One of the most common symptoms of pregnancy is breathlessness, or. However, facing trouble breathing while pregnant is a symptom not many women know of and it usually catches them by surprise.
Here is a quick look at the different aspects of breathing problems during pregnancy that you may encounter.
Yes. Most women face problems with catching their breath during their pregnancy. As your body undergoes many changes, including a drastic change in the levels of your hormones, one of the first things you will notice is a change in the way you breathe. Your breaths become more laboured, deeper, and more frequent.
About 75% of women experience breathlessness in their pregnancy. It is perfectly normal to have a breathing problem during pregnancy while engaging in any physical activity.
Finding yourself suddenly short of breath while you are trying to stay as healthy as you can for your pregnancy can be quite alarming. It is crucial that you educate yourself on the causes of breathlessness while pregnant.
You are likely to face breathlessness during early pregnancy as it is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Your baby needs oxygen as well as blood supply for development. As your body begins to share its oxygen supply with your baby, you can experience breathlessness.
During this trimester, the focus is on increasing your lung capacity by expanding the rib cage. You will notice this change as your clothes will get tighter. The hormone progesterone will be created in excess which will overstimulate your respiratory system.
In this stage, your body’s hormones are the primary reason you will continue to feel breathless. The capillaries in your lungs will swell while the muscles around them will relax. All of these physiological changes will result in shortness of breath. The hormones will regulate your breathing pattern into taking deeper and more frequent breaths.
As your baby begins to grow, your uterus will push against all other organs. This includes your diaphragm. In most cases, the diaphragm will shift up to 4cm. This pressure makes it hard for your lungs to expand fully, thus causing breathlessness and discomfort. You will feel more pressure if you are carrying the foetus high, have lots of amniotic fluid, or have multiple pregnancies.
Since breathlessness is a natural physiological response by your body to being pregnant, there isn’t any particular cure to this condition. However, there are many ways in which you can relieve the discomfort as well as manage the condition. Here are a few of them:
Once you start feeling symptoms of breathlessness you are bound to continue doing so till the end of pregnancy. Once you give birth, the levels of progesterone will come back to normal almost immediately. Your ribcage and respiratory tract will take longer to come back to normal.
However, if this is your first pregnancy, then your baby will drop to the pelvis by the week. After this, you will find considerable relief from any breathing troubles.
Breathlessness is a common condition. As long as you do not experience other symptoms, such as chest pains, you and your baby should be safe. Your baby will continue to get ample amount of oxygen through the amniotic fluid. Remember, the function of progesterone in your respiratory system is to ensure that you take in copious amounts of oxygen.
In case you are still worried, feel free to talk to your doctor about all your concerns.
Sometimes, the breathlessness you experience could be indicative of any other underlying issues you might have. It is best that you keep tabs on all symptoms you experience. You could be experiencing breathing problem during pregnancy due to the following issues:
You must tell your doctor about all previous medical conditions. This way, they will be able to create a plan for yourself that is most suited to your needs.
There are many ways to make sure that you do not have trouble breathing in pregnancy. Here are a few:
Conclusion
Feeling breathless during your pregnancy is a common physiological condition. You must ensure that your doctors and caretakers are informed of this condition along with any other pre-existing ones. Keep track of the symptoms and do not hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.