Shortness of breath at the very beginning of pregnancy is very common. It manifests itself in the fact that a woman begins to have breathing problems during various activities. The frequency of inhalations and their depth change; it often seems as if there is not enough oxygen in the air. This condition often occurs not only during walks or walks, but also when performing banal routine actions around the house.
Where does this condition come from? Do you need to urgently go to the doctors? What to do and what to do?
Why does shortness of breath appear in the early stages?
Often shortness of breath is due to the fact that a pregnant woman's hemoglobin level in the blood drops. If there are such suspicions, then it is best to immediately get your blood tested and improve your diet. There is little pleasure in anemia during pregnancy, and it is a very, very popular pathology.
Also, one of the reasons for shortness of breath may be problems and problems with the heart. The body works for two people, and therefore respiratory activity is suppressed. Often, the expectant mother is bothered by a strong heartbeat during the early stages. You need to immediately consult a doctor and describe everything in detail to him. Particular attention should be paid to those girls who suffered from heart disease before pregnancy.
The doctor will perform a detailed diagnosis and establish the appropriate treatment, which will allow you to return your health to normal. Vitamins such as magnesium, iron, etc. are often added to the preparations.
Shortness of breath at the very beginning of pregnancy brings problems for the expectant mother. However, most often everything returns to normal on its own, without requiring any external intervention. For example, if a woman wears clothes that are too tight or too uncomfortable, then when she changes them to a looser wardrobe, the problem quickly disappears.
Other reasons that can cause shortness of breath:
- Wrong lifestyle and diet.
- Low pressure.
- Severe toxicosis.
- High physical activity.
- Interruptions with hormones.
- Increase in blood volume in the body.
- Overvoltage and stress.
- Lung diseases.
- Chronic diseases.
If shortness of breath during pregnancy does not disappear or subside, then it is better to undergo a detailed examination by doctors. Perhaps there are hidden foci of infection or other pathologies in the body.
Baby at twenty-fifth week
This week the baby is mainly in a head down position. Even if this does not happen, there will still be time to change the situation. The baby's body length reaches 32 cm, weight - about 750 g. The face is almost formed and you can clearly see the cheeks, nose, lips, eyebrows and eyelids. During this period, the baby's weight gain will be faster than his growth in length. The mother will even be able to feel the baby hiccupping. There is no need to worry about this, but you need to tell the doctor. The baby is actively moving night and day, his lungs have completed the process of formation, although they are not yet ready to fully function. The skin on the body is already brightening and straightening. Now the skeletal system is actively strengthening, so mother needs to consume more foods containing calcium. Subcutaneous fat continues to accumulate, and this causes the formation of folds on the legs, arms and buttocks. This week is very interesting because the baby can already clench his fists and play with his fingers, and right now it is determined whether he will be right-handed or left-handed. You can also track during what periods the baby sleeps and when he is awake.
How to deal with shortness of breath
To eliminate all the problems and consequences of shortness of breath, you must adhere to the following simple rules. The first thing you need to do is reconsider your lifestyle.
Need to:
- Stop smoking.
- Avoid stress and overload.
- Choose a suitable wardrobe that will not hinder your movement.
- In summer, try to take a sun umbrella.
- Reduce your vital activity.
You can also try to relieve other symptoms, such as extreme fatigue. This will lift your spirits even in such a difficult stage as pregnancy.
What moms can do:
- You need to monitor your diet, improve it and balance it.
- You should try to drink more fluid.
- It's worth improving your sleep. If the weather outside is suitable, you can even sleep with the window open.
- Before going to bed, try to drink soothing teas.
- Try to stick to breathing exercises.
- Buy special pillows for sleeping.
- Do not sit for a long time in front of a computer or TV. You should constantly get up and stretch.
- You must not give in to panic and always control your condition even during an attack of shortness of breath.
Many expectant mothers speak positively about various essential oils. If shortness of breath takes you by surprise during physical activity, then you can sit down or lie down and take a break. The increase in loads should be gradual.
How the baby develops at the twenty-seventh week of pregnancy
Active movements and growth are characteristic of the baby this week. He still has enough space in his mother’s tummy and nothing hinders his movements. The baby actively moves its arms and legs and can still roll over if it is positioned with its head up. The strength of his thrusts increases, and this is due to constant training and an increase in muscle mass. The baby is actively preparing for birth, training its arms and legs. From this period, the endocrine system and its important part, the pituitary gland, develop, which plays a huge role in the growth of the baby. The thyroid gland is activated, producing important hormones that regulate metabolism in the body. The production of hormones this week allows the baby to provide for its own needs, because until this moment the mother’s hormones played the main role. This week is the main one in the formation of the baby’s individual metabolic system and his reaction to many events and processes in life. The baby’s weight also increases, reaching 1000 g, and the length of the baby’s body is 34 cm. The baby’s body is covered with vellus hairs, and there are small soft marigolds on the fingers. The lungs continue to develop and train for the birth of a baby. The baby receives oxygen through the placenta. The baby begins to distinguish colors and can turn its head towards the light source, can feel pain and clench its tiny fists.
What symptoms indicate that you need to see a doctor?
