To Bother My Midwife or To Not Bother My Midwife...

[PhieEl06]

I'm feeling very short of breath, which has been happening frequently for the last few weeks (I'm 31+3), usually accompanied by palpitations & a general feeling of just not feeling right, really woozy/unsteady etc. but today I've spent the last hour & a halfish feeling like my ribs are too small for my chest, like my lungs can't inflate properly, my thinking is just my baby seems to enjoy using them as a cushion but its actually becoming uncomfortable & making me feel unwell (think feeling like everytime you take a breath you can't get enough oxygen), however I also feel like I'm probably being very silly even considering calling my midwife & making this something when actually every woman is experiencing is & I'm just a wuss!
I mentioned the breathlessness & palpitations at my last appointment & she said she thought my blood pressure was just dipping low occasionally thus causing me to feel like that, but this feels similar but worse than that today, I'm at work but on my own in the office so have tried lying down & raising my legs, this made it worse, lying on my side which although was relaxing didn't make it easier to breathe & have now resorted to putting up with it! I don't really want to bother my midwife because I think I may just be being a bit silly.

Reading this post back I sound very silly but is anyone else feeling like this or should I actually give her a call?

[recall]

Could be low Iron making you breathless, also, the Baby pressing on the Aorta or something can make you feel funny, especially in the last trimester. Tell the Midwife?.wont hurt

[pmgkt]

Difficultly breathing and rib pain are standard. Palpitations are not so given she has mentioned your blood pressure it maybe worth a phone call even if its just so she can keep an eye on you

[ExBrightonBell]

I would ring them to be on the safe side - they won't mind.

Also, don't lie flat on your back as you described, it can cause fainting as you put pressure on a major vein. (? I'm not a hcp) Used to happen to me every time I had a scan!

[TwoTearsInABucket]

If it is worrying you, then I would give her a call anyway. It doesn't sound silly btw. I used to have anxiety attacks it would make me feel worse when I couldn't get a breath in. DH recommended breathing out as far as you can and then that would make you breath in enough air.

Not that I am saying you are having anxiety attacks of course!

I hope you feel better soon.

[recall]

Also, my friend had the feeling that she couldn't get a proper breath, and had palpitations, and was told that it was caused by anxiety. It might just be that your diaphragm is being pushed up and not enough room lungs to expand fully?.

[SneakyBiscuitEater]

I had trouble breathing didn't want to bother anyone but was at the GPs anyway with DD1. I was sent straight to casualty I had multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms (emboli?) and was lucky to be alive.

I felt as if no matter how much I breathed in I couldn't get enough oxygen. I was also coughing feeling like I should be coughing gunk up but nothing came out.

Please don't ever feel like you are wasting a Drs time. You are not an expert and don't know if this is serious or not, they will and it is their job to know the difference not yours.

Fingers crossed you just need iron tabs OP.

[PhieEl06]

Thanks for all your messages, called my midwife & left a message, hoping she gets back.
On iron tablets already as when booking bloods were done levels were low, had these redone at 28 weeks & midwife thought they were okay just told me to keep taking my tablets which I have been doing.
Just a case of waiting for her to call back now.

[FatimaLovesBread]

I had similar and I think it was a combination of low blood pressure and low iron. I also felt worse early morning as I think low blood sugar compounded it.
Can you sit and rest and have a sugary drink?
Sympathies from me

[FossilMum]

Make sure you see midwife or GP. That's what they're there for. If you were certain you were fine, you wouldn't think of calling them. If you were certain it was dangerous, you'd get yourself to A&E. It's for precisely such niggling worries, which might be nothing, or might need some help, that you need an expert opinion.
Good luck!

[PhieEl06]

So for a bit of an update midwife called back, it is easier to breathe now, but still feeling a bit breathless, she says if it continues this afternoon to go to doctors & if it becomes as bad or worse than it was earlier to go to A&E, she's concerned about the risk of DVT as I only came back from Portugal 4 days ago, but as I have no unusual swelling & pain in my legs she thinks its unlikely.
Thank you all for encouraging me to call though.

[AngieM2]

You don't need A&E, but, you do need to call your maternity triage or delivery suite (number is on the front of your green notes). They should get you in today to be checked. Good luck

[Themobstersknife]

She might need A&E. She has risk factors for DVT/PE, including pregnancy and flight. She migh have others. We don't know so we shouldn't contradict medical advice.
I had the same as sneaky. I had no pain or swelling in my leg. I presented with breathlessness which turned out to be a PE. I would get some bloods done today if you can. A blood test can tell them about the probability of a clot. But please follow the midwife's advice if things get worse and go to A&E.

[AngieM2]

I'm aware of the DVT/PE risk - I'm a midwife....Which is why I've suggested the OP contact maternity today, they are the best people to provide care in this instance and will also check on baby at the same time.

[Themobstersknife]

I see what you mean. Sorry. I still think though that if her breathing suddenly gets worse, then she should go to A&E.

[WaitingForMe]

I got breathless and called triage when I was pregnant. Was monitored for ages and they had no idea until suddenly DS moved and I could breathe again. They were quite amused he'd managed to cause me such difficulty breathing.

What stood out is how much they stressed I should go straight back if I ever had concerns again. They'd rather see loads of people who are actually fine than miss the one that needed help.

[ladythatlunches]

Please go to gp. Midwife should not leaveit.

I agree its one of the horrible complaints of third trimester I had same palpitations the lot.

But just to be safe as could be clot in the lung.

[rrreow]

I had the exact symptoms you describe last week (at 35w) and I went into the ante-natal unit to get checked over. I was fine luckily (probably a combination on baby encroaching on lungs and my getting over a mild cold), but there is a much higher risk of pulmonary embolism in pregnant women than non-pregnant, so that would be the main concern you'd want to have ruled out.

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Angie Sorry but they really are not the best people to provide care. I phoned repeatedly with the same symptoms and was fobbed off, went to A+E and was immediately admitted with BP and HR in numbers that made it look like I was in shock.

Phoned MAU again a while later with same problem, fobbed off again, went to A+E and was put on 24 hour tape and had a few ECGs.

If it starts again, go to A+E.

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Angie Also the problem with that is - in my experience, yes they will check the baby at the same time but that is also what they will most likely focus on. It's the OP who needs help.

That actually really riles me, I went into MAU recently (after A+E sent me) with urinary retention, they didn't check anything with me until they insisted I stayed on the monitor for 30 minutes to check the baby, I was in bloody agony everytime the baby moved and forced to lie on my back. I ended up ripping the thing off. Then when they eventually checked me suddenly it was an emergency.

[goodygumdrops]

In my unit maternity would direct you to a and e- they know they are not best placed to deal with a p.e.