shortness of breath

[Peg]

Hi ladies,

I am just wondering if shortness of breath is a common side effect during pregnancy. Im currently 13 weeks and for the past 2 months have been experiencing episodes of it. Its especially noticable when i'm stand up and moving around.

Its not constant every day and some days are worse then others. My next appt is not for another month, so im just wondering how many expectant mothers have experienced it. I didnt see it in the list on the 'Pregnancy Ailments and Side Effects' page.

I have been feeling exceptionally tired with this pregnancy (4th) and i dont think i was like this for any of my previous 3. Perhaps its my age (34)? Or maybe I am just not as fit as I was a few years ago??

If anyone has any knowledge/experiences with shortness of breath I would love to hear them.

[Junglemum]

i had shortness of breath with both pregnancies from quite early on. It has to do with the extra blood volume and your heart having to work a bit harder.
Having said that, it your shortness of breath is severe, you have pain associated with it or you are concerned it is always worth getting checked out.

[Peg]

i had shortness of breath with both pregnancies from quite early on. It has to do with the extra blood volume and your heart having to work a bit harder.
Having said that, it your shortness of breath is severe, you have pain associated with it or you are concerned it is always worth getting checked out.

thanks,

Its not accompanied by any pain or anything that severe, but its just an awkward feeling... and as i've not had it before its new to me

i will definately be speaking to my ob about it next month.

cheers

[Asparagus and Lemons]

Peg, I had shortness of breath a few months ago, it wasn't painful but was very uncomfortable.
I asked my midwife about it and it ended up being that I had fractured a rib after a large sneeze. I still have it, Ive just been told to be careful when I sneeze

[Just Me]

My shortness of breath during pregnancy turned out to be a pretty major iron deficiency but I had other symptoms as well - getting really dizzy quite suddenly and being so tired I needed to sleep all the time. I thought the shortness of breath was because I was really unfit turns out it was iron.

Worth talking to your doctor and finding out because it may be easy to fix.

[Peg]

Peg, I had shortness of breath a few months ago, it wasn't painful but was very uncomfortable.
I asked my midwife about it and it ended up being that I had fractured a rib after a large sneeze. I still have it, Ive just been told to be careful when I sneeze

that sounds sore

i'm surprised you felt no pain with a fractured rib, certainly sounds painful.

[Peg]

My shortness of breath during pregnancy turned out to be a pretty major iron deficiency but I had other symptoms as well - getting really dizzy quite suddenly and being so tired I needed to sleep all the time. I thought the shortness of breath was because I was really unfit turns out it was iron.

Worth talking to your doctor and finding out because it may be easy to fix.

i've had blood tests and my hemoglobin is 123

i have no idea if that is high or low, but the dr said it was fine. I do have iron tabs but they make me constipated so i havent been having them lately

[Just Me]

123 is quite good. I think anything below 115 is a little bit low. Mine was around 99. If it got down to 95 the doctor said that I would need a blood transfusion. I don't really know what the numbers mean apart from that.

If your iron 123, you probably don't even need iron tablets unless the doctor has recommended that you take them.

I have no other ideas except for what Junglemum already said about having lots of extra blood pumping around. Still if you are concerned, worth talking to a doctor.

[miss.mestiza]

I had this earlier and later in pregnancy, drink plenty of fluids!