what should i do?.

[aleeGutierrez]

im 31 weeks pregnant and i ready feel my baby is getting to the birth position.. also i get short of breath really often mostly 4 to 5 times a day!. i started having contractions yesterday but what makes me worry is that i get short of breath.. and some people tell me it might be im going into labor some day soon!. then there are moments where i cant even stand up because i can take the pain on my back & hips!. can you tell me what i should do.. because i dont want to go to the hospital and for them to tell me its nothing!.. & i dont get to see my doctor till may.17 & this is my first pregnancy!.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Welcome to MDC!  First of all, relax!  :)

The body goes through so many changes it can feel crazy sometimes.  Nothing you are experiencing sounds alarming, just normal.  Having said that, I would always want you to follow your intuition.  If you feel something is wrong or "off", get it checked out.  Do you have a provider (midwife, dr.) for prenatal care?  Can you call and ask questions? 

Contractions this early are your body getting ready for the big day!  Sometimes my braxton-hicks (false) contractions were so strong I'd have to breath through them.  You can tell they are BH because they will subside if you drink a glass of water and rest for an hour if you can. 

Please forgive me if I sound condescending above.  I have no idea where you're coming from information-wise.  I can tell you that MDC is a GREAT place to be and ask questions.  There is so much collective experience here from mamas from every walk of life.

Keep in touch and if you like, you can find your Due Date Club which just links you up with other moms due in the same month as you.

[aleeGutierrez]

yeah i have a gr. (ob/gyn) but when i called her her assistant told me to go to the hospital!... the most wierd thing is i cant eat because if i do so i get more short of breath to the point ill faint!.. so i dont know if i should just go to the hospital... or if i should wait for my apointment on tuesday!.. & i would ask my mom but we dont have comunication shes not that close to me so i have no one else to ask but the doctor!..

[L&K'smommie]

If it would make you feel better feel free to get checked out. It doesn't hurt if it will put your mind at ease. That said I'm regularly out of breath this pregnancy...sometimes to where when I get up i have to stop for anfew seconds-minute to catch my breath. Walking up and down stairs really makes it hard. As to contractions what the pp said is true...braxton hicks are completely normal and some women have more than others. Some are really painful too. Also I have a very small appetite towards the end of pregnancy...what works for me is very small meals all day long. Hope that helps.


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[Youngfrankenstein]

bumping...I'd love it if more mammas would take some time to offer some more advice.

[Kedrosami]

It sounds to me that whoever told you you're going into labor soon really doesn't know what they're talking about! All the things you mentioned sound like normal third trimester discomforts to me.

If you have lot of contractions (like more than 10 in 1 hour is the guideline, I think) try drinking a lot of water and lying down on your left side for awhile. If you are still having more than 10/hour, or if they are happening at regular timed intervals, then it's time to go get the situation checked out. Also if you have any bleeding, lots of fluid leaking, anything like that. Otherwise you should assume all is well and try not to worry.

Your lungs are running out of room as the baby grows now, and shortness of breath is totally normal, especially if the baby's head or butt is pressing right into your lungs. BTDT! It can be very uncomfortable but just keep taking the deepest most calming breaths you can, make sure to snack throughout the day instead of having large meals, and you will get enough air. Billions of women have been through the same thing.

Yoga can really help the back and hip pain. If you're not already, I recommend finding a prenatal yoga class or just getting a video to do at home. It can also really help prepare you physically and mentally for the birth, and help get your baby into a good position. I've found sitting on a yoga ball instead of a desk chair really helps too.

You don't want to push yourself too hard of course, but staying active is important. If you try to take a walk at least once a day it might really change your outlook and help you feel better even while dealing with the discomforts.

The end of pregnancy can be really tough. Only 2 more months!

(I am about as far along as you--due July 20th with my second.)

[Jaimee]

I agree with the previous posters that what you are describing sounds like normal third tri discomforts.  When the contractions start, sit/lay down and relax, drink a glass of water, take a bath, and just let the contractions do their work.  If the are coming regularly, getting closer together, and getting stronger while you are relaxing then you have cause for concern.  Bleeding or dripping/leaking fluid is also cause for concern.  Otherwise its just your body practicing and getting ready for the real thing. 

I also have a tough time getting a full breath toward the end of my pregnancies and eating large meals does tend to exacerbate that.  Small, frequent meals are best.  Also, when you feel light headed, sit down and relax.  Lay down if possible.  When getting back up, slowly sit up, pause, and then slowly stand up to help your blood pressure adjust.  Later in your pregnancy it is likely that the baby will "drop."  This is when the baby's head settles lower into the pelvis as it prepares for birth and is sometimes called "lightening."  When this happens you generally get some relief in this area, opening your lungs and stomach back up a bit.

I would be a bit put off by how your doctor's office handled your call.  If it were me, I would firmly ask to speak to a nurse or doctor about my issues instead of simply being brushed off and sent to the hospital.  Make it clear that you have questions you would like to ask instead of making a trip to the ER.  I would bring this up at your appointment as well.  A good care provider will take the time to listen and answer your questions by phone.

Definitely stick around this website and check out your due date club to talk with other women due around the same time as you.  Keep asking your questions and getting the support you need. 

[indignantgirl]

One thing to ask your doctor is about anemia.  It can cause the breathlessness and faintness you are experiencing.  I added natural iron supplements to my regime and I can't tell you how much it has relieved my symptoms!

[APToddlerMama]

How often are you having contractions?  I am coming at this from a different angle because I delivered preterm with my son, so take it with a grain of salt and don't let me worry you...  With preterm labor, you can have contractions that are not necessarily regular and still be in labor.  I was probably having around 8/hour and they weren't constant.  It would be like 3 minutes, 8 minutes, 4 minutes, 10 minutes, so my OB's office told me not to come in.  Well, I insisted upon coming in and was 7 cm dilated and delivered a few hours later.  At 31 weeks, if you are having 8 or more contractions an hour that don't settle down with lots of water and laying on your left side, I would go in and just make sure you're not dilating.  You probably aren't and you are probably just having Braxton Hicks, but I definitely wish I had gone in sooner because there could have been a chance we could have delayed my son's birth if I had listened to my body instead of being worried that the dr/nurses would think I was overreacting.  I believe the nurse said to me on the phone "Fine.  Come in, but don't expect to leave with a baby."  Good luck!

[XanaduMama]

Originally Posted by aleeGutierrez 

. the most wierd thing is i cant eat because if i do so i get more short of breath to the point ill faint!.. so i dont know if i should just go to the hospital... or if i should wait for my apointment on tuesday!..

If your shortness of breath is so bad that you're on the point of fainting--if it's more than just puffing a bit more than usual climbing stairs--then I'd definitely get checked out. Peripartum cardiomyopathy can present as shortness of breath (particularly if it's more acute than normal 3rd-tri shortness of breath), and especially if you have other symptoms like swollen ankles or palpitations (heart racing), I would go get checked out ASAP. Just for the record, I'm not one to rush off to the doctor/MW at the slightest symptom--quite the opposite, actually--but having read one mama's birth story on MDC about her experience with cardiomyopathy, it's on my mind.

If your contractions are that painful, and don't go away when you drink a bunch of water, lie down for a while, take a bath or drink a glass of wine, I would call your doctor ASAP and demand to be seen. PPs could be right, and these could be typical intense Braxton Hicks--but all of these things together sound like red flags to me. Call and insist they fit you in first thing on Monday--and if they won't, definitely consider finding a new care provider!!

[XanaduMama]

Any news, OP? How are you doing?