Feeling breathless all the sodding time!

[intergalacticwalrus]

I am 16 weeks pg, and ever since I was about 8 weeks or so, I have been feeling really out of breath after doing things like walking into the kitchen and the like, and my heart races. I am the first to admit I'm not the fittest person alive, but I have never ever suffered from this before.

I find it most problematic at work as I am a music teacher, which obviously involves a lot of singing. I can't even sing a line without getting out of breath. It drives me mad. Is it a normal thing to happen in pg? I get dizzy too, but I suspect that that's down to low bp.

Anyone? It's really getting me down!

I would give your midwife a ring. I had breathless at the end of my 2nd pregnanies but he was a big baby. It might be low bp better to get it checked out for your own peace of mind.

my friend had this and it turned out her iron levels were very very low - get them checked

Thank you, I have my 16 week appointment in a week (even though I'll be 17 weeks-bloody GP surgery) so I'll mention it then. I just wondered whether it was one of those things in pregnancy, like piles and sore boobs! I didn't get at all breathless when I was pg with DS, and I could understand it in late pg. I'll ask the mw. Cheers!

I'm 8 weeks and have had it from the start - I can walk for miles, but ask me to climb the stairs and I'm wheezing like an old man. Would be interested to hear what they say - as I'm not due a midwife for ages!

I had something like this although it started later in pg. My iron levels were checked and they also did an ECG because my heart was racing so much and I have a heart murmur. In fact they didn't find the cause (my iron levels were `normal' and although heart racing the trace was normal), but you should be checked for those. What I had was actually a bit like asthma, so you might want to ask if it could be asthma too (which, IIRC, can be precipitated by pg).

Despite the fact my iron levels were said to be normal, I did improve after putting myself on a diet higher in red meat and green veg (with subsequent iron levels being higher than they had been according to my blood tests).

I didn't have the same problem with my second pg BTW. Have since come to the conclusion that ds1 (who is a real live wire) really took it out of me when pg, much more so than ds2 (who is a lot more laid back).

I'm 15 weeks and also get out of breath doing the most simple tasks. My iron levels are a bit low and I've been taking spartone but although my energy has improved I'm still getting out of breath. I will ask my midwife next time I see her - it's horrible isn't it. I walk up the stairs and sound like I've been running a marathon. My 20 month old DS has even started mimicking me!

silly question but are you wearing the same size bra as before preg, my rib cage tends to expand so much when preg i go from a 34 to a 40 wearing anything smaller makes me very breathless and my heart tends to race as i'm squeezed and uncomfortable. probably is iron but just thought i'd mention it just in case!

I had the same problem. Had to sit down at the top of the stairs to catch my breath. They thought I might need Iron, but no, all fine. Midwife then thought it might just be tiredness and left it at that.

I am now 36 weeks.
It got a lot better, or maybe I learned to live with it, but I still cant do pre pregnancy exertions. (like walking uphill!!!)

Am now experiencing it again but I think you expect it late on. Am having problems with too tight bra. Doesn't your ribcage expand!!

I think that you just have to expect that you will be SO different when you are Pregnant, and cut yourself some slack.

I really can't wait to get out of breath doing some serious exertions after all these months of sitting on my bum.

I know exactly how you feel.

Good Luck.

ooh, I feel like that (I'm 12 weeks)! Walking briskly on the flat is fine, as is climbing stairs on my own. But as I soon as I carry DS anywhere, I'm puffing like a train.

Pregnancy, how wonderful

Intergalactic, I'm a singer in a band and have been getting a bit breathless whilst singing lately too. I cant hold my notes on as long as I used to and if I forget to breathe properly I'm in trouble! I've been looking on internet and found this quote:

Is it safe to continue general singing exercises and performances whilst pregnant?
Yes! Unless you have complications or your doctor advises otherwise there is no reason why you cannot continue to sing and perform right up to the last minute (as I did!!). Don't overdo it though, rest often and as soon as you start feeling uncomfortable lessen your workload. I found many of the anti-natal exercises to be quite beneficial in helping to control breathing and muscle control and although I was huge by the end of my pregnancy the only thing that suffered was a minute loss of range and breath control (more baby than airspace, ha ha!). Always consult your midwife/doctor before accepting parts/shows that require extreme activity (full dance routines etc) or might cause stress. You should be able to continue a relatively normal life, gentle exercise helps (Swimming is great), although you may find everything more difficult in the last few months. As long as your sensible (and your body will tell you if you overdo it!) you and your new baby will be fine. Do check with your doctor though as some advise women to take it easy in the first and/or last couple of months especially if there is a history of previous complications within the family.

Hope this helps!

I thought you got less lung capacity when pg as your lungs get squeezed by other organs growing and moving around?

Not moving around in the sense that they keep on moving around, obviously , I mean getting pushed out of place