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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Breathlessness in Pregnancy

18 replies

TTCX2 · 18/05/2023 08:58

Hi all ☺️

i just wondered if any of you had experienced bad breathlessness early on in pregnancy? I am 15 weeks and last night was delivering a presentation online for work, which involved a lot of talking and I found myself really struggling and out of breath. To the point I had to step out the meeting for a minute embarrassingly. I think the breathlessness caused a bit of panic and then I became so aware of it it got a bit worse.

i do have low iron levels but not massively, although enough for my midwife to prescribe a wee supplement to keep me topped up. Other than that nothing else I’m aware of that could be causing it and just wanted to see if others had experienced similar?

thanks ❤️

OP posts:

Firsttimebfp1 · 18/05/2023 10:27

Hi OP. I’m only 10 weeks but the breathlessness has hit me hard as well. Any sort of physical effort has me completely out of breath! Mowing the lawns last weekend was a whole day job! (I’ve never been the fittest but this is crazy!)

Just wanted you to know you’re not alone with it!!

Busybeezs · 18/05/2023 10:29

Hi OP, another breathless pregnant lady here. Less so when just speaking, but I absolutely cannot walk and talk at the same time. I'm 17+5 and I'm worried about how much worse it's going to get! You're definitely not alone

SummerBaby23 · 18/05/2023 11:17

I had low iron levels that quickly progressed to anaemia (low haemoglobin) in pregnancy. One of the symptoms was breathlessness. Ask your midwife or GP to recheck your bloods.

I find presentations online always make me a bit breathless regardless. I think it’s anxiety, and also speaking faster as you aren’t really getting feedback from the audience as you would in person!

Baguette2021 · 18/05/2023 12:55

I had this but a good pregnancy massage where they focused on opening up my ribs and chest worked wonders!

SmashedApricot · 18/05/2023 12:56

Low iron

sillyonehetpes · 18/05/2023 14:02

Stomach acid issues?

gamerchick · 18/05/2023 14:03

Don't underestimate how much we need iron. Concentrate on getting that up.

Thelazygardener · 18/05/2023 15:47

Just echoing what others have said. My breathlessness started at 18 weeks and got gradually worse. Bloods at 28 weeks identified low iron so I was given a prescription. I’m 31 weeks now and the breathlessness is easing so perhaps contact midwife for another blood test to check your levels?

igglepigglegingin · 18/05/2023 16:17

Please go to the GP to get checked OP.
I had the same symptoms presenting. And then symptoms escalated. I struggled to walk to the toilet without passing out, I got worse and worse and eventually discovered that I had a clot in my lung. I don't mean to frighten you but I was fit and healthy, 3rd pregnancy with no former issues. Just a quick visit to the GP will tell you if you need further investigations. I'm still on blood thinners now and my DS was born three weeks ago. Hope it's the iron but best to be sure xx

MelissaD10 · 18/05/2023 17:29

Had this for ages in this pregnancy, been anaemic and on iron but nothing too severe. Even been investigated for a blood clot and had to have chest X-rays ct scans etc. they’ve kinda just shrugged it off now

Bibijuju · 18/05/2023 20:37

I have this too and have done for around a couple of weeks (also 15 weeks) and did with my pregnancy with my DS, it started in the 2nd trimester. I’m asthmatic and my midwife last time said that pregnancy can affect asthma due to hormones. I was also told I had low iron with DS at 28 weeks last time so not sure if that could be a cause also!

AlltheFs · 18/05/2023 20:39

It’s caused by increased progesterone-happened to me. It is worth checking with the midwife in case it is something else, but it’s really common.

febrezeme · 18/05/2023 20:55

It's very common - when I was pregnant with my twins I could barely finish a sentence 😂

Original poster

TTCX2 · 18/05/2023 21:33

Thanks all so much for your kind responses. Glad to know it’s not uncommon and I will definitely give the GP a ring just to be safe although my GP is terrible for just fobbing me off 😫. Im at the hospital next week for a cervical length internal scan.. (fun). Hopefully I’ll see a midwife after and ask about it and also request my iron levels be checked again. Wishing you all the best in your pregnancies lovelies ❤️

OP posts:

Infusionist · 18/05/2023 21:49

I had this. My GP told me it was anxiety (😒), but actually it was anemia. An iron infusion sorted me out.

sillyonehetpes · 18/05/2023 23:48

Infusionist · 18/05/2023 21:49

I had this. My GP told me it was anxiety (😒), but actually it was anemia. An iron infusion sorted me out.

Surprised your doctor didn't think straight away it was pregnancy.... because go with any complaint and it's "could you be pregnant". So no, they picked the next best thing, anxiety.

Agh, hate them all,

sillyonehetpes · 18/05/2023 23:49

I found this interesting

Gizzymac · 19/05/2023 10:54

I had this too! I was suprised how early it kicked in, and it was a time when I was doing a few work presentations and I definitly had a few awkward moments when I had to have a rest from speaking! I've never had low iron or anything so it's not meant anything more serious, just a natural effect of the hormones and increased blood volumes. It's got a bit better in the third trimester, although walking uphill is a struggle now.

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