[preemiemamarach]

I am 5w3d pregnant with baby #2. I had my DS in the Washington, DC area, so pretty much at sea level. We moved to the CO Rockies in February (house then was at 9,300 feet elevation) and just bought a house at 9,600 feet elevation at the beginning of July.

Mamas, I am about to fall out! I am dizzy beyond belief, and exhausted by walking from one room to the other. I'd largely adjusted to altitude by mid-June, and had some bloodwork done then and was not anemic (something that happens to me frequently). I actually had the labs drawn because I was suffering from fainting spells, and the cardiologist I saw believed it was just vasovagal syncope brought on by stress or fatigue. My EKG at the time was normal, so I wasn't too worried- I just added some additional fluids to my diet and eventually felt better.

But now, I feel ten times worse than I did then. I don't have an appointment with my new MFM OB until the 19th (I have multiple risk factors, which is why I'm seeing a specialist) and I have no primary doctor here yet.

My last pregnancy started out as twins, so I do have a personal history of multiples. But I felt NOTHING like this last time.

If this sounds like a 'normal' side effect of being pregnant and fairly new to high altitude living, that's cool- so if you've BTDT, please let me know. If it's NOT normal, I need to see a doctor before my husband goes out of town in a few days.

 

[lifeguard]

I moved to a much higher altitude about a month before I got pregnant & definitely left me feeling lightheaded & out of breath most of the time. By the end of the first trimester I found it had worked itself out.

 

[preemiemamarach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifeguard I moved to a much higher altitude about a month before I got pregnant & definitely left me feeling lightheaded & out of breath most of the time. By the end of the first trimester I found it had worked itself out.

Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that! I did have the typical low BP during 1st tri with my son, but this is a whole new ball game. It helps to know this could be normal.

 

[34me]

I don't live quite that high up but I had issues with my first in my first trimester if I walked a lot. I didn't with subsequent pregnancies.

 

[janasmama]

pregnancy at high altitude isn't anything bad in itself. But most women at high altitudes do have smaller babies...

what you need to do is take it easy. When you are noticing these symptoms it is possible that it is altitude sickness so you should rest and make sure you are eating and taking it easy.

Don't just put it off as pregnancy-related...be cautious and ask your HCP questions.

 

[preemiemamarach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by janasmama pregnancy at high altitude isn't anything bad in itself. But most women at high altitudes do have smaller babies... what you need to do is take it easy. When you are noticing these symptoms it is possible that it is altitude sickness so you should rest and make sure you are eating and taking it easy. Don't just put it off as pregnancy-related...be cautious and ask your HCP questions.

Is it possible I'm having altitude sickness even after living at a similar altitude for 5 months? I'd just assumed I had adjusted adequately if I hadn't suffered from altitude sickness before now.

 

[lifeguard]

I personally still feel like I'm adjusting to the altitude change - it's been 9 months.