Shortness of breath is not always well tolerated by women. Often, such an ailment leads to the fact that a woman experiences severe discomfort, cannot lead her usual lifestyle, and feels severe pain. You should consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- Pain while inhaling.
- Breathing too quickly.
- Blue lips.
- Cold hands or feet.
- Fainting.
- Increased weakness, unable to get out of bed.
- Increase in body temperature.
- Coughing up blood.
- Increased asthma.
Any breathing pathologies will certainly affect the baby. A lack of oxygen can lead to the child developing various developmental problems. There is no need to ignore such problems and diseases. It is worth taking decisive action immediately.
In the early stages of pregnancy, shortness of breath is not as dangerous for the baby as in later stages. It often goes away on its own. As soon as the hormonal levels settle down and hemoglobin returns to normal, shortness of breath will disappear. Try not to panic, walk outside more, lead a healthy lifestyle and actively relax. Try breathing exercises that will help you during childbirth.
What happens to the baby at the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy
The baby continues to develop and grow, his weight has already reached 900 g, and his height is 34 cm. During this period, the baby will be able to survive if he decides to be born prematurely. In the second trimester, all the organs of the little man are practically formed. The intensity of the little one's movements and the force of his kicks are becoming stronger, and the mother may feel uncomfortable and painful. The baby has a lot of space, which allows him to tumble and move actively. Although it is already fully formed, the body is still small and thin. Basically, a baby gains weight by accumulating fat and due to muscle growth. The baby is able to distinguish the taste of amniotic fluid, which changes in accordance with what the mother ate. Lung tissue is now being actively formed; it plays an important role in the respiratory system of a small organism. Within a week, the baby’s reproductive system effectively develops; in boys, the testicles begin to move into the scrotum, and in girls, the genitals and vagina are formed. The baby can already clearly distinguish the voices of his relatives, recognizes his mother’s voice, familiar sounds. Therefore, now you can sing lullabies to him. The baby hears the mother's heartbeat and after birth will be able to fall asleep better if he is placed to the breast. The baby can already distinguish between light and dark, and his eyeballs continue to form.
Causes of dry mouth that are not pathological
In some cases, dry mouth is not associated with a medical condition. For example:
- Dry mouth can occur in the morning and at night due to intoxication. This is a typical situation after drinking too much the night before.
- When nasal breathing is impaired, a person breathes through his mouth during sleep. The mouth is slightly open, and the oral mucosa dries out faster. Nasal breathing can be impaired due to a runny nose, nasal polyps, or a deviated nasal septum. A similar situation occurs with snoring. The cause of snoring in most cases is a decrease in the tone of the soft palate. Muscle weakening develops with age. This is why older people snore more often, and their oral mucosa becomes dry. This reason explains dry mouth in the morning in the elderly in most cases.
- If you don't drink enough fluids in hot weather, you shouldn't be surprised by dry mouth. A similar effect can be caused by eating highly salted foods.
- Many medications can cause dry mouth.
- Smoking is another common cause of dry mouth.
- Dry mouth can be one of the symptoms of menopause.
Recommendations for the second trimester of pregnancy
Most recommendations are universal for all trimesters, for example, giving up bad habits, sleeping for 8-9 hours and eating well. But there are some important tips that apply specifically to the second trimester.
- You should only sleep on your side and use a special pillow for pregnant women.
- From the 24th week, it is advisable to start wearing a bandage, this will help reduce the load on the spinal column.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick or have a cold. If the second trimester falls during the “cold season,” try to spend less time in crowded places.
- Take vitamin and mineral supplements, even if you haven't done so before. Right now, the need for vitamins and minerals is increasing somewhat, especially iron, as well as omega-3 PUFAs, which are needed for the formation and proper development of the child’s brain, nervous and immune systems.
- Switch to proper nutrition. The second trimester is a time of active fetal growth; diets and fasting are inappropriate now. But it is important not to get carried away with fast food, to make sure that the menu has enough proteins and seasonal vegetables and fruits.
When is shortness of breath dangerous for the health of the woman and the fetus?
Shortness of breath in pregnant women is often normal. However, if it occurs repeatedly, you should pay close attention to your health and consult a doctor. Urgent medical assistance will be required in a number of situations that can be dangerous:
- blue lips, painful pale skin;
- severe pain in the sternum when inhaling;
- pulse 110 beats per minute or higher;
- fainting state;
- panic attack;
- persistent cough, fever;
- allergic reaction in the form of bronchospasm.
The above symptoms are signs of the development of respiratory and heart failure, exacerbation of asthma, and pulmonary embolism. They are dangerous for the expectant mother and fetus and require hospitalization and professional support.
Carrying out diagnostics
To find out why breathing is difficult and to select effective methods for normalizing it, a thorough diagnosis is carried out. To clarify the causes of shortness of breath, the KRH Dental & Medica clinic performs:
- examination of the larynx using direct and indirect laryngoscopy;
- chest x-ray, fluoroscopy, bronchoscopy;
- spirometry, which allows you to assess the state of respiratory function;
- electrocardiography, daily Holter monitoring, determining the characteristics of the heart.
It is also provided for a test to determine the gas composition of the blood. To find out the reason why breathing is difficult, an MRI, tests for allergic reactions, and testing for tumor markers may be required.
