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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Breathless and pregnant

12 replies

Pompomdoggles · 10/03/2019 11:36

Hello.
This is my first post on Mumsnet and also my first pregnancy. Looking for some advice and to hopefully know it's not just me.
I'm almost 36yrs old, 33+4 weeks pregnant.
I've recently been signed off work for 2 weeks due to low BP and getting breathless and dizzy when I was sat down all day. Dr. advised it was probably due to weight of baby pressing down on my blood vessels and diaphram/lungs. I had some blood tests and they came back with my haemaglobin levels low and a few other things borderline so I'm now taking 210mg of Ferrous Fumarate 3 times a day.
Anyway, I'm still really struggling with feeling out of breath to the point where I've been in tears a few times with frustration as I just can't catch my breath and it is stopping me from doing normal day to day things. I feel breathless for a good few hours and can only go back to bed until I try again to get up.
I've read a lot about this being part of pregnancy and maybe I'm just being a wimp but has anyone else really struggled with breathing? And is there anything I can do to help myself? I'm not overweight and have put on the right amount of weight throughout pregnancy.
I'm due back at work next Friday for a week until I then finish for hols and maternity but not even sure I'll be able to go back at the moment.
Thank you for listening. Smile

OP posts:
physicskate · 10/03/2019 11:48

When did you start taking the iron tablets? They can take awhile to kick in... might be worth testing again if you've been on them 4+ weeks...

Original poster
Pompomdoggles · 10/03/2019 12:08

Hi, only last Wednesday. I've got a follow up blood test in just over 3 weeks and got my MW 34 week check on Tues so I guess that may help depending on what the visit entails. Do you think the tablets will help with the breathlessness?

OP posts:
JasonGideon · 10/03/2019 12:16

I did for the last 3 months. They concluded it was my heart. I went in twice for monitoring and have worn a tape twice since baby was born but they are still investigating!

physicskate · 10/03/2019 13:52

Anaemia is associated with feeling breathless and generally like crap, which is what the iron tablets are meant to help with. Take them with vit c (a glass of OJ) whenever possible.

Angelmiracle · 10/03/2019 16:47

Hi it was anaemia for me and as PP said it was over 3 weeks of ferrous fumarate before I noticed improvement.

Original poster
Pompomdoggles · 11/03/2019 07:32

Thanks All, it sounds like I need to give the iron tablets a bit more time to kick in. My friend said they made her feel better in a few days but she probably didn't have it as bad as me. It's just frustrating when I've always been so active and healthy.
Thanks for the tip re. orange juice physicskate!

OP posts:
physicskate · 11/03/2019 07:35

Hope you start feeling better soon!!

Please please get in touch with someone if you feel worse or get worried though!!!!

DelphiMum · 11/03/2019 08:38

When your bump starts to drop toward the final few weeks it should relieve the pressure on your lungs and put it on your bladder instead.

margana · 11/03/2019 08:50

Ask your GP about an iron infusion - if you have iron deficiency anaemia, you may well still be anaemic (and breathless) by the time you're due if you're just on tablets, because the iron requirements in pregnancy are increased. I'm not in the UK, but I qualified for an iron infusion in the public system during pregnancy when my iron (Ferritin) was low and I wasn't even anaemic. The rules might be different in the UK, but it's worth asking your MW and GP. If it's offered but not free, I'd pay for it if I had to! Generally i notice a difference after 2-3days following infusion (had a few by now!), so if you're still equally breathless despite iron + anaemia improving, heart and lung problems will need to be ruled out. Good luck and look after yourself!

Original poster
Pompomdoggles · 11/03/2019 10:23

Thanks Margana, I'll see how I go over the next week or so and then get in touch with my GP if I'm no better. They have booked me in for a follow up blood test which will now be in just over 2 weeks.
It's annoying as I've been feeling OK this morning but starting to get a bit breathy again now.
Before I got pregnant I was very active and healthy with no previous health issues so I haven't considered it being anything heart or lung related but good to know and I'll bear in mind. I've never heard of iron infusion so I'll look it up! Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pompomdoggles · 11/03/2019 10:26

physicskate - thank you, I will. It's hard to know whether it's just me struggling with being pregnant or something else. I'm glad I went to my Drs before... and pushed back when the receptionist offered me a blood test in 2 weeks of that "urgent" appt (got one a few days later). You really do have to push and nag to be seen and heard in the NHS as much as I love them!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pompomdoggles · 11/03/2019 10:28

DelphiMum - she seems to like squishing my bladder too! Must be a long baby! Thank you.
JasonGideon - sorry to hear you have had problems with your heart, hope you get better and look after yourself!

OP posts:
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