Shortness of breath during pregnancy third trimester

During this week of pregnancy, your baby is about the length of an 18" picture frame and weighs about 4 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a pineapple. Moreover, he's no longer wrinkled and transparent. His fat and skin are developed enough that he looks more like a human baby and less like a giant raisin.

Tip of the week:
Difficulty breathing should go away within the next few weeks. To give your lungs and diaphragm a little more room right now, try taking a deep breath as you stretch your arms over your head. It may also help to sit with good posture during the day and sleep with an extra pillow under your head at night.

His bones are also getting good and strong during these final weeks, except, of course, for the plates in his skull, which will remain as separate plates until well after birth. During his trip down the birth canal, his head will need to be soft enough to make its way through the narrow passage. This means that afterward, he may have a slightly cone-shaped head, but that should go away within a week.

As he gets bigger, he may start to put some pressure on your lungs or diaphragm, potentially causing you to gasp for breath even when resting.

Usually around weeks 31 through 34 of pregnancy, the uterus shifts and presses on the flat muscle in the lower abdomen called the diaphragm, which helps push air out of the lungs. When it's compressed, it can't do its job efficiently and may result in your neck and chest muscles working overtime. Additionally, your growing baby may be putting pressure directly on your lungs, preventing them from fully expanding.

Many women experience shortness of breath during pregnancy, and it's usually not a problem. However, there are a few instances in which you should seek medical care. If you have a rapid pulse, heart palpitations, chest pain, a persistent cough, fever, chills or feel dizzy, it's a good idea to call your health care provider. Also, blue coloring in the lips, fingers or toes is a sign that you should call the doctor, as is worsening asthma.

Being short of breath during pregnancy is not uncommon, and be caused by a number of factors like high blood pressure, changing hormones, and even excessive amniotic fluid. If you're feeling breathless, there are some ways to get relief such as propping yourself up with extra pillows at night and not pushing yourself too hard when you're active. There are situations, though, where you should call your provider right away – for example, if you have chest pain, a persistent cough, rapid pulse, or difficulty breathing.

What causes shortness of breath during pregnancy?

You may be out of breath now because you need more oxygen during pregnancy, and your body adapts to meet this need in several ways. Rising hormones, particularly progesterone, directly affect your lungs and stimulate the respiratory center in your brain. And although the number of breaths you take per minute changes very little during pregnancy, the amount of air you inhale and exhale with each breath increases significantly.

Being short of breath in early pregnancy may feel more like a heightened awareness of the need to breathe. Later in pregnancy, your breathing might feel more labored as your growing uterus puts pressure on your diaphragm – especially if you're carrying your baby high, are pregnant with multiples, or have excessive amniotic fluid.

Shortness of breath during pregnancy can also be aggravated by a preexisting condition, such as asthma, anemia, or high blood pressure.

You may get some breathing relief a few weeks before you're due, especially if it's your first pregnancy, because this is when the baby often drops into your pelvis as labor approaches (called lightening).

Is it possible to have shortness of breath in very early pregnancy?

It is possible to have shortness of breath in very early pregnancy, although it's more common to experience this later in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. If you do experience it early on, it's likely due to increased progesterone, which begins rising at the beginning of the first trimester.

This can come as a surprise but it doesn't indicate that anything is amiss – this tends to be due to normal changes in your hormone levels. The good news is that the hormone also expands your lung capacity so you can take in more oxygen for your baby. That means you can take deeper breaths, which may be helpful to alleviate the issue.

However, if you're experiencing other symptoms like chest pain or rapid heartbeat, seek medical attention immediately.

What can I do if I have shortness of breath during pregnancy?

If you're feeling a little breathless, try these tips for relief:

• Take things a bit more slowly and don't push yourself too hard when being active.
• Sit up straight and keep your shoulders back (especially when sitting) to give your lungs as much room as possible to expand.
• Prop yourself up a bit with a few extra pillows when you're in bed at night.
• Lift your arms over your head. This will take pressure off the rib cage, so you can usually breathe in more oxygen.
• Try to be patient. It's no fun to be uncomfortably out of breath. But after you give birth, your breathing will soon feel like it did before you were pregnant.

Can having shortness of breath during pregnancy lead to any complications?

If you have occasional shortness of breath – especially in your third trimester when baby might be pressing upward – it shouldn't be a concern. But it is possible that it could worsen if you have another respiratory problem, such as asthma or the flu.

Up to 45 percent of women with asthma experience worsening symptoms during pregnancy, and severe bouts could be harmful to both you and your baby.

Pregnant women with respiratory illnesses like the flu often have more serious symptoms and are more likely to develop complications, such as pneumonia. (That's why it's important to get a flu shot if you're pregnant during flu season.)

Also, because of changes in the way your blood clots during pregnancy, you're at higher risk for developing a blood clot that goes to your lungs (pulmonary embolism). This condition is rare but very serious.

Another concern is COVID-19, since it's a respiratory illness. Pregnant women who contract the virus are at increased risk of pregnancy complications like preterm birth, stillbirth, or passing the infection to your baby. Like the flu vaccine, it's important to also get the COVID-19 vaccine if you're pregnant.

When should I call my doctor about shortness of breath during pregnancy?

If you're having mild shortness of breath when doing an activity like walking up stairs or carrying something heavy, it's probably okay to just observe yourself and make sure it passes when you pause and relax for a few minutes. However, if you have severe symptoms you'll need to call your doctor right away. These include:

• Sudden or severe shortness of breath
• Worsening asthma
• Rapid pulse
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat
• A feeling that you're going to faint
• Chest pain or pain when you breathe
• Paleness
• Blue-tinged lips, fingers, or toes
• A sense of apprehension that you're not getting enough oxygen
• A persistent cough, a cough along with fever or chills, or coughing up blood

Even without shortness of breath, symptoms like these need immediate attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you can't reach your provider.

Learn more:

• Pregnancy symptoms never to ignore
• The flu vaccine during pregnancy
• If you get sick during pregnancy

Is shortness of breath normal during third trimester?

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