Breathing difficulties in the 8th month of pregnancy are a common concern. While caused by hormonal changes and the growing uterus, it’s crucial for mothers to understand and address these issues for their safety and the baby’s. Explore detailed insights into the causes and effective remedies for breathing difficulties during the 8th month of pregnancy.
Causes of Breathing Difficulties in the 8th Month of Pregnancy
According to obstetric experts, several factors contribute to pregnant women experiencing difficulty breathing. These factors include physiological changes in the mother’s body during pregnancy and potential underlying health conditions.
Throughout pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations, particularly in progesterone, directly affect the lungs. These hormones stimulate the respiratory center in the pregnant mother’s brain, leading to an increased perception of breathlessness or faster breathing than usual.
Additionally, as the uterus expands to accommodate the growing fetus, it can exert pressure on the diaphragm, making pregnant women feel breathless. Insufficient nutritional intake during pregnancy may lead to anemia, contributing to breathlessness.
Other factors contributing to breathing difficulties in the 8th month of pregnancy may include:
- Asthma: Pregnant women with a history of asthma may experience breathlessness during pregnancy. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for safe pregnancy planning and management.
- Cardiac Issues: Pregnancy may exacerbate or reveal pre-existing cardiac conditions, causing symptoms like shortness of breath.
- Pulmonary Embolism: Blood clots trapped in the lung arteries can impact breathing, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing.
- Anemia: Insufficient red blood cells due to anemia require the body to work harder to produce oxygen, leading to increased breathlessness.
- Edema: Some pregnant individuals may experience severe fluid retention, leading to conditions like edema that affect the lungs and contribute to breathlessness.
Understanding and addressing these factors is vital for ensuring a healthy pregnancy and mitigating the risk of complications.
Is Difficulty Breathing in the 8th Month of Pregnancy Dangerous?
As mentioned earlier, pregnancy brings various unwelcome symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, back pain, headaches, diarrhea, and notably, difficulty breathing in the 8th month. The level of danger associated with breathing difficulties during the 8th month of pregnancy varies depending on the stage of pregnancy.
Difficulty breathing during pregnancy is when mothers feel breathless due to insufficient oxygen, making breathing more challenging and rapid. It can feel as if one has just completed a strenuous workout or a sports athlete after running.
Most pregnant women experience this condition to varying degrees, and the level of danger also differs. Breathing difficulties often begin around the 4th month and become more pronounced in the later stages of pregnancy as the fetus grows.
In most cases, difficulty breathing during the 8th month of pregnancy is primarily due to physiological changes and is not life-threatening. However, it can also serve as a warning sign of more serious issues. Therefore, pregnant women should not overlook unusual signs in their bodies.
In cases of severe chest tightness, escalating difficulty breathing, increasing fatigue, rapid heartbeat, etc., it is essential for mothers to contact a doctor promptly for guidance and timely intervention, preventing unfortunate incidents.
The severity of breathing difficulties depends on the stage of pregnancy in women.
When Should Pregnant Women Seek Medical Attention?
Some pregnant women require immediate treatment if experiencing chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Here are specific signs that need prompt attention for timely intervention when issues arise:
- Pregnant women experiencing breathlessness accompanied by pallor in fingers, toes, or lips.
- Rapid heartbeat or a heart rate exceeding normal thresholds.
- Pregnant women feeling chest pain while breathing.
- Persistent cough and fever.
- Pregnant women with a history of pneumonia or asthma need special attention if facing breathing difficulties.
- Breathlessness becoming increasingly severe and challenging to control.
- If pregnant women exhibit wheezing, urgent hospital visits for medical evaluation are essential.
How to Improve Breathing Difficulties in the 8th Month of Pregnancy
Starting from the 32nd to 35th week of pregnancy, the mother’s body becomes heavier as the baby grows larger, and it’s also the period when the baby begins to turn head down, moving towards the cervix, allowing the mother to go into labor at any time. Therefore, to improve breathing difficulties in the 8th month of pregnancy, consider the following tips:
- Sit with a straight back, allowing shoulders to relax comfortably. This posture helps create more space in the lungs for expansion and oxygen intake.
- Elevate the upper body with pillows while sleeping for added comfort. Avoid lying flat, as a low pillow may worsen breathing difficulties. Instead, sleep on your left side to relieve pressure on the arteries and improve breathing when lying flat.
- Iron deficiency is a leading cause of breathing difficulties in pregnant women. Therefore, ensure a diverse diet rich in iron, including lean meat, beef, dark green vegetables, pumpkin, and egg yolks. If eating large meals is challenging, divide them into smaller portions throughout the day to ensure adequate nutrient intake.
- Maintain a healthy diet, supplementing essential nutrients, especially calcium and minerals crucial for pregnant women. Absolutely avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using harmful stimulants detrimental to fetal development.
- Engage in low-impact activities such as walking or yoga to reduce breathing difficulties. Choose exercises suitable for women in the 8th month of pregnancy to regulate breathing, keep the body flexible, and provide good support for the childbirth process.
- During pregnancy, mothers need to listen to their bodies and allocate time for relaxation and rest. Avoid overworking, which may lead to stress or negatively impact fetal development.
- Breathing difficulties during pregnancy are mostly due to hormonal changes and are challenging to alter or treat permanently. If breathing difficulties persist and worsen, seek medical advice promptly for safety and timely improvement.
- Additionally, pregnant women should proactively attend check-ups, even without noticeable signs of abnormalities. Regular ultrasound and check-ups, especially in the early and late stages of pregnancy, are crucial to detecting any unusual signs in pregnant women.
Read more: Headaches and Nausea During Pregnancy
In general, breathing difficulties in the 8th month of pregnancy are a normal physiological phenomenon experienced by most pregnant women. However, alongside this, there are cases where breathing difficulties stem from diseases causing severe complications for both the mother and the baby. Therefore, both the family and the expectant mother need to monitor and seek medical attention promptly if any unusual signs occur. Also, adhere to the doctor’s guidance and follow a healthy diet and rest regimen.
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
