Can't sleep because I can't breathe!!

[kviddy]

Good morning,

So I was up all night, quickly fell asleep -as at 38 weeks I'm shattered- but every hour and a half I woke up feeling like I was being suffocated. Tried everything- lying on either side propped so I couldn't move, lying propped up on back to nearly a sitting position and at 345 got the "breathe right" strips out. On one occasion hubby woke me to say my foot was shaking uncontrollably. I don't mind not sleeping so much (well- obviously I wish I could!!) but I'm worried about baby being deprived of oxygen. presumably though that why I am waking up- my body altering me before levels get too low?

Would love any tips/reassurance!

Morning !

I'm 38 weeks too, and also struggling to breathe (!), especially at night time.

The Breathe right/easy strips, have helped a great deal but I make sure I put them on as I go to bed rather than the early hours. It gives you a better chance of a more relaxed sleep, than waking all tense and unable to breathe at 3.a.m lets say.

I find eating too much at night also interferes with my breathing, but consuming calcium rich foods or drinks, really seem to help relax my diagphram and aid a more relaxed breath.

I often have a horlicks in the ealry hours, and this does seem to help. But I think the breathing problem is also anxiety linked, as for me it accompanies general insomnia !!

I had this last night for the first time (31wks) - felt like my chest was being sat on by an elephant, and no position eased it. I got up and sat in the chair...no better, so I concluded bump was pushing on something. I walked around a bit and bump woke up and shifted positions. I have no idea if that was it was or if sheer exhaustion took over but when I went back to bed I went back to sleep and didnt wake up with the same feeling.
Funnily enough I did eat quite late last night so that could have been the reason and I was quite stressed - I might experiment with some relaxation or milky drink next time to see if that helps.

have you had your bloods done recently, the reason I ask is that I found out by accident that im anaemic & breathlessness is one of the symptoms...34wks pg btw...

I certainly have and all ok on the iron front. The breathlessness for me is not like the anaemic type, its more of a pressure around the ribcage, like a constriction.