High CO2 readings at midwife appointment

[Puglover88]

I’m so confused with these CO2 readings we have to do now! My 9wk one was 2, my 16w one was 6 (which she said was high) my 20wk one was 3 and my 25wk one I had today is 4 which she said is normal but still a little high!

I don’t know whether this is something to worry about or not? The midwives don’t seem concerned and the advice online is contradictory, we’ve had the boiler and car serviced and I’m never around smokers!

Has anyone else had varying CO2 readings? I’m super anxious with this pregnancy due to previous loss so hopefully I’m panicking about nothing but would be keen to hear other people’s experiences with CO2 readings.

Are you on a busy road maybe?

I wouldn't worry if they're not concerned.

I worked a large city center and had the co2 ratings of a light to moderate smoker according to my midwife. If you have taken measures to reduce any co2 you are exposed too then there's not a lot more you can do.

It can apparently be affected by how fast you exhale: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2910872/

I've not been tested yet (midwife didn't have the apparatus at booking) and I'm a bit curious as to the point as I've never smoked, and we have CO detectors in the house which haven't suggested there is a problem with our heating. When I asked at booking, the only other reason the midwife would give was boilers so 🤷

Thanks guys. And thanks for the link @Weathergirl1 I’ll breathe faster next time! We’re on a semi-busy road so that could be something to do with it maybe. Who knows! I dread doing these breath tests now - sometimes ignorance is bliss! Especially if it’s environmental and out of my hands!

Seems strange they're doing them every time? I only did one once. My understanding of the test is that it demonstrates to smokers how much co they have on their bodies. A repeat test would only be necessary to demonstrate a reduction for those who have quit. Either that or they don't beleive you don't smoke????

Either way just refuse the test if it's making you anxious. If you know you don't smoke and your boiler is fine I don't see the merit in it.

Did you get the bus to the appointment. My worst reading was after standing near a bus stop breathing in the diesel fumes

Apparently it can also be caused by being ill - I’d had a low level cold/chest infection for a few weeks and I got a high reading. Guess my lungs weren’t as clear as normal. If you have dectectors and don’t smoke, I’d try not to worry.

Hope your pregnancy goes well x

A bit more googling and I found this:

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.pcrs-uk.org/sites/pcrs-uk.org/files/CarbonMonoxideTesting.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwim_8Pus9_iAhWtUxUIHctFD3kQFjABegQIDRAG&usg=AOvVaw1iR5h7LLA8bhY79bLbexwn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.pcrs-uk.org/sites/pcrs-uk.org/files/CarbonMonoxideTesting.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwim_8Pus9_iAhWtUxUIHctFD3kQFjABegQIDRAG&usg=AOvVaw1iR5h7LLA8bhY79bLbexwn

Thanks for all the replies. No, I drove there but maybe fumes from sitting in traffic? I’m really not sure why they do it every time, if they’d stopped after my first, I’d be merrily thinking I’m a 2 for my entire pregnancy!

That’s interesting about it being higher if you’ve been ill, I have had a cold! @Weathergirl1 thanks for doing some googling for me! 😂 that’s actually I really interesting article, I did eat a lot of dairy today so I wonder if that affected it? 🧐

I also got a higher reading when I was unwell with a cold. They did also say to me that it can be caused by sitting in traffic but I hadn’t on that day so I can only think it was because of my cold.