Pregnancy Symptoms: Breathlessness
Breathlessness as an early pregnancy symptom is one of the medical world's greatest mysteries—your uterus and baby haven't grown enough to compress your lungs (a symptom you can look forward to later on) but you may find yourself huffing and puffing at the top of each flight of stairs.
Some doctors speculate that dyspnea (the medical term for shortness of breath) is caused by increased levels of progesterone, which can also stimulate the respiratory center in your brain. Simply put, the amount of air you take per breath increases even before your baby gets big enough to make you huff and puff with each step.
Note that shortness of breath can also be a sign of asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia, which can be more serious pregnancy symptoms. If you have chest pain, heart palpitations, a persistent cough or a fever, contact your doctor.
Your body will adjust to the progesterone levels, making it easier to breathe—until the third trimester. That's when the space in your belly starts getting cramped from your growing baby (and uterus), making it harder to take a deep breath.
Note that shortness of breath can also be a sign of asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia, which can be more serious pregnancy symptoms. If you have chest pain, heart palpitations, a persistent cough or a fever, contact your doctor.
Your body will adjust to the progesterone levels, making it easier to breathe—until the third trimester. That's when the space in your belly starts getting cramped from your growing baby (and uterus), making it harder to take a deep breath.
What can you do to relieve the pregnancy symptom of shortness of breath? Make sure you slow down to catch your breath. When you rush, your lungs and heart have to work harder, making it more difficult to breathe. When your belly gets bigger, stand up and sit up straight. Sleep with a pregnancy pillow if need be. Finally, don't panic. As long as you've ruled out any major breathing issues, breathlessness is one pregnancy symptom that is common, albeit annoying at times.
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