Shortness of breath in pg

[Chloe55]

I am 30 weeks pg and have had two 'episodes' over the past 3 days. Firstly, I unloaded the washing machine, carried the load upstairs and started to hang it out but then I felt like I couldn't get my breath. I have never had asthma or chest problems before but it felt like my lungs were having to work overtime and I just couldn't get enough breath in. I got a bit panicky which I'm sure didn't help so went and had a lie down. After about 10mins it eased and I was fine again.

Same thing happened last night. I was putting up the Christmas lights (not strenuously I might add) and again, just felt like my air was becoming increasingly difficult to take in.

Is this normal at this stage of pg? Is it because baby is taking up so much room therefore leaving me with not much lung capacity or should I speak to the doc?

I'm just panicking that next time I will not be able to breath at all!!!

I will be watching this thread with interest, you could be me this happens to me all the time, I am sure it's normal but when it happens it does make me panic because i sit there thinking am i going to be able to catch my breath?

What seems to help me when it happens, is if i just go & sit down for 10 mins & do the breathing technique which we use in labour, this really helps me settle & to get my breath back.

I never had this when pg with ds but through this pregnancy when i hit about 28 weeks it started, i am now 34 weeks & it feels alot worse.

Please don't panic. I got very short of breath at around this time, too.

I saw a really good diagram once which showed just how squished up your lungs get as the baby gets bigger. It is hardly surprising that you can get very breathless.

Sorry to say that for me it got worse and worse until about 36 weeks when the baby engaged and I suddenly felt much less breathless (although the fun of walking with the baby engaged more than made up for the benefit!)

Good luck.

So it just gets better then Glad I'm not alone though!

Are you anaemic?

No, had my routine bloods done last week and haven't heard they were abnormal, can this sometimes be a cause too then?

don't worry
I am 37 weeks and VERY breathless almost all the time, can hardly breathe lying down at night
mw says don't be alarmed, everything just getting squished!

don't worry Chloe55, this is common - I had loads of this, especially with dd2 - at times I actually thought I would not be able to breathe! plus I got a bit dizzy and saw stars at all sorts of weird times.It is common!

Thanks everyone, feel a lot happier now, thought that was probably the case anyway but best just to double check