Hi
I am 6 months pregnant and every 10 to 14 days have these 'attacks' so to speak. It started when I was 10 weeks pregnant and the first felt like a heart attack. I spoke to my midwife and she said it sounds like panic attacks and I was referred to occupational health for breathing exercises, however they dont seem to help and the cyclical, physical symptoms feel too routined now if that makes sense? I'm more than happy to be told it is a panic attack but feel it's odd that they happen so often with no fear or reason to panic.
For example, the pain will start in my lower abdomen like a tightening or pulling. Then in my upper back as though I cant stretch or get air in, I stand up as its uncomfortable and the pain travels in waves from top of my back / body to the bottom with difficulty breathing. I feel I have no room to breathe and my chest feels heavy and I cant get air in. I try slow breathing exercises to try and stay calm and end up on all fours as the pain in my back and bump is unbearable. It feels as though my chest, bump and back are suffocating me and I cant get air in. The episodes happen every 10 to 14 days, usually in the middle of the night and I wake up with the pain or i could be sat watching tv etc. No reason to panic, not overly stressed etc. After 20 to 30 mins, the waves of pain ease but I feel I have been kicked and hit by a bus.
Any insights and how to manage would be helpful. The OHT gave me leaflets on self care and breathing, but I cant see a pattern apart from the regular instances these take place.