Shortness of breath in pregnant women during pregnancy?

Caution : You must consult your doctor for your health. This page presents only a personal and alternative point of view which should not be considered as an attempt to prescribe medicine.

While normal, shortness of breath during pregnancy can be uncomfortable.

With every little effort, most pregnant women feel short of breath.

There are several techniques for alleviating ailment, but you must first understand the reasons for its occurrence.

Read this article carefully to find out more.

What explains shortness of breath during pregnancy?

Apart from physical changes, pregnancy also brings about internal changes.

To promote the growth of the fetus, physiological adaptations take place.

At the start of pregnancy, your blood flow increases.

This means that the pregnant woman's heart works harder and helps meet the oxygen needs of the fetus.

This is why it is often said that when you are pregnant you "breathe for two."

The respiratory system is strained much more and this creates a slight shortness of breath (even when at rest).

A few weeks before the due date, the rate of respiration per minute in pregnant women increases.

The baby is almost full term and has therefore grown (in height and weight).

It takes up a lot of space in your rib cage and this limits the ability of the lungs to stretch.

This makes the breath shorter, hence the repetitive shortness of breath.

What should be done to avoid shortness of breath?

Since this phenomenon is natural, it is not easy to avoid it.

However, you can lessen the harm by adopting certain positions.

It is important to stress that physical efforts should be limited (especially towards the end of pregnancy).

Some habits for this are very effective:

• Always sleep with your head slightly raised: you can use a pillow.This position makes breathing easier.
• Lie on your back and breathe slowly: raise your arms while inhaling and bring them back to your side as you exhale.For more effect, be sure to bend your legs.
• Do prenatal yoga: if your doctor doesn't recommend it
• Stay away from smokers: Environments where people smoke are not conducive to your breathing.Also, smoke is harmful to the health of the fetus.

As you may know, walking is recommended for pregnant women.

The purpose of these tips is to limit the feeling of shortness of breath.

Some additional information

In some women, shortness of breath appears suddenly and is accompanied by pain.

Thus, you may notice the appearance of several other unusual symptoms: sweaty palms, swelling of the legs, etc.

In the most serious cases, you may observe pain in the chest and calves.

Palpitations are normal towards the end of pregnancy, but if abdominal pain ensues, the consequences can be serious.

You will need to watch all of its manifestations, as neglect could lead to other conditions.

Hyperventilation disorders are common during pregnancy as is hypertension.

To avoid endangering the life of the fetus and yours, a medical consultation is necessary.

Make an appointment and go for exams before it's too late.

In conclusion, shortness of breath is very often part of the daily life of pregnant women.

However, there are several exercises she can do to reduce the feeling of discomfort.

Towards the end of pregnancy, it is essential to limit physical exertion in order to avoid any complications.

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