Constantly hard to catch my breath!! BTDT?

[Qbear'smama]

Perhaps this is just a bit of whining and par for the course, but this is so annoying! I'm 26 weeks this week and feel breathless all.the.time whether just laying down, walking, at home, whatever. I was breathless since early on, but it has gotten worse as baby has gotten bigger. I cannot lay on my back at all or even recline much, but even when I am on my side (either one) I still have to shift around to get to a position where I feel like I am breathing ok and getting enough air. I have asthma but have not experienced any asthma symptoms, just breathless (which is not a usual asthma symptom for me, I wheeze). I am not carrying high, in fact this little monkey is quite low and very active, but it does make me a little scared sometimes because I just feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen, like sometimes my body does these little involuntary gasps like an inhale will suddenly go longer, does that make sense? Ugh! It's slightly worrisome. I don't recall this with DD (although I did get low BP if on my back that time) just wondering if others have experienced this and any tips on relief? I am really just shifting around til I feel ok and I doubt there is much more I can do, anyone BTDT?

[aloneinid]

I get this too, but didn't start until later, like around 34 weeks maybe. I spoke to my midwife about it and she seemed to think it was normal. I gain a huge amount of weight when pregnant and just feel like it is hard to get around. I try to remember to take deep breaths and take it easy. Of course, if reclining makes it worse then don't do it! I pretty much sleep sitting up (due to reflux, but I think that I wouldn't be able to breathe lying down anyway!).

[lillymonster]

have you had your iron tested? I get that symptom with low iron. Last time I was anemic, this time I went on iron as soon as it started happening. It helped, but I think it might not be enough for me.

Aside from that, I did have a lot of trouble right away with DD #1 and having trouble breathing. I had to sleep sitting up before I hit second trimester. This is the same although it hasn't been as bad. I gained a lot more weight with DD #1.

[Lady Lilya]

I've had that as a result of either low blood sugar or low hydration.

[Just1More]

Yeah...protein, hydrate, iron, b vitamins, rest...

[Qbear'smama]

I haven't gained a ton of weight, I think it has to be something else. I should get my iron tested...or it could be just how it is this time around sigh!!! Gasp!!

[lillymonster]

Also I was thinking it might be sinus issues? I have to sleep with nose strips at night because my sinus are swollen and sometimes it's so low or gradual I can't tell but it's enough to make me catch my breath because I breath out of my nose. Nose strips help me out a lot, especially at night.

[Lady Lilya]

Yeah, I've had to breathe through my mouth almost this whole pregnancy so far, but I understand that is normal. As other parts of our immune system are quieted, some are ramped up, like mucous production.

But if I feel like I can't catch my breath, that's not the same as having my nose clogged. If breathing through my mouth fixed it, that's what I would do.

If the OP is trying to breathe through her mouth and still feeling Air Starvation, I would say that is a symptom of anxiety, which I find in my own self to be generally triggered by low blood sugar.

[FireWithin]

This happens to me when my blood sugar gets too high. It took quite a few months for me to realize. I went clamming soon after a pancake and sausage breakfast, everytime I stood up I was very breathless. I assumed it was lack of space. The next day I went clamming after eggs and sausage and I was absolutely fine.

[Lady Lilya]

Originally Posted by Mammo2Sammo

This happens to me when my blood sugar gets too high. It took quite a few months for me to realize. I went clamming soon after a pancake and sausage breakfast, everytime I stood up I was very breathless. I assumed it was lack of space. The next day I went clamming after eggs and sausage and I was absolutely fine.

If I eat carbs, my blood sugar doesn't end up too high, but too low. Carbs stimulate me to release a lot of insulin, and so pretty soon after my blood sugar is to low. It took me a long time to figure it out, because it seems so counterintuitive.

[guest123456]

Low iron probably, in combination with other things mentioned - hydration, protein, etc.

[Qbear'smama]

Thanks for the input, I don't think it's anxiety but I DO get anxious WHEN it's happening because I am concerned that this lack of oxygen feeling is translating to low oxygen for baby. I had red meat two days in a row and felt better but really I can't keep it up...I'm getting some Floradix!!

[Lady Lilya]

I didn't know mine was anxiety, because there was no emotional stuff going on. But it was actually my body panicking because my blood sugar was too low and that is dangerous for the brain. So, a chemical stress in the body can trigger anxiety.

[MomToEmerson]

What everyone else said is most likely, although there is a small chance it could also be thyroid related. Low iodine and a swollen thyroid can give you that air starved feeling too. Probably not it, but just thought I'd throw that out there since it was something I've had experience with.

[akmbloom]

Hmm, I've had something like this too - but I hadn't really thought of any medical reasons (besides gaining weight - lots during and even before I got pregnant due to meds that I was on). I thought it was probably just my diaphragm getting crowded. I teach at a university and feel really ridiculous when I have to speak in odd, breathless phrases.