Breathlessness is a common complaint during pregnancy. It is very normal and will usually come and go. A woman can be short of breath even while she is sitting and having a normal conversation. (You don't have to be attempting an Olympic event to be breathless!)
The woman's breathing changes in her pregnancy to accommodate the needs of her baby. The pregnancy hormone progesterone allows her lungs to take 'deeper' breaths. This means she can inhale up to 40% more air than usual with each breath. The medical term for the volume of air that flows in and out of the lungs is called 'tidal volume' which measured in millilitres. The tidal volume increases from about 500mls to about 700mls during pregnancy. This increase allows the woman to keep up with the 20% more oxygen she needs to supply to her baby.
There are 2 things that generally cause breathlessness in pregnancy:
| 1.
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Pressure from the baby on the 'diaphragm' or muscle layer separating the lungs from the intestines. The diaphragm needs to 'pull down' to allow the lungs to inflate. Its ability to do this is made somewhat difficult by the pressure of the growing baby. |
| 2.
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A higher level of carbon dioxide gas in the blood. This level increases because the baby is also getting rid of its own carbon dioxide gas (a waste product), through their umbilical cord and the woman. |
NOTE:Breathlessness that will not go away, or which is associated with pain in the chest or upper back as you breathe could be s sign of a heart or lung condition. This requires urgent medical attention. Contact your caregiver or hospital for investigation.
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