Shortness of breath - 28 weeks

[Skittles11]

Hi all

Did anyone else experience shortness of breath at a similar stage?

I've been having it off and on for a few weeks (but that was mainly when climbing the stairs) but this past 2 weeks is pretty much all the time even when I'm resting. I'm finding I'm having to take a lot of deep breaths.

I was tested for Iron and was told the levels are lower end of normal but not low enough for any medication- they are however re-testing in 10 days.

I can see online it seems quite common but I thought I might be quite early to experience it...? Can anyone relate? Any tips?

Thank you x x

[Lana89]

Hi lovely yes I had this it’s really common as your womb and baby grow the uterus puts pressure on your lungs make sure you prop your self up in bed at night takes a bit of the pressure off glad you doing ok lovely xx

[Skittles11 in reply to Lana89]

Thanks lovely. I will try this. You mentioned you had this but did you have it around the same stage or later if you recall? I've been wondering if 28 weeks is quite early x x

[Lana89 in reply to Skittles11]

Hi lovely it was round the same stage 28 weeks is about right it’s good you have been to see a GP and had a check if you feel any worse at all go back and get checked again xx

[CyclingAddict]

Yep! I had this. Mine was pretty severe at times because my baby was breeched and quite large. It was putting quite a bit of pressure on my lungs. If you're worried though please talk to your midwife x

[Skittles11 in reply to CyclingAddict]

Thank you for replying. I have talked to midwife. They are running iron tests again and asked me a series of questions. They don't seem concerned. I just feel really uncomfortable with it not being able to take any deep breaths. Do you mind if I DM you about a different thing? X

[CyclingAddict in reply to Skittles11]

Sure! X

[Kate-92]

yes I did ! It’s because baby is taking up all the room & everything is super squashed - I remember getting to the top of the stairs at my train station after work each day & almost crying because I could barely breathe !! x make sure you take it easy x

[Skittles11 in reply to Kate-92]

I'm sorry it was so stressful for you- I can totally relate and today I did have a little cry about it. I was mainly worried thinking 28 weeks seems early to be having breathing issues, I thought maybe it might occur a bit later but it's been affecting me for weeks now but this last week has worsened x x

[Kate-92 in reply to Skittles11]

I would say it happened to me around then, in fact I possibly noticed it a little earlier as I was on holiday in Italy at 26 wks and walking around a lot as we were on the Amalfi coast it was so tiring ! Capri nearly finished me off 😂 x rest up & take care of yourself x

[Kate-92 in reply to Kate-92]

I’ll also say I often found it even when resting, so please try not to worry x

[Leii9]

Yes, i did as well 😅 not just going up the stairs. Even just walking. Xx

[Skittles11 in reply to Leii9]

Thank you for replying. Yes, mine is not just stairs either. Mine happens even when sitting down x x

[Leii9 in reply to Skittles11]

It gets better once baby comes out x 😅

[StarsAllAround]

Yes I had this, it's because baby is putting pressure on your lungs. Completely normal and annoying. I would struggle climbing the few stairs in my house and waddled slowly everywhere.

[Skittles11 in reply to StarsAllAround]

Thank you for replying. Do you recall what gestation you were at when it started affecting you? X x

[StarsAllAround in reply to Skittles11]

I had it in early pregnancy then it disappeared for a while and came back around 24 weeks. Your circulatory system is has doubled so that can also effect it. If you have any concerns just have a chat with your midwife or GP x

[Zeebee14]

Yep I did too. I had mildly low iron as well and was given tablets. My heart rate would sometimes be beating really fast and I’d be out of breath when I was just sitting down.

[Skittles11 in reply to Zeebee14]

This is same as me! Out of breath just sitting down!! It's making exercising very difficult but exercise also exacerbates it. X x

[Eloquentia]

I did too, though a bit later on. Around week 36 it was also coupled with light-headedness and palpitations. They did some test. Apparently all due to the changes in hormones, the increase in blood and the pressure from the little one. If you are worried, talk to your GP. xx

[Skittles11 in reply to Eloquentia]

Thank you lovely. I have spoken to GP a couple of times, they seem to think it is normal but they are going to repeat iron tests. They listened to my chest too as I felt I was wheezing a bit in the night. Apparently my oxygen and breathing levels when monitored were fine which is reassuring but I am most definitely feeling out of breath all of the time and 28 weeks feels quite early for that x

[soccerkt6]

Hi lovely, I remember being breathless at rest at a fairly early stage; it was def earlier than 28 weeks because I was solidly in the second trimester. However, I went to my pilates class one day and we happened to do some chest opening exercises and it spontaneously resolved afterward. I think some muscles in my chest were tight and the stretching suddenly created more room for my lungs.

Are you going to prenatal yoga or anything similar? If so, maybe request some chest opening stretches and see if that helps. I'm sure you could also look up some stretches on youtube that you could try at home. Good luck, I know it's super uncomfortable and stressful but if you've spoken to the midwife and doctors and they've given you the all clear, that's really reassuring xx

[Orangeflowers]

Same here! I'm 28 weeks and for a while now I get randomly out of breath at different times - even rolling over in bed 😂

Had my fundal height measured this week and is measuring over 100 centile!

I'm thinking maybe a bigger baby as I didn't get so out of breath and wasn't so large by this stage last pregnancy.

Do you have a big bump too? x

[Liberty82]

I had it with both my pregnancies. With my first I was anemic though not by much but I felt absolutely dreadful. It started around 26 weeks and got worse until I was on a high dose of iron.

With my second the breathlessness started right away, as soon as I saw that line. It eased a little after the first trimester but then got worse as I hit the third. I wasn't anemic but felt it so I took daily spatone iron sachets.

You have my sympathies, it's a horrible symptom and at times I was pretty much confined to the house it was so bad. I think if your iron is on the 'low side of normal' I'd start taking a daily supplement like spatone or floradix on top of your pregnancy vitamin.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, you're at the final stretch!

[Skittles11 in reply to Liberty82]

Thank you for this. They actually re checked my iron at the hospital and found it to be borderline so I have been prescribed some iron tablets. Thank you for your understanding. I have been finding it quite hard being short of breath at this stage as it has felt quite early but I am hoping that the iron tablets will help. Did the tablets help you feel better and do you remember how long they took to take effect? Thanks x

[Liberty82 in reply to Skittles11]

That's great you've been given tablets, they'll definitely help. I think even borderline iron during pregnancy can make you feel rotten. Initially I was given 210mg daily but that was doubled a week later by a midwife who saw how breathless I was so I think it took around 2 weeks to feel better, it was quick once the dose was doubled. My iron levels didn't improve but my energy levels did. I was anxious that I'd be anemic after the birth and struggle looking after the baby but actually I was more anemic after my c section but felt completely fine once baby was out.

I spent around 2 weeks completely housebound and it was hard, I had no energy so I really sympathise but the good thing was that it was very quickly improved. I think it would have been even quicker for me if I'd been given a higher dose straight away. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon. X