Do you also experience shortness of breath during pregnancy? (Shortness of Breath) Let's talk about this!

It's common for expectant mothers to feel a little short of breath during this time. In fact, many mothers experience this. But there can be more than one reason for this, so it's important to let your doctor know. Don't worry, today we'll talk about why this shortness of breath, or shortness of breath , occurs, what we can do about it, and when we should be especially concerned about it.

What happens to your breathing during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time when your body goes through many amazing changes. With these changes, your breathing pattern also changes slightly. Let's take a look at the main reasons.

How are hormones affected?

When you get pregnant, your body produces a lot more of a hormone called progesterone . This is a hormone that is essential for maintaining pregnancy. So, this progesterone hormone gives a little signal to the Respiratory Center in your brain, which is the part that controls our breathing, to "take a little deeper breath." This causes you to breathe a little more, a little deeper, than you normally would. Then you may feel like you are working a little harder to breathe, or like you are holding your breath a little. This is actually because your body is trying to provide the right amount of oxygen to your baby and you.

Does an enlarged uterus also have an effect?

Yes, absolutely. As your baby grows, your uterus also grows . This growing uterus begins to push up on the diaphragm, a muscle that is like a membrane under your lungs.

The diaphragm is a major muscle that helps the lungs contract and expand when we breathe. Think of it like a bellows.

So, as the uterus grows and pushes up on the diaphragm, the diaphragm has less room to move down freely. This also limits the space for the lungs to inflate properly, meaning expand. This is why you may feel a little short of breath, like you're out of breath. This can be especially noticeable when you're in your third trimester.

Is there any relief when the baby is low?

This is good news for many mothers! As you get closer to delivery, that is, in the last few weeks, your baby will start to move down into your pelvis . This is what we call "the baby dropping" or "the baby engaging." When this happens, the pressure on your diaphragm will be greatly reduced. You will start to breathe a little easier and feel relieved.

What can be done about shortness of breath?

Okay, now let's see what simple things we can do at home to help ease this breathing problem a little. Even though these are small things, you can feel a big difference.

Keep your posture correct!

This is very important.

• Try to keep your back straight when you're sitting or standing. When you're hunched over and leaning forward, your lungs don't have room to expand properly. For example, if you work in front of a computer, keep your back straight and sit properly in your chair. That way, your lungs have plenty of room. Just breathe in and out with your back straight, and you'll see the difference.
• Try to keep your shoulders back and your chest slightly forward. This will increase the space in your chest area and make it easier to breathe.

Try these things while sleeping.

Many mothers experience this difficulty breathing most often at night when they are sleeping.

• When sleeping, prop your head and upper body up with two or three pillows, and sleep in a semi-sitting position, as if you were in a reclining chair. This will reduce the pressure on your lungs and diaphragm from the uterus, making it easier to breathe.
• Some people say that it is easier to breathe when they sleep on their left side . This is because the pressure from the uterus on the large blood vessels is reduced, which improves blood circulation, which in turn helps the baby get more oxygen. You can try that too.

Don't work too hard!

This is something you definitely need to keep in mind during this time.

• When you exercise, do housework, or go out and do something, don't push yourself too hard. If you feel tired or sluggish, it's your body's signal to you, "Take a break, I'm tired." Listen to it.
• Take short breaks while you're working. Imagine you're cleaning the house. Don't do it all at once, do it a little at a time, sit down for a while, drink a glass of water, and then start again.
• Do some of your daily chores. Don't rush. The most important thing is that both mother and baby are well.

Consider light exercise as well.

• Ask your doctor about some light exercise that is suitable for you, as it will help you breathe easier and is also very good for your body. For example, walking, yoga exercises that are specifically designed for pregnant women, etc.
• But remember, don't exercise until you're exhausted or out of breath. If you're exhausted to the point where you can't talk, you're overexerting yourself.

When should we tell the doctor about this?

While it's normal to experience some shortness of breath during pregnancy, sometimes it can be a sign of something more serious. So, if you're experiencing shortness of breath, it's best to tell your doctor about it. Especially if you have any of the symptoms listed below, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, rather than waiting until tomorrow.

Pay special attention to these features!

• If the difficulty breathing started suddenly, suddenly.
• It feels so strong, so intense, like you can't breathe.
• If you feel like this difficulty is increasing day by day.
• If you have any of these things along with difficulty breathing:
• Chest pain or tightness.
• A frequent cough, or if you cough up blood.
• If you make a 'whooshing' sound from your chest when you breathe (Wheezing).
• If you feel like your heart is beating very fast, or if your heartbeat feels irregular (palpitations).
• If you feel dizzy or faint.
• If your lips or fingertips appear blue (this means your body is not getting enough oxygen)
• If you have a fever.

These symptoms may be caused by something other than pregnancy. For example, they could be a sign of a worsening condition such as asthma , a lung infection such as pneumonia , anemia (low blood count) , or, very rarely, a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) . These are rare conditions that can occur during pregnancy, so it's important to be aware of them.

So, we need to remember the most important things!

So, mom, it's normal to have some discomfort during pregnancy. A little difficulty breathing can be one of those things.

It's common to feel a little short of breath during pregnancy. This is mainly due to hormonal changes in your body and the pressure on your diaphragm caused by your growing uterus.

However, there are simple things you can do to reduce this discomfort. You can find relief by maintaining good posture, keeping your pillows slightly elevated when sleeping, not overexerting yourself, and doing light exercise .

The most important thing is that if you have other serious symptoms (e.g. chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, palpitations) along with your shortness of breath, or if this difficulty starts suddenly and gets worse day by day, you should definitely see your doctor without delay and seek advice.

The safety and health of you and your unborn baby are the most important things. Therefore, if you have any doubts or questions, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor and find out. Then you can go on this journey without fear and happily.

` Pregnancy, Shortness of Breath, Progesterone, Uterus, Diaphragm, Medical Advice