34 weeks - breathless and having dizzy spells.

[Sarahlou8]

Hi, I wondered if anyone is going through the same thing?
I'm 34 weeks and baby is not engaged. I've been having short episodes of breathlessness for a few weeks, which I know isn't unusual, but then yesterday it got so bad I was seeing stars and knew if I didn't sit down I would pass out. I'm not one for fainting at all so this really frightened me, and it happened again this morning.
I can't contact my midwife till Thursday so I was just after a bit of reassurance that it is normal until the baby engages.
This is baby no. 3 and I have never had this before.
thanks.

could be that your iron levels are too low? Or maybe blood sugar levels - are you eating plenty?

Sounds a bit frightening for you - definately talk to your midwife about it to put your mind at ease.

im 33+1 and have had lots of episodes of breathlessness. Then last week I was out walking and my hearing went all muffled and felt dizzy and sick and thought I was going to pass out.
I had previously been to MW about breathlessness as was getting chest pain and palpatations too...it was all fine and they said it was just baby squishing my lungs/diaphram. I also had my iron and sugar checked and it was ok too. Ive not spoken to her about the dizzy spell as this came and went and i wasnt too worried.
I think its just part and parcel of pregnancy but id suggest if it gets worse, then contact MW on thursday.

I started having these a few weeks ago and have realised that mine are Braxton Hicks . They really do make me feel breathless and dizzy so I was worried something was up...good advice to get your iron levels checked too as that can make you breathless.

If you are worried though, why not check it out with your antenatal unit?

I am 31 weeks and fainted in the shower on Friay and then felt dizzy all day. I called my midwife yesterday morning as I am waiting on blood test results. She checked them over the phone and said they were totally normal and she said not to worry too much about dizziness as this was pretty normal.

As above, she said it could be lack of oxygen due to squished organs. Also, she said to make sure you eat a good breakfast as soon as you get up and that it should be carb heavy and to perhaps have some honey as well.

Don't be too worried, it sounds as though it is to be expected. Obviously you don't want to be falling in a heap on a regular basis and if you were to keep fainting and feeling dizzy all the time I would deff get checked over.

It is horrible when you get that sensation of being about to faint and your head goes all spacey and heavy.

I have had this a lot lately in this pregnancy (my 4th, 32 weeks now). I also had it loads with my first baby. For me, it is low blood pressure. Especially a problem when I get too hot (when you are warm your vessels dilate which causes blood pressure to drop). Even when I feel fine my blood pressure is on the low side, usually 100/70 whenever I have a midwife visit, I hate to think what it must be when I'm seeing stars and about to faint! It could be iron levels, although usually anemia makes you feel tired more than anything. I'm taking iron for slightly low Hb levels last time I had my bloods taken, but that hasn't made any difference to feeling faint. The thing I find helps the most is to make sure I don't get too hot, and don't stand for too long if you can help it. Hope it's nothing more serious!

I get similar episodes like you describe - breathlessness and then seeing stars, id never passed out before my first pregnancy, passed out twice during that pregnancy and so far had a lucky rescue from passing out once in this pregnancy. just presumed it was all normal pregnancy stuff and never worried!

When are you due as im 34+1, due 25th October! We must be close?

Thanks for all your replies, at my mw appointment last Tues I was told my iron levels were borderline but as I don't feel unduly tired I didn't want to take iron tablets, but this afternoon I've looked on the internet and anaemia does cause dizzy spells so I've been and bought some dried fruit, leafy salad and gone back onto the Pregnacare, so we'll see if it makes any difference, if not I'll contact my mw on Thursday.

Yummymummy1208 - I'm due October 22nd, Not long to go now!

why didn't you want to take iron? I know its not particulary plesant but helps to rectify what you have described in my case within a couple of days I was feeling much better - best of luck with it all

Isobelle- many people say it makes them constipated and i'm suffering with that as it is, I don't want to make it worse.
I've been much better today, still a little bit breathless first thing but no faintness.
the more I read, the more I think I'm anaemic as the bloods were done 3 weeks ago, only got results last Thurs.
I'm hoping the Pregnacare will sort out the worst of it quite quickly.

Can highly recommend Spatone, you get it from boots and it does not have nasty side effects, tastes pretty rotton though.