shortness of breath and slight pains

[loza]

Hi all

around six weeks ago i noticed slight pains in my chest on my left side. And when i spoke with my midwife she asked if they were accompanied by shortness of breath. Which at the time they weren't and to be honest they aren't frequent chest pains i'd say i get odd days when I feel them. Wheni first started getting them they felt like stabbing pains and were in my left side. But now they can be anywere across my chest and cause me to take a deep breath when feeling them, but don't get me wrong they are not agony painful hance why I'm typing on here and not telling the hospital!. My partner gets quite angry with me when I don't want to waste doctor's or midwifes time with these things, but I really don't want to appear a moaner with nothing wrong. The reason why I have decided to write now is im not experiencing much pain today although im sat at my desk and feeling short of breath, constantly tired and very thirsty! I feel as though im being deprived of enough oxygen and feel as though i have to remind myself to breath a little faster.
I hope you can understand all this I've wrote it as though I'm speaking to you!!!

Thanks xxxxx

[Psychick]

How far are you into your pregnancy?

[loza]

Im 30 weeks and 2 days x

[redcrx]

when is your next midwife appointment?

[loza]

a week on Thursday

[redcrx]

ok well thats too long to wait, your partner is obviously concerned about it so please make an appointment to see midwife. Have you got a number you can call her on for advice?

It could well just be that baby is taking up a lot of room in there and putting pressure on your chest. BUT for the sake of everyones peace of mind and babys wellbeing, just give midwife a call as it could be something else.

[Psychick]

IM 21 weeks now and have experienced stabbing pains in my chest too but a little earlier on. This would mainly occur when I was laying quite flat in bed, mainly on my back. I couldnt take deep breaths as it hurt more but I found just carefully easing myself up or onto my said helped and they would go after a few minutes. Im not sure what causes them but can only assume its to do with how things are being moved about inside. Same with the shortness pf breath which Im getting a lot now. As baby is growing, theres less room for everything else and the lungs can get squashed too!
If the pain becomes more regular or worse, call you midwife straight away or take a trip up the hospital. But I wouldnt worry too much. It wont do any harm to give your midwife a call anyway just to check. Thats what they are there for!

[the dog]

There are many reasons for these symptoms. You may have a chest infection which is chronic rather than acute. You may have entrapment of your intercostal muscles (those between your ribs - this is not uncommon in women who have a short body - does this apply to you).

I am bit concerned about the feeling very tired and very thirsty as these can be symptoms of diabetes - do you pee excessively and have any risk factors for diabetes in which case you should have been tested for abnormalities of blood sugar. Also, although again it is normal to feel tired in pregnancy, excessive tiredness can be caused by anaemia. How long ago did you have your red blood cells checked.

It is very common to feel a bit short of breath in later pregnancy, and to feel that you have to breathe a bit faster due to the demands of the baby and also the compression of your lungs by the growing fetus.

I really think that you should run these symptoms by your Midwife for starters. No Midwife should ever think that you are wasting her time with what can appear to a woman to be trivial symtoms, you know your own body and clearly you are concerned enough about how you feel to ask the questions. I hope that your Midwife will listen to you as an old saying goes - listen to the patient - they are telling you the diagnosis. Please let us know how you get on

[loza]

ok thank you very much. It's just i dont like to waste peoples time or bother them unnecessarily, the same reason why i need a trip to the doc's to sort out some seperate problems but dont want to take the time off work, I start maternity leave a week today and would rather wait. But I will give my midwife a call just to make sure. Baby very very active though so that's why I dont consider baby to be under threat otherwise I'd be straight to hospital. But little one never stays still ;-) xx thanks again xx

[loza]

Hi the dog, I had tests a week and a half ago for suspected gestational diabetes, I have to wait until Thursday and if i dont receive a letter just to assume everything is ok. They tested due to glucose being quite high and baby measuring a little bigger than should be. Feel like my body actually doesnt feel to tired its my eyes that feel like they have weights on them and they actually look real tired too! x I have noticed last 2 weeks peeing has become very very frequent and seems to always feel like i need to go..when i try walking to the loo have to kind of huntch my back forwards and hold bottom of belly as feel i may do it on the way as feels quite heavy but thought this to be normal. This is my first pregnancy so Im really not sure what to expect.

[redcrx]

what i meant by baby's wellbeing was that if you are suffering from asthma or anything thats stopping you from getting enough oxygen it can have a knock on effect.

[loza]

no i don't and never have suffered from asthma or any repiratory problems before which is why it makes it that little more scary x

[redcrx]

chest infections can occur in anyone. Asthma can also come on at any time and pregnancy can make it worse.

dont be scared, after all youre calling midwife and she will check alls ok. Its more than likely just lack of room. Its always best to make sure though

[loza]

Hi all

just letting you know that I have called midwife and am booked in with my gp today to have a full blood count and heart rate checked. Apparently the symptoms im displaying could possibly mean I'm anaemic, which haven't got a clue what that is.

Thanks xx

[redcrx]

aneamia is caused by low iron. Its easily treated with supplements.

Try to drink fresh orange juice with meals as vit C helps body absorb iron.

Also, if they give you tablets, watch out for constipations as they are ******* for bunging you up.

[loza]

ok thanks x only thing is, since being pregnant iv gon totally off orange juice, tastes very strong. Although i do eat alot of fruit so would I be getting Vit C through them? x

[redcrx]

oh yeah, take anything with vit c, i just said orange juice as its easy to drink with a meal :)

[Psychick]

Kiwis are a good source for vitamin c. Also, when you take your iron tablet (if they prescribe them) dont take the with a cup of tea and wait an hour or so before having one. This is because drinks like that contain tannin which stops you from asorbing the iron well.
Hope you feel better soon :)

[sense4all]

When you say thirsty are you actually taking loads more water on board. They have just had a lady on This Morning who had gone from drinking two glasses of water a day to 10 litres ... she had liver problems in pregnancy ... which are very rare but it might just be worth asking your midwife about this (they said only thirty people get it a year in UK) ... she also had chronic itching ... do you? Please do ring your midwife straight away if you feel detatched from what is happening around you - like you are a spectating on your own life . All the very best for Thurs day if you decide to wait. Love Sense X

[loza]

well i have always enjoyed 2 or 3 glasses of water but since having noticed my thirst I have counted just how many I drink whilst at work ...and counted a whopping 10 glasses of water between 10am and 5:30pm, then I go home to have more x

[spanner7853]

blimey are you sleeping on the toilet at night. I am glad someoen mentioned Aneamia as my friend had the same symptoms as you but it was the actual iron supplement she was given that was causing it. Hope all goes well keep us updated.