Feeling like you can't breathe properly

[Eternal]

Anyone else?

Last night I went to bed and although I was clearly breathing fine, I just felt like I wasn't catching my breath, which resulted in me panicking. I had to get up and sit downstairs for a few hours to clam down and had to sit up to sleep.

I assume it's just running out of space, as well as being anaemic, but it's horrible.

 

[mamaduke]

I'm an asthmatic who apparently gets worse as I carry more weight. I'm on my second round of steroids this trimester to bring my lungs back to a somewhat normal strength. This pregnancy, albeit lighter weight-wise, has been a lot harder breathing-wise.

 

[Boothh]

I'm getting it too whenever I lie down, its like there's pressure on my lungs/diaphragm so I feel breathless, hoping once the baby drops down abit more I'll be able to breathe again z

 

[Misscalais]

Yep, I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen in the breaths I'm taking. I've also had the moments of panic when it gets really bad. I also have asthma which sometimes makes the situation worse.

 

[Eternal]

Thanks guys, glad to hear I'm not the only one. Can't remember this before and last time was twins. But I am carrying high, it's horrible, rationally I know I'm breathing but it's terrifying. Made worse by the fact hubby has exams today and tomorrow and I knew I was destructing him so I was trying to lay there and be quiet as not to disturb him.

 

[Boothh]

Do you know what position the baby is? Just because mine is breech so there's a big head pressing up under my ribs! And it was the same last time when my youngest was breech too! I'm sure that's part of it. Your anaemia will make it worse too as you're already struggling with carrying oxygen in the blood. I'm chronically anaemic and intolerant to oral supplements so i know only too well how any change in your breathing can affect how you feel! xx

 

[Starry Night]

I'm feeling this way today too. I've had it before but it's especially bad today. Just getting dressed has left me horribly winded and I had to change the dishwasher on my knees. Even then, I couldn't talk at the same time otherwise I started to see black spots.

My last blood test showed my iron levels are fine and I don't have any respiratory concerns like asthma or allergies. However, I felt DD turn transverse last night (hurt like the dickens) and I think she has flipped breech again. Hard to say. I woke up to a foot in the ribs but I've also since felt kicks down low. Not sure how she is finding all this room to still be doing somersaults. She likes to sit low but as I was feeling her in the ribs today I guess she moved again.

Good thing I see my OB tomorrow so I can ask her about it. I've been getting loads of dizziness and breathlessness and I don't know how much is normal.

 

[Eternal]

Do you know what position the baby is? Just because mine is breech so there's a big head pressing up under my ribs! And it was the same last time when my youngest was breech too! I'm sure that's part of it. Your anaemia will make it worse too as you're already struggling with carrying oxygen in the blood. I'm chronically anaemic and intolerant to oral supplements so i know only too well how any change in your breathing can affect how you feel! xx

I'm the same regarding anaemia, been like it since about 12, nothing I take helps much, some I'm intolerant to, with the twins I had iron infusions which helped loads, but the midwife didn't listen to me and just said, "it will come up if you you keep taking the tablets and eating right, I'll check them at 36 weeks to make sure" .... I'll be surprised if there is an improvement and find most doctors etc fairly dismissive of anaemia.

I think baby is head down though but it's really light up kicks and pushes. So uncomfy now. Plus my hips are agony so it's difficult to get stuff done, I'm so exhausted I want to sleep but have a pile of washing left (just folded 5 loads whole hubby played a game next to me) and got three loads left, which I need as they have my sons school uniform in argh.

 

[eris]

I get this sometimes. It's lessened since I added more pillows under my head to elevate my upper body. I really don't like sleeping like that, but it really helps a lot!

 

[Jeval323]

It helped me big time before she dropped, to lean forward when I had trouble breathing. Like you though, I panicked everytime it happened. Try leaning forward and take nice breaths. When you straighten back out you will feel the same way, but knowing you have relief when you leaned forward gives you a sense of comfort knowing everything is just squished, and you're fine. Hang in there, home stretch