Pregnancy and shortness of breath?

[SamiJayne]

For the past couple of weeks, I've been finding I'm short of breath ALOT. Just by walking upstairs, I'm only 7 weeks pregnant so I dont know if that has anything to do with it.

I'm a healthy person, the only way normally I'd get out of breath like this is when I'm jogging. I play on my wii fit a lot, and go walking a lot.

 

But I am seriously getting worried about how short of breath i am getting, just by walking up the stairs. Or walking down the garden. =/

 

Could it be the pregnancy? I've never had this problem during pregnancy before.

 

Edit: And I have recently started taking it a little easier due to the threatend miscarriage.

[PsychGirly]

I'd say it's pretty normal, considering that your body is experiencing a dramatic increase in hormones, mainly progesterone, & that's affecting your lungs and stimulating the respiratory center in your brain.

[BellaDonna]

During the first trimester I was EXTREMELY tired. The hcG can cause a lot of fatigue.

 

But it can't hurt to mention your concerns to your doctor.

 

Be sure to stay well-hydrated and eat healthy.

[Hope75]

For the past couple of weeks, I've been finding I'm short of breath ALOT. Just by walking upstairs, I'm only 7 weeks pregnant so I dont know if that has anything to do with it.

I'm a healthy person, the only way normally I'd get out of breath like this is when I'm jogging. I play on my wii fit a lot, and go walking a lot.

 

But I am seriously getting worried about how short of breath i am getting, just by walking up the stairs. Or walking down the garden. =/

 

Could it be the pregnancy? I've never had this problem during pregnancy before.

 

Edit: And I have recently started taking it a little easier due to the threatend miscarriage.

 

Typically shortness of breath occurs more in the second and third trimesters, when the growing uterus displaces your other organs and presses on the lungs, but can occur in the first trimester as your lung volumes expand and you breathe larger breaths.

 

But, if you are anemic that can cause shortness of breath also- your body is almost doubling it's blood volume in the first 4-5 months of pregnancy, and the body can't always keep up with red blood cell production, especially if you aren't getting the proper nutrition, which most women in their first trimester aren't due to morning sickness and food aversions. Red blood cells carry oxygen so low levels can make you feel short of breath. I was diagnosed with anemia a few weeks ago and am 22 weeks pregnant and do notice I tend to get short of breath more easily now.

 

It's worth a check with your OB, and having a CBC drawn to check your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and having an iron level checked.

[EQD]

i think i once read that its because the body is now re-routing some oxygen to the baby makin machine.

[Hope75]

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