Breathlessness is common during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester (weeks 27 to 40).
The size of your womb and the position of your baby can make it difficult for your lungs to expand.
The extra weight you are carrying may also make you feel short of breath.
See your GP, obstetrician, midwife or emergency department immediately if:
- the breathlessness is sudden or severe
- or you have breathlessness and chest pain, heart palpitations or dizziness
Other causes of shortness of breath during pregnancy include:
Anaemia
Anaemia can cause shortness of breath. It usually caused by being low in iron.
Pre-eclampsia
This could be a cause especially if you have some of the other symptoms of pre-eclampsia.
These are:
- a headache
- blurred vision
- upper tummy pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- swelling of your hands, feet, ankles, face and/or neck
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Pulmonary embolism
This is a life-threatening condition. Pulmonary embolism happens when a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clot in a vein of your lower leg moves to your lungs.
You may also have chest pain, particularly when you take a deep breath in or cough. You may also notice that your heart is beating faster than usual.
Asthma
If you suffer from asthma, pregnancy may make your symptoms more severe.
Talk to your GP urgently if you have a history of asthma and notice your shortness of breath is getting worse.
Lung infections and pneumonia
If you have a cough that lasts more than 2 to 3 days always see your GP.
Simple infections make you sicker in pregnancy than they normally would.
This is one of the reasons why it is recommended that you receive the flu vaccine during pregnancy.
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