Anyone else completely breathless/fainting in queues at 35wks??

[flightattendant]

I don't know if it's just the iron, which is still only 9.5 even after 7 weeks of taking the stuff...but I'm sooo breathless, just walking up the stairs I have to sit down, and walking to preschool with DS is a matter of stopping to sit down all the time. Then I stood in the P.O. for 5 minutes this morning and thought I was going to pass out.
Is this just normal late pregnancy stuff, or the iron (not Extremely low, really) or should I be looking at something else like thyroid? I've no appetite either. >

Hmmm

could be a mix of iron and just the stage of pg your at.
What iron supplements are you taking?
Also I know its hard if you have no appetite but you really do need to eat. Even if its just a banana to give you an energy boost.

I get breathless now at 20 weeks and at 35 yes you will get breathless. Think of where your lings are. They are squashed high up in a third of the space they are used to to make room for that baby.
I also nearly fainted standing in quees. That's why I always let pregnant ladies go to the front, whether I'm near the front of that queue or not, no-one is going to argue with that! You just ned to take it easy. Eat well, and littel and oftern and rest where possible. There is a water you can buy that has iron supplements in it which is very good for pregnant women, I forget the name of it.

Hi Flightattendant,
I am 35 weeks and getting absurdly breathless too! I've also had the faintness and dizzy spells, the books I've got say this can happen and to just sit down - but what exactly are you supposed to do if you are already sitting down when these strike!
I've also lost me appetite over the last few days. I'm desperately hoping that it is a sign my body is preparing to get on with it as I am soooo fed up now!

my appetite how common do I sound?

Lol redfraggle! Thanks, that's put my mind at rest a bit - I was afraid there was something terribly wrong with me!
Nbg - Fersamal as prescribed by GP, but I've been told that Spatone is better for absorption? Is that the one you meant, Thomcat? And I wish there were more people like you at the post office, even when I sat on the floor last week during an 'episode', nobody said, 'here you go love, do you want to go first?' I was just sitting there shuffling up the queue in my place!! Blimey.

Thanks all for the reassurance.

Do you put your head between your legs too when it starts?

Yes Spatone is good. Try to avoid caffine as it stops your body absorbing iron and eat lots of things rich in vit c like oranges, strawberries, blueberries and lots of pure juice.
In fact when you take Spatone, it says to take with juice.

Cool, thanks Nbg - I haven't put my head between my legs in public, yet - far too embarrassed and don't fancy a big crowd around me, although a bump up the queue would be good!
I do it when I'm at home though and it does help.
Will investigate the Spatone, maybe I could take both at once - the fersamal is very sickly syrup, rusty water type thing sounds better - sort of!

Spatone - yes that's the one, it's meant to be great stuff.

It amazes me that people don't let pregnant women jump quese etc. It should be a given. IUf you feel extra faint you should take a deep breath and politley ask if people mind as you feel a bit weird'. Can't imagine anyone saying no to oyu, bugger what they think, just think of your health and that baby and start asking people!

Take it easy, TC x

It doesnt taste that bad FA. Like I said, if you put it in half a glass of juice and just down it, its fine.

I found standing for any length of time at any stage of pregnancy I would start to feel breathless and as if I would pass out, horrible isn't it?

Suppose the good thing is that if you're 35 weeks, the baby should move in position soon. I was breathless until last week when at 36 weeks the baby dropped, and my lungs seem to be getting a lot more room, and breathing is so much easier now.

Also don't be ashamed to ask/to jump queues, I did it at the cinema last week. Told them i'd need an isle seat so I could go to the loo regularly and they let me through a side door!!

Thanks Jelly - sadly it's my second and i've been told it won't engage until labour begins!!! Argghh...but not long to go.

Ladies I've ht a snag - after nearly buying some spatone yesterday, I had to see the doctor in the afternoon, who said that while there's probably nothing else wrong with me, I need to take iron tablets instead of the syrup. When I mentioned Spatone, she looked baffled and said 'Don't take anything from a health shop'.

She then went on to explain that tablets can make you feel like sh*t and although I should take 3 a day, she herself could only manage one, every other day! And if I couldn't get three down, I'd have to have injections!!! (No, these really, really hurt...)
I am left with more despair than I had before, as I'm useless taking tabs anyway.

Can anyone tell me definitely that spatone is better/quicker than tablets? I've only ever heard that it's better absorbed, but I've only got 4 weeks to mess around with and so no time to experiment.

HELP!!!!!

take the spatone !!!!!! it is not some weird new age thing, it really works !!!

Thanks Lulu - I had a feeling it was one of those 'ignore the doctor' moments, but needed you to tell me!!
There's no way I'll be able to take 3 tabs a day if even a sensible person can't...couple that with doing it when you haven't just had a cup of tea, and I'm really stuffed!
I know you have to avoid tea with spatone too but somehow it doesn't seem so threatening...
Going to buy some today and save the NHS some money.
Feel hopefuller already. Thankyou xx

lots of dark green leafy veg and a good steak will help

Don't mean to hijack this but I have a question. My midwife only takes bloods at 12 weeks and 24 weeks unless something is wrong. 35 weeks now and feeling drained last couple of days. Is it dangerous to take spatone if I haven't had a blood test?Eating lots or iron rich foods etc.

Sorry Flight attendant -hope the spatone kicks in and does its job for you.

Hey Beck - no probs, think I got my answer already! I wouldn't have thought spatone was at all dangerous as it doesn't give you a huge dose, just your daily requirement - or so I believe.
Iron is dangerous if taken in excess, but I don't know how much you'd need to take for that.
If you're concerned, perhaps your GP or midwife might do you an extra blood test to gauge your levels - although as I've been told by so many people on MN, it's quite common to feel this cr*ppy at our stage of Pg!!! So try not to worry too much xx

Thanks FAttendant.

Just got back from buying some spatone after researching it on the internet -seems like nice safe levels and much gentler than tablets so I'm going to take it daily from now.
The iron tablets my crap Dr gave me when I mentioned I was tired at 4 months are about 20 times the strength of spatone (I didn't take them -checked what my HB was with the hospital and it was 15.9!Changed Drs....)

Also bought raspberry leave tablets, tea tree oil, almond oil and lavender oil. Is there a link between uncontrollable spending and pregnancy or is this just me?!