs I had tonsillitis (and again), sinusitis (and again), chest infection and again and again, viral laryngitis (and again), UTI (and again)

Pg with dd had constant cough and runny nose - three times amoxicillin 250, one times amoxicillin 500. At 19 weeks got another chest infection and coughed and coughed and got more amoxicillin. 4 days into amoxicillin got worse and got a gp apt. Got there hanging onto the pram.

Saw Dr who called an ambulance (and recepts took ds whilst DH raced home from work). They thought I had a pulmonary embolism but actually I had pleurisy.

I was in hosp for five days for IV AB's and rest. Everything cleared up after that. After DS1 was born I had infective mastitis and a breast abscess.

I am convinced I had a low lying chronic level of infection and that the iv ab's cracked it. Didn't have strong ab's before that due to bf or pg.

My breathing problems started in my 2nd pregnancy - turned out to be a thyroid and vitamine deficiency problem. They went away after I'd been properly treated.

Read that A and E had gone quieter in lockdown down to 48 percent of normal levels, so it should be quiet if you go in, which I think you should do.