Breathing Problem During Pregnancy: How To Recover

The different symptoms that you experience during pregnancy is mostly caused due to hormonal changes in your body. Shortness of breath and rib pain are two typical pregnancy problems, both of which can be painful and interfere with your sleep.

While this concern can hinder your day-to-day activities, the good news is that there are simple ways you can treat and prevent it, and also enhance your overall health. Keep reading to know more about the causes of breathing problem during pregnancy, and ways to manage this symptom effectively.

Symptoms Of Breathing Problem During Pregnancy

It may be difficult for you to breath or you may feel like you’re breathing heavily, and are constantly out of breath. You may also notice:

• Putting more efforts while inhaling or exhaling
• Feeling tightness in your chest and throat
• Not getting enough oxygen

Causes Of Shortage Of Breath During Pregnancy

Throughout your pregnancy, you may experience difficulty breathing, but it does tend to happen more frequently in the final trimester. Here are a few pregnancy-related causes in case you’re wondering why it’s happening.

Hormones:

You may or may not feel changes in your breathing due to pregnancy hormone effects on your heart and lungs.

Uterus:

Your uterus presses against your diaphragm as it ascends into your abdomen (the muscle that helps with breathing). It may make it more challenging to take a deep breath since it may cram your lungs and limit their ability to expand.

Exercise:

Exercise throughout pregnancy is good for you. Overdoing it, however, might result in discomfort, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. Make sure you move through your workouts at a healthy speed and pause for breaks often. You should also stay hydrated and pay attention to your body’s cues.

Your Weight:

Numerous health problems, such as breathing difficulties and other respiratory diseases, can be caused due to obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Breathing Problem During Pregnancy In First Trimester

Early in pregnancy, hormone changes may have an impact on how you breathe. They may cause you to feel out of breath and change the way you breathe. Additionally, you can feel exhausted if you need more air.

Breathing Problem During Pregnancy In Second Trimester

In the second trimester, you may start feeling short of breath frequently. The most likely causes are the modifications to your circulatory (heart and blood) and respiratory (lungs and breathing) systems as well as your enlarging midsection.

Breathing Problem During Pregnancy In Third Trimester

The third trimester is typically when shortness of breath gets worse. Your expanding baby and uterus take up a lot more space in your abdomen between weeks 31 to 34. Your diaphragm will be compressed and your lungs will be crammed due to the size of your kid and uterus. You breathe with the aid of your diaphragm, therefore it could seem more challenging to take a deep breath.

Diagnosis For Breathing Problem During Pregnancy

When you visit your doctor for prenatal care, you should always discuss your symptoms and discomforts during pregnancy. To determine whether what you’re experiencing is normal, your doctor can quiz you and examine you.

Your doctor will:

• Keep an eye on your breathing and heart rate.
• Ask about your diet and daily habits and lifestyle.

If you have symptoms that could be caused by something other than pregnancy, your doctor may want to rule that out as well.

Other Factors That Cause Breathing Problem In Pregnancy

There are numerous causes of shortness of breath, which affects everyone occasionally. You may experience the following additional respiratory issues such as anaemia, asthma, allergic reaction, anxiety, cold or flu, pneumonia, lung condition, heart condition, and thyroid. 

Rib Pain

Another typical pregnant symptom is rib pain, particularly in the final trimester. Since rib discomfort can make it harder to take a deep breath and make you feel out of breath, rib pain and shortness of breath are frequently reported simultaneously.

Tips To Get Relief From Breathing Problem In Pregnancy

With pregnancy, your body will naturally stretch and expand. You might not be able to prevent it, but you can try to manage it and develop a coping mechanism for sleeping through it. Pregnancy rib pain can be relieved by:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Maintaining proper posture
• Dressing comfortably and loosely
• Consuming healthy foods and avoid the ones that trigger gas, bloating, andconstipation
• Utilising pregnancy yoga or safe prenatal activities to stabilise, strengthen, and stretch out your muscles and joints
• Wearing a bra that is supportive and fits you appropriately
• Wearing a belly band or belt to support your growing belly
• If your job requires you to sit at a desk all day, you should get up frequently, take breaks, and move around
• Working on your deep breathing
• Taking a shower or bath that is warm, not hot
• Applying warm compresses or ice packs
• Using additional pillows or body pillows to make your bed more comfy
• Avoiding any painkillers without first consulting your doctor. To ease discomfort, your doctor might suggest Tylenol (acetaminophen).

Key Takeaways

It’s common to experience some rib discomfort and shortness of breath when you’re pregnant. These symptoms can be unpleasant to deal witth sometimes. Even if you think your symptoms are simply a part of pregnancy, you should always talk to your doctor about all of your problems. It’s wise to be safe and have your doctor have a look at it.

Cover Image Credit: Freepik.com