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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Very short of breath, even when resting - 15 weeks

15 replies

PinkFondantFancy · 04/04/2011 22:22

Has anyone else had this? I'm 15 weeks, and as well as finding it hard to catch my breath when I do something like climb the stairs, I'm also finding myself breathless when at rest. So much so, I have to catch my breath mid sentence sometimes. I was previously fairly active and fit. I've had the full range of opinions from drs, from it being totally normal through to it being too early in the pregnancy for this. Any thoughts greatly appreciated!!

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Blobby11 · 04/04/2011 22:28

Me too. I'm now 19 weeks but it's been going on a while as is really frustrating! Midwife told me it was perfectly normal and not to worry

midori1999 · 04/04/2011 22:49

I am getting a bit breathless now at 27 weeks.

In a previous pregnancy I was very breathless, which got quickly much worse over a couple of days, from getting breathless running up/down the stairs on Monday to so out of breath on return from a hospital appointment Tuesday night that I couldn't hold a conversation with my Mum on the phone. I had seen a midwife on Monday, consultant on Tuesday, neither thought anything was untoward. On Weds I could barely walk from the waiting room into my 20 week scan and got sent to the DOU at a different hospital where I almost needed a wheelchair to get across the car park. Turned out to be bi lateral pulmonary emboli, and all the time I was muttering that everyone was making a fuss, I was pregnant with twins and bound to be out of breath!

Breathlessness can also be a sign of iron deficiency I think.

Original poster

PinkFondantFancy · 05/04/2011 06:39

Thanks blobby and midory. For me it's got gradually worse over the last few weeks. Had a full blood count a couple of times which has come back normal, and I'm on blood thinners already so hopefully not an embolism- midory that sounds so scary!!!

blobby do you have it when you're doing absolutely nothing as well?

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silverangel · 05/04/2011 10:35

Pink - I'm 14+4 and have had it for lthe last couple of weeks, literally walking up stairs and I am out of breath and was previosuly fit and active.

I read somewhere that in early pregnancy its due to incresed progesterone, I'm pregnant with twins and sure that might be something to do with it too.

If its happening when you're not doing anything though I would go back to your doctors and ask them to check you out.

BlingLoving · 05/04/2011 10:39

I had it in early pregnancy, then it went away but is starting to come back now at 32 weeks. I read somewhere that in early pregnancy it's not about space but about how your blood is being redirected or something to other places and so you get a bit breathless until things catch up. So I think it was bad from about week 12 or 13 to week 20, then fine, and now it's back as he gets bigger and bigger.

fatbottomgirl · 05/04/2011 12:33

Me too! 23 weeks and finding it difficult to breath even when resting.this is number 4, for me and don't remeber being this breathless with the other 3. At the midwife next Monday so def going to mention it then. It's making it difficult to do anything.

Original poster

PinkFondantFancy · 06/04/2011 07:16

I slept a bit better last night - propped myself up on pillows and slept on my left side. I wonder if part of it is that I'm more aware now of whether I'm finding it hard to breathe? If I distract myself with something it's less of a problem

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Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 06/04/2011 07:21

Midori, I missed that you were expecting again! You probably haven't a clue who I am, but I had to pop in and say how very very happy for you I am.

BoattoBolivia · 06/04/2011 07:24

I developed pregnancy asthma 2nd time pregnant. Was struggling to breathe on holiday, before I even knew I was pregnant. when I saw the doctor, she said it was not unusual and gave me inhalers. Made a huge difference. I had been struggling to sleep as well. It went as soon as I had given birth. Apparently it is hormonal.

Original poster

PinkFondantFancy · 06/04/2011 07:31

BoattoBolivia - how did they diagnose the asthma? Was it just that you were short of breath? I'm wondering if that's what my problem is, as I used to have asthma when I was a child but haven't had any problems since then, and it does feel a bit like that, as it's harder to breathe out than in....

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Pootletrinket · 06/04/2011 07:40

Have found reflexology can help with this...

mpops · 06/04/2011 12:22

I'm the same Pink. I'm 14 weeks today and for the last couple of weeks I've been catching my breath as soon as I get out of bed or step out of the house. Midwife said it's fine but, like you, I had asthma when I was younger and it also runs in the family. I was wondering if I should have a word with the GP about it (my mw does tend to dismiss everything as normal, including a UTI that I was later ordered by another midwife to have treated immediately!)

Original poster

PinkFondantFancy · 06/04/2011 13:46

mpops obviously not good you're having it too, but it's reassuring to hear I'm not the only one! I've got an appointment with the GP next week (earliest I could get ) so hopefully they can get me some inhalers. Seeing the acupuncturist tomorrow too so hopefully she can work some magic too.....

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BoattoBolivia · 06/04/2011 14:13

Can't remember how the gp diagnosed it, but the inhalers made an enormous difference! Although I had not had asthma before, I do get eczema, which is the same gene, so the potential was there. It was really weird, as I think it developed almost at conception, as I spend my summer holiday out of breath, and didn't realise till we got home that I was nearly 7 weeks pregnant!!

Devonlover · 06/04/2011 14:23

I too was short of breath, but I was a bit further on than you in my pregnancy - around 20 weeks I think. The midwife told me that it's often caused by an iron deficiency and recommended I take a tonic (easier to digest than iron tablets which can make you very constipated ). Floridix is one brand you could try, and it did seem to ease it a little. If you are iron deficient, it should be picked up in a blood test, done via the midwife at around 20 weeks, i think.

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