Shortness of breath

[joannem87]

Hi,

Have woken up today and have shortness of breath and I can’t get comfortable. Walking up the stairs is a challenge too. I can breath but just feel so breathless even when just sitting down. I am 5 months pregnant and have read this can be common. Not sure if this is something I should be worried about? I’ve not had anything like this before, even when I’ve been ill with a cold or flu.

Have you had your iron levels checked recently?

No, I haven’t had a midwife appointment since 16 weeks. I said then I was feeling overly tired but she said because my iron levels came normal from my booking in appointment which was done at 10 weeks! There was no need to check my iron. I do have a midwife appointment next week so will mention it then

I've had this since about 14 weeks.
They re-did bloods at 16 weeks and my iron levels had dropped quite a lot from my booking appointment bloods so they prescribed iron tablets.

Definitely worth asking them to redo bloods as so much can change in a short space of time.

I did think that, things can change so quickly. I think 8 weeks between midwife appointments with only a scan in between is a long time. Hopefully they will re do my bloods at my next appointment.

If this is a new symptom then it would be better to talk to your triage line/assessment unit/local equivalent than taking advice from strangers.

I had shortness of breath with both my pregnancies. Currently 36 weeks and glad to say it somewhat subsides as baby drops/engages.

The shortness of breath I could nearly tolerate on movement (going upstairs, walking fast) but totally unbearable at night lying at rest!! So I can relate.

I've been told baby depletes your 02 reserves, makes your heart work harder, makes you breathe harder as they're taking a lot of your energy. It's not all positional although a big high bumps adds to it.

My iron levels are low and I'm on iron tablets but had to stop as was getting almighty diarrhoea from them 🙈🙈 be warned if you go on them! Nausea/constipation/diarrhoea!!

So in conclusion, it's normal and an absolute pain in the ass.

But also mention it to your midwife. I did..Hence the iron etc etc

I think that you should talk to your midwife. I don't want to alarm you but I had persistent shortness of breath at around this stage of pregnancy, and I was diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms. It's unlikely you've got this but it's definitely worth getting checked out. Good luck.

I also thought it could possibly be a pulmonary embolism, although unlikely. You need to have some blood tests to see if there's anything other than normal pregnancy shortness of breath. Go somewhere today to be on safe side. Hope everything is OK for you 🙏

Speak to triage it could be anything.