Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Breathlessness - What is normal?

17 replies

Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 10:35

I'm 29+6 today and have been suffering from palpitations and breathlessness since about 14 weeks.

I am really bad this morning, even doing the washing up is making me totally winded. It feels a bit like when you are really nervous or scared and your heart is racing and it's hard to get a breath.
What level of breathlessness is normal? is it all down to baby growing and making space for himself or should I worry?

This is my second pg but completely different than the first one...have no experience of this from before. My DD was a 32 week prem, pregnancy was perfect until I broke my waters 8 weeks early!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 10:37

Meant to say my heart has been looked at and everything was normal...I'm under consultant care but feeling a bit unsure this morning.

OP posts:
Pascha · 01/09/2012 10:40

You're not asthmatic are you? I have very very very mild asthma but this pregnancy I'm feeling a little done for at the top of stairs and suchlike.

I would say if its making you feel worse than it has been for the last 15 weeks or so then you should talk to a Dr about it, even if its just for reassurance.

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 10:43

I do have very mild asthma...one that doesn't need treating really but that could explain it.
I think I will speak to the doctors on Monday.

Just feel al bit rubbish!

OP posts:
NotShortImFunSized · 01/09/2012 10:46

If I were you I'd ask GP or MW to do a blood test to check your iron levels!

Anemia can be the reasons for all the symptoms you've described (I get it badly with EVERY pregnancy!)

A course of iron tablets will rectify the situation and you will feel so much better.

Pascha · 01/09/2012 10:51

GP told me to up my steroid inhaler (Becotide) to max dose for the duration and its keeping it under control. Anaemia is a good thought, did you have bloods taken at 28 weeks?

FreeButtonBee · 01/09/2012 10:58

i have been the same since about 8-9 weeks but I am pg with twins so have been putting it down to that. All my blood tests have been normal but e.g. walking up a long flights of stairs in the tube completely winds me and I get palpitations just lying in bed.

might mention it at my MW appt next week as I'm not asthmatic.

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 11:05

My iron has been ok...it was 117 in July and 110 in August. I'm taking pregnacare that has iron in it so not sure if that's the culprit.

Palpitations are getting worse and I mentioned it to my consultant but because my heart is normal they are not really interested...but all of this is making me feel so tired and exhausted. Some days even just going to the park with DD is enough to knock me out at 8.30pm!

OP posts:
Pascha · 01/09/2012 11:06

Do you have any inhalers?

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 11:08

I haven't got inhalers...haven't needed them in the last year or so at all so def need a trip to the doctors to at least have a chat with him.

OP posts:
Pascha · 01/09/2012 11:12

If its really bad this morning you could ring out of hours GP. No reason to suffer til monday if something can help you today.

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 11:30

True...I'll see how it is after I've eaten lunch and decide what to do.

It seems a tiny bit better right now but then I have been sitting down a lot, DH will be up from working a nightshift in a bit so can hand DD over to him and get myself sorted. Not taking any risks with this pg.

OP posts:
Pascha · 01/09/2012 11:45

Exactly. Take it easy and speak to someone today. Pregnancy will bump you up the priority list with your symptoms so you should get a reasonably quick response.

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 01/09/2012 13:40

Back from the OOH dr, no inhalers required but a 24hr monitor for my heart will be arranged.

I was told to rest, eat and drink and rest some more. Natures way of telling me to slow down...PB was good and urine test clear so now sitting on the sofa with some eggy bread.

Thanks everyone xxx

OP posts:
Pascha · 01/09/2012 13:49

Glad you've been seen. Perfect excuse for you to stay on the sofa and direct DH to bring you tea and do all the chores.

idlevice · 01/09/2012 22:51

Have you had both circulating and stored iron levels checked? IIRC these are the haemoglobin and ferritin levels respectively. Haemo can be fine whilst ferritin can get pretty low. Haemo tends to be measured more commonly in an iron level blood test whilst both are measured in an iron studies test. I only found this out when I developed anaemia requiring an iron transfusion in my last pregnancy. With that, I could not walk more than a couple of hundred yards, could just about take a shower, could not do anything like ironing, washing up, etc

However, that said, breathless can be due simply to the lower lung volume available which can change even with the baby's position. Ensure your blood has been properly checked & if all is fine, then it's probably just one of the "joys of pregnancy".

hzgreen · 02/09/2012 09:19

oh goodness, i have been having breathlessness, palpatations and dizziness for weeks and have just been ignoring it! it seems worse in the morning (and i put it down to work stress which has been pretty overwhelming). my iron levels have been clear so far since early in pregnancy but i assumed all this was normal, i feel like a bit of a numpty now Blush and will have to get myself to the doctors tomorrow.

glad you're ok florabee xx

Original poster
Florabeebaby · 03/09/2012 14:39

Thanks idle, had no idea about that! Will ask my MW next time I see her.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page