Breathlessness in LATE pregnancy!

[GentlyDidIt]

30 weeks now and still panting and huffing. Have been thoroughly checked over - no anaemia, possibly the odd palpitation, but nothing serious. Baby's breech, so his skull is wedged against my diaphragm.

It is wearing me out though, and sometimes I get quite panicked (suffered panic attacks in my early 20s and I'm worried that it's going to develop into those again).

I have found that sitting tall with a cushion in my mid back opens my lungs up a bit. Sleeping is the worst, I keep waking up panting. Anybody found anything else that works?

10 more worsening weeks of this is a pretty depressing prospect

I get this too, but I have asthma and am anaemic too, so its been pretty constant throughout the pregnancy. Am 38+5 now and baby has well dropped, and it still hasn't eased things unfortunately. I take my ventolin inhaler when I am struggling, so dont know if you could speak to your doctor about getting a reliever inhaler? It doesnt do the baby any harm. Also, (although you will probably know this already if you have suffered with panic attacks) try and slow your breathing right down if you think you are struggling any try and resist the temptation to speed your breathing up, as you actually take in less oxygen if you do this. Try breathing in counting to ten, and then breathing out counting to ten. Waking up feeling breathless might be due to lying on your back while you are asleep... very difficult to stop yourself as you are asleep!! If you do wake up like this, try rolling onto your left and taking deep slow breaths, and this should help! Also, try and stay cool, wear loose clothing if possible, and make sure your bra is not too tight around your chest... I stopped wearing a bra to bed and it helped me! hth!

Thanks worriedamy. I hadn't thought of Ventolin as I'd assumed it only helped asthma, but I suppose any bronchial dilation would be welcome!

It would help if you could sleep propped up a bit, with pillows, rather than lying flat.

Also, if you feel breathless and anxious, sit up straight, pull your shoulders back and gently rub your cheeks with your forefingers, start at your nose and then "stroke" along your cheekbones quite firmly, pulling the skin.

Sounds a bit bonkers but it definitely helped me when I was breathless with my pregnancies

and its MamaG by the way, in my disguise as a man

Thanks guys

Hey MamaG, nice packet!

You're welcome

Try that breathing thing now, see if you like it