Breathlessness - midwife or GP?

[polkadotdelight]

I tend to post more in the Sept 14 antenatal thread and I've mentioned there that I get very breathless (am 21 weeks). It's been like this for a number of weeks and I find it annoying and embarrassing. I know that it can be completely normal but it was suggested that being low in iron could be a cause. Im not due to see the midwife for about 3 weeks, can I ask the GP to check my iron levels or should I be sticking with the midwife?

Hi polka, you can ask a for a nurse apt at your GP if its quicker than seeing your MW to check iron levels as its a simple blood test.

It can def make you breathless amongst other things. If iron comes back normal then it would be worth going to the GP to be checked over

Thank you. I will give the surgery a ring tomorrow.

I would go to the gp tomorrow so they can check things like your peak flow at the same time as checking your iron levels

Will do.

I got very breathless around 12 weeks. Climbing stairs was an incredible effort. I self-prescribed spatone (and told my mw at next appt that I was taking it) and was fine in a couple of weeks.

See your GP or practice nurse - they can run/arrange any tests you need, and also check it's not something like asthma. Do you get asthma ever? As Ientioned on the thread I was getting breathless, didn't realise that it was my asthma getting worse. Several GP and practice nurse visits later, and finally sorted! Keep going back till you're happy it's sorted :)

Thank you everyone. I haven't had asthma since I was a child and I'm still taking pregnacare but I think I'd feel better just for checking. I feel so embarrassed when I can't keep up with people or am puffing through the housework!