Breathing Dilemma (any advice/tips welcome)

[RosePrincess87]

I'm almost 37 weeks with DC2 and I'm really struggling to breathe. I can only take shallow breaths and feel like I'm going to start hyperventilating frequently. I know this is a normal pregnancy issue but if anyone has coping strategies I'd really appreciate it. I didn't have this problem with DC1, so it's all new.

Have you had an iron deficiency test? I am anaemic and feel like this if I miss my tablets for a few days.

Iron levels are fine. Being closely monitored due to previous preterm labout (36+6 ) I can feel baby under my ribs so I know it's squashing my lungs. I've been avoiding the ball to reduce the risk of another preterm baby but I think I need to get bouncing to try and encourage her to get her legs out of my ribs.

Have you spoken to and been examined by a healthcare professioral about this? Feeling a bit squished and unable to take a massive deep inhalation is normal, what you describe as struggling to breathe and hyperventilating definitely is not and could be a symptom of something serious. Please talk to a doctor.

Yes, everything is fine. I am perfectly healthy and so is baby. Does anyone actually have any helpful tips?

I haven't experienced this but it sounds like if you are worried about hyperventilating then the lack of breath is (understandably) making you feel a bit anxious. One piece of advice to avoid hyperventilating in general is when you notice you start to feel worried to gently slow down your out-breath and make it longer than any breath you take in. Other ladies might have other practical suggestions based on their experiences of their lungs being all squished up tho!

I wondered if your baby might be breech? Have you been examined recently? My DC2 was breech at 37 weeks and his head was up under my ribs and made breathing really difficult. I only noticed how bad it'd been when he moved to head-down.

@RosePrincess87
People are only trying to help and give you safe advise. There is no need to be so arsy!

Any day now the baby should drop down into your pelvis. You notice a big relief to your breathing. Unfortunately, the pressure on your lungs will be replaced by pressure on your bladder. As my MIL said - have a spare pair of knickers in your pocket from now on.

Floellabella I'm so glad someone gets me. I'm not hyperventilating, but feel like I'm going to because I can't catch my breath. It makes me really anxious, especially when I wake in the middle of the night. I think you've given me some sensible advice.

Okite no not breech. She literally has her head in my pelvis and her feet ingredients my ribs. Been having scans and appointments every 2 weeks. I really hope that she does drop. Didn't have any of this with DC1.

Goody that ship has sailed. Been weeing myself since early pregnancy with DC1. That's the most peculiar thing, her head is in my pelvis. I can feel it when I walk and yes she's made holding in wees very difficult. It's her feet/bum that seem to be pushing my lungs and stomach up. I really hope she does drop. Read earlier that it might not happen until I'm already in labour. Just want to breathe and eat/drink again.

Something I find very helpful when hyperventilation looms is to sing. Focusing on singing tunefully helps to regulate the breathing.

When I turned into a beached whale I liked to deflate the birthing ball slightly and drape myself forward over it. Deflating the ball a bit meant that my boobs and belly could push in slightly. It eased the tension in my back, stretched my shoulders out a bit, too. Could it be that the difficulty breathing is not just because of the baby pressing up against your diaphragm, but also just sheer tension in your back and ribs from all the work you have to do, as well as physical consequence of stress.

Goody I would give anything to lie on my front at the moment. I've tried completely stretching out but lying down is when I struggle to breathe the most. I don't tend to get breathless when I'm moving. I will definitely focus more on controlling it rather than trying to prevent it.

Yes OP I had this in the later stages of my last 2 pregnancies, I couldn't get a deep breath so it felt like I was going to suffocate, the only thing I could do was lift my arms up to raise my ribcage a bit to make more room for my lungs to inflate. In bed I would lie in my side with my arms out in front of me with my elbows almost at face level. Like you, I was perfectly healthy, I just hated the feeling of not being able to breathe properly!

Can you sleep propped up into an almost sitting position. I need at leadt 3-4 pillows or I wake up breathless.

Yy to sleeping propped up, and never slouching back while awake.. Those last few weeks can be miserable!
Sympathies.

home that's exactly how I feel. I feel like there's no way there's enough air getting in to my lungs to sustain us both. Been getting dizzy spells too and really feel that the 2 are linked. I spoke to the midwife and she just said it's all normal blah blah. That's all well and good but I just want someone to make it all better. Some nights I lie on my side on the sofa with my arms above my head just to try and stretch out.

apples and information have striped sleeping propped up but just can't sleep. I do try every night. My favourite place to sit is in the corner of my sofa which is very slouchy. It's the only place my hips feel like they're not falling apart.

According to my scans I have a small baby. For a small baby she doesn't half take up loads of room!

Go swimming. It soooo takes the weight of your back and hips.

Goody I know I sound like a woman with a million excuses but I actually can't go swimming as I can't walk for days after because of this SPD

I had SPD, too. I spent as much time as I could in water. I wouldn't say I swam much! Floating and gentle walking, really. Swimming did aggravate the SPD, but floating and walking fully supported by the water did not cause me any problems - eased it a lot.

I had this discussion with the consultant the other day. I used to be a lifeguard so swim quite vigorously (is that the right word?) So could be doing more damage than good. I went a few months ago and tried granny swimming and still managed to pull muscles in my stomach. Have spent an hour in the bath tonight to see if it encourages baby to move and give me more room.