Breathlessness - what's normal and when?

[Mystro]

Hello everybody! I'm about 30 weeks and I feel very breathless. It's a hard sensation to describe but it feels as though I have some pressure where my heart would be, and I'm slightly struggling to get enough oxygen. It's making me need to yawn a lot - bit inappropriate in the many meetings I am attending right now! Is this anaemia (can't spell that)!? Or is it just the baby taking up all the room? I do also sometimes feel as though there's a foot or something sticking up through my diaphragm and if I eat too much I feel worse, even more constricted and breathless. At my last blood test that I have seen the results for I was at the bottom of normal for iron, just over 11 I think. I don't see a doctor now until 36 weeks.

I have also been ridiculously breathless since about 30 weeks. It seems to be worse in the mornings when simply standing up can make me feel like I've run a mile. My iron level at last test was just a bit lower than yours. I believe it's a combination of low iron, increased blood volume and baby squishing up your diaphragm, so you can't move your diaphragm downwards as easily any more.

I did mention it to the consultant and to the midwife in case they thought it was something more sinister than this but both said it was quite common, so I stopped worrying about it - but it is really draining. You could make an appt with your GP just in case they say different - and get free prescription for iron tablets if you're not already taking them?

By the way, apparently iron tablets can take up to 2 months to have an effect. I've been on them for about 6 weeks and am still as breathless as ever.

thats how I felt when I had low iron levels.

Get some floradix and eat more iron rich foods and it should improve. Just because you are within the normal range as far as the midwives are concerned, doesn't mean it isn't a low level for you personally. Some people need different amounts of nutrients than others. Try taking vitamin C too as it helps with iron absorption.

Spatone's great for increasing iron levels. It's absorbed very quickly by the body as it's natural and it doesn't cause constipation like iron tablets from the gp often do! You can get it online on at lloyds the pharmacy. It has a strong iron taste but can be diluted with orange juice which disguises it fine. HTH

I have felt very breathless from much earlier than 30 weeks in pregnancy 2 and 3. Not low on iron in either pregnancy. I just take it as being one of those things. Just have to take your time doing anything!!!

I have felt breathless pretty much from the start and now have got used to it! I am normally quite fit and healthy, so it's very odd. It is very common in pregnancy though - your bloo volume increases by 50%, but not the oxygen carrying capacity and progesterone also affects you somehow to make you more breathless. And everything is squashed - by full term, your lungs have only one third their normal space to expand!

I feel exactly the same at 31 weeks. My iron levels are 'borderline' at 10.7. My midwife said the same as the other posters on this thread - a combination of low iron and the baby's position. I have to say, in my case, I reckon it's the baby's position more than anything else. I actually feel better when I'm standing up and walking around than when I sit or lie down. No helpful suggestions I'm afraid, at least if this is your first baby it may engage early and give you a bit of relief!