Breathlessness is common during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester (weeks 27 to 40). The size of your womb and the position of your baby can make it difficult for your lungs to expand. The extra weight you are carrying may also make you feel short of breath.
Other causes of shortness of breath during pregnancy include: Anaemia (being low in iron) can cause shortness of breath. This could be a cause especially if you have some of the other symptoms of pre-eclampsia. These are: This is a life-threatening condition. Pulmonary embolism happens when a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clot in a vein of your lower leg moves to your lungs. You may also have chest pain, particularly when you take a deep breath in or cough. You may also notice that your heart is beating faster than usual. If you suffer from asthma, pregnancy may make your symptoms more severe. Talk to your GP urgently if you have a history of asthma and notice your shortness of breath is getting worse. If you have a cough that lasts more than 2 to 3 days always see your GP. Simple infections make you sicker in pregnancy than they normally would. This is one of the reasons why it is recommended that you receive the flu vaccine during pregnancy.
There are other warning signs to watch out for during pregnancy. They could mean you're experiencing pregnancy complications or a medical emergency. They can also be signs of a common ailment during pregnancy. Warning signs include:
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Many, many women who are pregnant find themselves short of breath at some point. One reason is that the uterus is expanding and pushing up into the abdomen. This squeezes the lungs a bit, reducing the space they have for oxygen exchange. An even bigger cause for shortness of breath is progesterone, a hormone that increases during pregnancy. High progesterone levels cause pregnant women to breathe faster. The rise in progesterone begins early in pregnancy, and the shortness of breath it causes can come as a surprise. While shortness of breath can be worrisome, most of the time it is harmless and due to the normal changes of pregnancy. That said, it's still a good idea to consider if there might be some other reason for it. This guide will help you assess whether your shortness of breath is normal pregnancy-related shortness of breath or something else. Let's get started. Severe shortness of breath, shortness of breath that comes on suddenly, and shortness of breath accompanied by certain symptoms requires immediate medical attention. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, it is a medical emergency: - Severe shortness of breath - Difficulty talking in full sentences - Chest pain with shortness of breath - Swelling in the face or abdomen with shortness of breath (a possible allergic reaction) - Shortness of breath that appears suddenly and unexpectedly Do you have any of the symptoms listed above? Yes, I have one or more of these symptoms. No, I don't have any of these symptoms.
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. As your pregnancy progresses, you may start to feel winded even after minimal amounts of physical exertion. As usual, those pregnancy hormones are to blame for taking your breath away. Here's what you need to know about shortness of breath during pregnancy. Is it normal to be short of breath during pregnancy?Although mild breathlessness can be less than comfortable, it's totally normal. It's also completely safe for your baby, who remains continually well-oxygenated via your placenta. When does shortness of breath generally start?Shortness of breath often starts during the second trimester of pregnancy. In the third trimester, breathlessness may increase as your baby continues to grow. What causes shortness of breath during pregnancy?Pregnancy hormones stimulate your brain to increase the frequency and depth of your breaths, so you take in more oxygen for your growing baby-to-be. Those hormones also swell the capillaries in your respiratory tract and relax the muscles of the lungs and bronchial tubes, making you feel like you're sucking wind after a trip to the fridge. Later in pregnancy, your uterus pushes up against your diaphragm as it grows. This compresses your lungs, limiting their ability to fully expand when you take a breath and causing you to feel like you've just run a marathon when you've only climbed a flight of stairs. What can I do about shortness of breath during pregnancy?Though you can't completely relieve this common pregnancy symptom, there are some things you can do to help ease it a little bit:
When can I expect the shortness of breath to end?Here's something to look forward to: You might feel significantly less short of breath at the end of your pregnancy when your baby drops down into your pelvis, freeing up room for your lungs. When should I call my doctor about shortness of breath during pregnancy?If you're feeling constantly breathless, talk to your doctor. Breathlessness can sometimes be caused by anemia during pregnancy due to a depletion of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, so your practitioner may want to check your iron levels. Also consult with your doctor if you have asthma. If you're having a very hard time breathing and your lips or fingertips seem to be turning bluish, or if you have chest pain and a rapid pulse, call your practitioner immediately.
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