Difficult to breathe

[ladybird11]

I'm probably being a princess here - but I'm sure I'm not alone on this one (Mods, feel free to move this to the punching bag thread if need be).

I'm finding it really difficult to get my breath - regardless if I've been moving, sitting, standing or if I've just been kicked by bubba and winded or not. I try to sit and lean back to increase the space for my diagphram; I've tried to lean forward sitting on the edge of my seat, I lay down etc - it's just such a struggle to breathe.

I'm only 30 weeks, I didn't expect this to happen so early - and although bubs is on the large side - can anyone tell me what they did to make breathing easier (and please don't mention to try a spoonful of cement to toughen up lol, I've already tried )...

Ta,

[Evie76]

leesa - your lungs are being systematically crushed. Someone has taken over your body and has absolutely no consideration for your comfort / discomfort at all. If they need to crush your lungs, they're gunna.

I have the same thing. You should have heard me trying to read DS a bedtime story tonight. I sounded like a Biggest Loser. I kept having to sigh to get any oxygen in. Even the sighs weren't satisfactory - not like the ones you have when not pg. Totally shallow and unsatisfactory.

[BekZ]

I have this same breathing issue in the last few days. I am 33wks and I haven't had this problem with my last 2 pregnancies. Although I would expect the breathing to get easier later on when bub drops down a bit. I am finding it hard to lay down in bed too

[farmgirl77]

I'm in the same boat as well - especially at night when I go to lay down, and then cant sleep because I cant breath! I've had asthma all my life so I get kind of stresses when I cant breath (or 'think' I cant) - which just makes me worse! I've been seeing an osteo for back pain, and one of the things she also does is help me stretch out the diaphram and make more room for it and the baby...and it works!

Maybe seeing an osteo who is experienced in working with women who are pg might be helpful...good luck!

FG

[me83]

I also have been having trouble breathing, it is much worse if walking and going up to stairs leaves me panting for ages. I am fortunate to be extremely tall tho so my organs have more room. I don't have any answers for you unfortunately.

Hope you get a solution. The osteo sounds like a good idea to try.

[Winter]

Ah honey, you poor thing! Just another pat of being pregnant, I'm afraid... You'll find later on that you can breathe again when bub drops.

Good luck with the rest of your pg, it really is a beautiful time in your life and it goes so fast, you'll be breathing easier sooner than you think!

[Evie76]

Good luck with the rest of your pg, it really is a beautiful time in your life and it goes so fast, you'll be breathing easier sooner than you think!

...... or harder!! Not for long though!

[Bathsheba]

Even though it's been nearly 3 years since my last pregnancy I remember this well. It's awful isn't it. I'm not asthmatic but to me that's exactly what it seemed like. I used to lean back alot too.... and another thing I used to do is clasp my hands behind my head to kind of open up my rib cage. Also focus on drawing in long slow breathes rather than gasping for short sharp ones. What you need to do is raise the oxygen saturation level in the blood and this doesn't happen instantly. If you can do, say 5 minutes of deep slow breathing you should get a bit of relief. Also what the others have said about it being a bit better when baby drops in the last few weeks is true... I felt this with my 3 too.