Shortness of breath--what's normal?

marionravenwood · October 2012

I've been getting short of breath a lot, including when I'm just sitting at my desk or watching tv. I try to take a walk every night and that causes me to get sort of gaspy--but it lasts for 45 minutes, sometimes longer. I feel like I have to take deep breaths all the time or yawn frequently. My OB said the hormone-induced shortness of starts around week 20 and gets much better around week 24 (then starting around week 32 the baby could start pressing on the diaphragm). I'm 24 weeks now and it doesn't seem to be getting better.

I've been having a lot of anxiety with the pregnancy and I suspect some of the shortness of breath is in my crazy, hormonal head--especially because for me its the scariest symptom. I've been to cardiologist so I know there's nothing physically wrong with me.

Just curious what you ladies are experiencing and whether what I'm feeling is totally normal.

fignewt74 · October 2012

I just mentioned this to my BFF who has three kids and she agreed it was the probably the most annoying symptom she had, particularly with the last baby. I am chalking it up to normally pregnancy symptoms.

I think you need to worry if there is pain associated with breathing, and/or if the shortness of breath is severe and comes on very suddenly.

HTH!

ATLdesi · October 2012

I've been having this same symptom too - more so this last week than ever before, and I'm nearly 25 weeks. Not sure what to make of it! I have both the out-of-breath feeling, and occasionally I feel like my heart is kind of pounding/palpitating. The weirdest part is not when I get it after a walk or some burst of activity, b/c at least that's expected - but rather, when I wake up in the middle of the night feeling a little breathless. It's just weird to be totally at rest, then suddenly awakened b/c I need to sit up and try to catch a deep, slow breath. But like the PP said, I've been to the doctor and have checked out as totally normal, so I'm figuring its just one of those crazy pregnancy things. Thought you might like to hear from another Feb mama that you're not alone!

mamasmurf12 · October 2012

Yeah, it took me forever to fall asleep last night and then I was awake again for like 2 hours at 3am because I felt like I couldn't get a full deep breath in. For me, I have a big ol' fibroid on top of my uterus that is pushing up on my diaphragm. The OB confirmed that for me today, and told me a lot of her patients have to sleep propped up or in a recliner so they can breathe! I hope I don't have to do that, I love my bed!!!!

CFragini · October 2012

I also receive shortness of breath and I do have anxiety as well..

WinterBenson · October 2012

When I feel a lot of anxiety, it usually mainfests in my bowels or my breathing. I've felt so overwhelmed before (in nursing school) that I felt like I couldn't quite get a dep breath in, like I had to yawn to get my lungs to fully expand. Could be anxiety for you, in part.

traciec84 · October 2012

I feel like I have a hard time catching my breath sometimes. Mainly after walking a bit, climbing stairs, and sometimes with conversation (if I get too long winded). I wasn't too worried about it, but I went ahead and mentioned it at my last appt. The PA told me it was perfectly normal. And she checked my ankles to see if there was any swelling (there's not), so she said it was nothing to worry about.