How out of breath is normal?

[Matryoshka]

I am just wondering how out of breath is normal for pregnancy??

I am almost 24 weeks now and for many weeks i've been very breathless, for instance even just hanging out the washing, checking the mail, or sometimes walking to the kitchen, i am panting for breath. I have also had chest tightenings and it feels like my heart is racing - but i thought this was related to my anxiety and i am currently trialling treatment for that. The anxiety is better but i'm still getting the chest tightenings and breathless.

I don't remember having this in my last pregnancy unless i went for a long walk or some other exercise. I don't want to sound lazy but i'm certainly not exerting myself as i am home with my DS on a daily basis.

So would you say this is related to the anxiety or perhaps just normal as i know each pregancy is different?

[bellelass]

If you're not triggering it with feeling anxious, I'd say its pretty normal and not anxiety. I had a really hard time with not being able to breathe around the 2nd/3rd trimester mark for several weeks. It felt like tightenings, like I couldn't fill my lungs completely. I hated it, absolutely hated it- would happen with very little exertion. Bad bad reflux around the same time.

I would gently stretch my arms over my head and breathe deeply. Also a little bit of cat-cow yoga movements as it stretches the spine and made breathing a little easier. Try a little squatting on your flat feet, again while stretching your spine, as that seems to create space too. The other one I did a lot was I'd lie on the ground with my feet at a 45 degree angle on the lounge or whatever, with my arms stretched out on the floor above my head. Use a pillow/pillows under your head and back.

The good part is there's hope, your baby will drop and you should be able to breathe again.

[MantaRay]

I would get it checked out to be sure, but I know I did get a lot more out of breath with pg2. I asked my ob and she said well of course you are, you are running after a toddler as well as being pg. She was right, I was fine. But your case might be different, get checked out jic, it's always worth having the peace of mind.

[Jayney]

With all my pregnancies I have been out of breath. Even with #1 I could stand up and sing in church as I didn't have enough breath. This time it is a little worse. A flight of stairs leaves my panting.

[mfcr06]

Yes, I am 25+3 weeks and the slightest bit of exertion leaves me feeling puffed.

I see my OB tomorrow so I will be mentioning it but I am sure she is going to say that it is perfectly normal.....

[Zee]

B I have been out of breath alot this pregnancy aswell, doing things like walking up our stairs to our bedroom etc I have to stop & cathc my breath so id say its normal but getting it checked out wouldnt hurt.