Breathlessness during pregnancy is actually very common, and has to do with the changes to your body. Your ribs are changing, to accommodate your lungs during pregnancy, and your body is becoming more and more sensitive to carbon dioxide. These, and other changes, can trigger bouts of breathlessness in pregnant women.
As your pregnancy progresses, your baby grows, and your uterus expands. Later on in your pregnancy, this can cause breathlessness, as your growing baby puts pressure on your lungs. Once your baby drops down into your pelvic area, or engages, just before your due date, you should find that your symptoms ease. However, that’s only likely to happen sometime after 36 weeks, so if it’s early on in your pregnancy, you’ll have some time still to wait!
There isn’t a huge amount you can do when you feel this way but it may be a good idea to take it easy and not to push yourself into being too active. Sitting up straight sometimes helps as it gives your lungs more room to expand.
If shortness of breath comes on quickly or if it is accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult your doctor. These symptoms can include:
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Faintness
- Worsening asthma
- A fever, chills and/or persistent cough
- Rapid breathing
- Pain when you breathe in your chest or back
The good news is that once your baby arrives, your body will return to normal, and those breathless feelings will subside.
