Shortness of breath « Back to Group Discussions

[sallyrae17]

Is anyone else experiencing this? It just started this past weekend, but I feel like I do when I'm in the mountains - like there's not enough oxygen or something. I'm also getting dizzy and seeing metallic spots when I bend over sometimes. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow and will bring it up, but I figured I'd ask you ladies first. :) As an aside, my blood pressure has been pretty low and I have low iron.

[Thandiwe]

It's probably the low blood pressure mixed with increased pelvic pressure as the baby gets heavy.  I get it often and have in other pregnancies; I too have low blood pressure.  I definitely get it when bending over (which I avoid at all costs now, I just squat to get stuff) and sometimes when standing for a period of time.  Also if I get up quickly.  I'm starting to get numbness and electrical shocks in my inner thighs a lot too as baby is deeply buried into my pelvis and pinching nerves.  It just plain sucks this close to the end.  Hope you find some relief! 

Clinical studies haven't been able to prove it, but a lot of midwives believe red raspberry leaf lowers blood pressure, so use it cautiously. 

[poppylove]

Yes,have had a lot of this. I thought it was anxiety, but i am sure it is a combo of a lot of stuff. 

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by Thandiwe 

Clinical studies haven't been able to prove it, but a lot of midwives believe red raspberry leaf lowers blood pressure, so use it cautiously. 

This is good to know - I was seriously just going to make some iced RRL and nettle tea today. Maybe I'll just avoid it? Do you know of any contraindications with Evening Primrose Oil? I started taking 2 capsules last night...

[pennywhistle]

I'm experiencing this too, although my blood pressure has been high.  I figured it was due to my lungs being squashed.

[rebecca10]

I get this too. The other day I was trying to hold my toddler and walk her to sleep and felt like I couldn't breath at all.

[NewMumJoy]

I get the "stars" when I move too quickly (I also have low bp and borderline low iron).  I was getting winded for a while too, but that seems to have improved now that baby has dropped pretty low.  However my feet/leg/back muscles are on fire when I get up to do anything, so I constantly have to stop and pause on my way to anywhere...

[iixivboots]

I've been getting "stars" a lot lately. My BP has been normal but I know my iron is on the low side.

[sarahdb]

I've been getting short of breath lately when I'm on my back. And no, I don't lie flat on my back. It happens when I semi-recline, like when I try to read in bed at night. But it also is happening more in general. I have low BP and low iron too...

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

This is good to know - I was seriously just going to make some iced RRL and nettle tea today. Maybe I'll just avoid it? Do you know of any contraindications with Evening Primrose Oil? I started taking 2 capsules last night...

Not that I'm aware of, but be sure to ask your doctor or midwife. 

[Ninetales]

I sometimes get to where I will inhale and it feels like it doesn't "take," if that makes sense.  Like the air goes in but doesn't do anything.  But I know it is, because my blood pressure is excellent, and I never see stars or get dizzy or anything like that.  It's happened on and off through my whole life, so it's either part of me or all in my head or something.  It can be really scary though.

[monkeyscience]

Ninetales - That's kind of like what happens to me, too. I've been getting it since probably late 2nd trimester, maybe earlier. It happens more often after I've eaten, so I think sometimes my lungs just lose the space war. But I don't get signs of low oxygen levels, just a lot of discomfort. And yeah, I've had somewhat similar incidents throughout most of adulthood. It is scary, for sure. I've thought about seeing a doctor for it, but since I can't make it happen on command, I doubt there's much they'd be able to figure out. At least now I know I'm not alone!

[sallyrae17]

Yeah, it's a totally weird sensation. I don't feel the baby pressing on me when I feel short of breath and generally I'm not going up and down stairs or anything. I'll just be sitting or standing and feel like I can't get enough oxygen into my body. I really don't like it.

[Ninetales]

Usually it happens to me more in winter when it's really dry.  I used to panic and freak out when it happened but the last few years I've been able to calm myself down and remember that I'm still breathing, just keep doing it until I feel it take.

[monkeyscience]

Yeah, I try not to freak out about it, since it really does seem like I'm getting enough oxygen, but it's really uncomfortable. And it tends to happen to me somewhat more at night when I'm trying to go to sleep, and I can't fall asleep when I feel that way. I did talk about it with my friend who's an MD, and she said it sounds like a panic attack, minus the panic. Apparently, you can have the physical manifestations of a panic attack without actually feeling panicky. No idea if that's the real deal or not.

Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread, Sallyrae! I will agree that it does totally suck, regardless.

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by monkeyscience 

Yeah, I try not to freak out about it, since it really does seem like I'm getting enough oxygen, but it's really uncomfortable. And it tends to happen to me somewhat more at night when I'm trying to go to sleep, and I can't fall asleep when I feel that way. I did talk about it with my friend who's an MD, and she said it sounds like a panic attack, minus the panic. Apparently, you can have the physical manifestations of a panic attack without actually feeling panicky. No idea if that's the real deal or not.

Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread, Sallyrae! I will agree that it does totally suck, regardless.

You didn't hijack! :) Anxiety can definitely cause the symptoms I'm describing. I've had only one panic attack in my life and it was absolutely horrible. My OB visit today went really well, on the other hand, and he said that everything is completely normal. So, "this too shall pass" is what I'm going to believe.