Hard time breathing..?

Question

I am 35 weeks and 5 days pregnant... Tuesday i was 1 cm dialated and my cervix was thinning out, according to the doctor. well the past 2 days i have woke up out of breathe and tired and feeling like total crap. Im not in the mood to do anything at all and will get pains here in there in my lower back and lower stomache. Nothing constant. My tummy will get really hard but then at times feels soo gushy that it doesnt even feel like anything is in there!..

Does anyone know why i have been feeeling this way.?

also do you know anything that will help my breathing.. laying on my left side isn' helping. Nothing is!

Answer 1

Oh, don't worry too much! Your body is just preparing for labour! I have the same thing.

I am breathless a lot, (I'm 40 weeks... 4 days overdue!), and sometimes I find it really hard to catch my breath. The pains are just the baby getting ready to come out soon, your body is just getting ready.

When your stomach gets really hard, that's braxton hicks contractions, and when it lets go, it can feel a whole lot looser. Your body is practicing for real labour... it's a lot of work!

You're lucky, it seems like you might go into labour in the next few weeks! (lucky because you don't have to wait like me and my stubborn little girl!)

Good luck and don't worry too much! Pregnancy is full of weird and wonderful things :)

Answer 2

Sounds like your baby has not dropped yet and is getting in the way of your breathing. Once the baby drops your breathing will get much easier. As for the lower back and lower stomach pains, these MAY be Braxton-Hicks. These mini contractions are getting your body for the real ones. You should still call your doctor to talk about your pains to verify Braxton-Hicks and about being out of breath. I found lying down helped make room so I could breath easier. I had the hardest time breathing when I was sitting. No to long to go! Take care, you'll do great!

Answer 3

Congrats on the babe! I as well had a hard time breathing about that point. The hardening your referring too are braxton hicks. They usually don't cause too much discomfort but can be annoying. Just your body's way of getting ready. My braxton hicks always started in or abouth the 5th month. As far as the breathing when I had a hard time I'd stretch out as much as I could on my side or stand up and take some deep breaths. It always seemed to help if I put a pillow between my legs and stretched them out.

Towards the end of my pregnancy I got very tired too. I think it was a combination of carrying all that extra weight around plus I was anemic. Most likely if you were anemic your doctor would have noticed it in your bloodwork and told you to take iron supplements. Plus all the emotions you go through and the anxiety can make you tired. Could be your body's way of telling you to rest before labor and delivery.

Not much longer!! Hang in there.

Answer 4

Hi there. I know exactly what you mean down to the T. Horrible isn't it? I'm 35 weeks pregnant and Ive been having trouble breathing for the last month or so. People tell me to sleep on my left side as well and heck no that didn't work. Told to prop pillows up under my head while I'm sleeping. And that didn't work and was uncomfortable. Nothing is working for me. Ive actually called my doctor and explained to her how I just want to pass out sometimes its so hard to breath. Shes said there is nothing you can do, but maybe trying to drink lots of water

Answer 5

I had that same problem w/ my 2nd pregnancy! It was all due to the direction in which the baby was laying and it felt like it was crushing my lungs and ribcage. I ended up having to sit straight up w/ my arms raised and resting on the back of the couch.That lifted up my ribcage and allowed my lungs to stretch out to get more air in them. Sleeping was horrible b/c laying down just crushed everything again. You're so close to the end, it's normal to feel crappy and uncomfortable. It's your body's way of telling you that the time is near. I always joked and said that my belly was screaming, "Get this thing out of here! It's too cramped!" If you can last another 2 wks, you may end up going a little early, but you'd still be considered in the safe zone w/o there being too much harm to the baby for being early. Congrats and good luck!

Answer 6

I had trouble breathing towards the end of my pregnancy too. You're baby is probably sitting up on your lungs or something making it harder to breath. Not much you can really do but I would just try to relax. Drink some water and take it easy. And what you're most likey feeling when your tummy gets hard and then goes soft is braxton hicks contractions which are false contractions preparing your body for labor.

Answer 7

Im 35 weeks and 4 or 5 days too!! I feel exactly like youre describing though... Im not dialated yet, but Im 50% effaced... when I have a hard time breathing, I try to sit straight up, and with my arms up on something or behind me. I've been SO tired this past week, I feel like I can only stay awake for like a hr b4 i need a nap again. but yes, Good luck and God bless!!!

Answer 8

That baby is ready to come out soon! I think most moms to be feel crappy in the last few weeks. I sure did. It's quite common for moms to have pre-labor pains before they actually go into labor. You have a hard time breathing because all of your organs are cramped and your heart is working 35-45 percent harder than it would when you aren't pregnant. If you're starting to dialate, then be prepared for your hospital stay in the very near future. It sounds like you're "gettin ready to POP!"

Answer 9

You could be experiencing contractions. Has your doctor checked you for those yet. If not i would tell him about the hardness and softness of you belly. The harding of your belly may also be the way the baby is laying and that could be another reason why you are out of breath. I know when i was pregnant it depended on the way she was laying that i would feel out of breath. The tiredness is normal in pregnancy. You only have about 5 more weeks to go. Congrats.

Answer 10

Its your body getting ready for the baby. Your tummy is hard from soft contractions. As for feeling like crap, sorry it gets a little worse, your just ready to have this baby. Your tired of being pregnant and for the breathing, with all three of mine i got on my hands and knees and just let my belly hang for a little bit. It relieved the back pressure too. Hang in there and try try try to get as much rest as you can now because life as you know it is about to change for the better.