Shortness of breath in pregnancy is normal as long as there are no other symptoms involved. This is because with the baby's growth, the diaphragm and lungs are being compressed and the capacity of expansion of the rib cage is diminished, generating the sensation of lack of air.
However, there are other factors that may be at the origin of this symptom, such as respiratory diseases, allergic reactions or obesity for example. Know what may be causing shortness of breath.
What to do
What you can do is avoid great efforts, do not lie on your stomach and try to reduce anxiety. When the pregnant woman begins to feel difficulty breathing, she should sit down and concentrate on her own breathing, trying to calm herself as much as possible.
If the pregnant woman, in addition to shortness of breath, feels fever, chills or any other symptom, whether she is in the first, second or third trimester of pregnancy, she should go to the doctor to investigate the cause and eliminate it.
To relieve shortness of breath in pregnancy one can also take a natural remedy with honey syrup and watercress. Here's how to do this home remedy to relieve shortness of breath.
Shortness of breath in early pregnancy
Shortness of breath in early pregnancy is not very common, but it can occur especially if the woman has asthma, bronchitis, or if she has a cold.
In addition to shortness of breath, other symptoms appear, such as coughing, palpitation, racing heart and purplish lips and nails, one should go to the doctor quickly because it may be some heart or respiratory disease that needs to be treated quickly.
The feeling of shortness of breath during pregnancy can last up to 36 weeks of gestation, which is usually when the baby fits into the pelvis, making the belly a little lower, giving more space to the diaphragm and lungs.
Possible causes
Shortness of breath in pregnancy can be caused by:
- Excess of physical activity;
- Tiredness;
- Baby growth;
- Anxiety;
- Asthma;
- Bronchitis;
- Heart disease.
When the baby fits the pelvis, around 34 weeks of gestation, the belly tends to "go down" or "lower" and the lack of air tends to decrease because the lung gets more space to fill with air.
Watch the following video and learn about other symptoms that can happen in pregnancy and what you can do to relieve:
Shortness of breath in pregnancy harms the baby?
The lack of light air, which most pregnant women feel during pregnancy, does not harm the baby at all because the baby receives the oxygen it needs through the blood from the umbilical cord.
However, if the pregnant woman experiences any other symptoms other than shortness of breath, or if the shortness of breath becomes worse, she should see a doctor for an evaluation.
