Shortness of breath in pregnant women in the second trimester. Shortness of breath during pregnancy: causes, the most effective methods of relief. What to do to get rid of shortness of breath

What are the causes of shortness of breath during pregnancy and how can you alleviate your condition during an attack?

Causes of shortness of breath in early and late pregnancy

During the period of gestation, shortness of breath is often bothered by shortness of breath, which occurs due to:

Allergic reaction.
Tight clothing made from unnatural materials.
Respiratory diseases. Such as tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, etc.
Increase in weight and fluid in the body of a pregnant woman.
Anemia.
Bad habits, in particular smoking.
Hormonal changes.
Excessive physical activity.

Also, during pregnancy, shortness of breath can be caused by severe stress or constant nervous tension.

Warning signs

If shortness of breath occurs, you should pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help if:

Shortness of breath often occurs at rest.
Lips or fingers turn blue.
There is a feeling in my chest that everything is about to explode.

A strong increase in heart rate during an attack of shortness of breath is also a reason to consult a doctor.

Elimination methods

Breathing exercises

During an attack of shortness of breath, you can ease your condition by performing breathing exercises, the same as during childbirth. If you don’t yet know how to breathe correctly, kneel down, place your palms on the floor and breathe deeply, evenly. Inhale and exhale until breathing becomes easier. It is important not to panic and try to even out breathing so that the child is not left without another portion of oxygen.

Comfortable position

If shortness of breath takes you by surprise, take the most comfortable position possible - sit, lie down or squat, breathe correctly and try to calm down. At night, sleep on your side or reclining with your back supported by pillows.

Control over food intake

If shortness of breath bothers you, eat small meals, do not overeat. The stomach, and behind it the respiratory organs, especially in the second half of pregnancy, are subject to pressure from the fetus and if you eat a lot, you will experience not only discomfort, but also shortness of breath. Eat food more often than usual, for example, 5-6 times, make a serving no more than 200 grams. At the same time, try to select products so that the body receives all the necessary substances for the development of the child.

Aromatherapy

Of the essential oils, rosemary and lemon balm help well. It is not always possible to take a bath during pregnancy, so it is better to use an aroma lamp, including during attacks or periodically for prevention.

Folk remedies

Among folk remedies, for shortness of breath it is better to use herbs with a sedative effect. Such as motherwort, valerian (root), oregano, leaves and fruits of hawthorn. Make a decoction and take as tea several times a day. Consult your doctor before use.

Prevention

To avoid attacks of shortness of breath while pregnant, try:

Don't overeat.
Take regular walks in the fresh air.
Change positions while sleeping.
Eat properly.
Perform breathing exercises.

During a sudden attack of shortness of breath, it is important to remain calm and breathe correctly. For an attack to pass, you need at least 10 minutes of even breathing. Remember that this is not dangerous and will pass soon.

Every adult has experienced shortness of breath. This is a completely normal state after physical activity: during intense exercise, we often lack air, and therefore after it we need to breathe enough. But what to do if shortness of breath begins to appear on its own? Why does it bother expectant mothers in the early stages of pregnancy? In this article we will try to comprehensively understand this problem and find the reasons for the sudden lack of air.

Possible causes of severe shortness of breath in early pregnancy

There can be many reasons for lack of air at the beginning of pregnancy. To understand why it appeared specifically for you, we recommend contacting your local therapist. Among the most common factors that can lead to shortness of breath are:

Having bad habits. Very often, the side effects of smoking and drinking alcohol manifest themselves most clearly during pregnancy.
Heart problems. Shortness of breath in the first weeks of pregnancy may be associated with heart pathologies. Measure your heart rate at the moment of lack of air: at rest, your heart rate should not be lower than 60 and exceed the threshold of 80 beats.
Pulmonary diseases. It cannot be ruled out that you have contracted some kind of pulmonary disease. Lack of air in the early stages of pregnancy can occur with many diseases, including tuberculosis, as well as allergic and bronchial asthma.

Stress and nervous tension. Emotional problems may well affect your physical condition. If you are experiencing severe stress, shortness of breath during early pregnancy is a completely natural reaction of your body.
Anemia or, conversely, an increase in the amount of blood in the body. Any of these pathologies can lead to certain breathing difficulties.

We don't want to scare you, but shortness of breath during early pregnancy is a bad symptom. The fact is that for the first 3 months the uterus does not extend beyond the womb, so it cannot have any effect on the internal organs. The diaphragm and the lungs remain in their usual position: the developing fetus does not interfere with their normal functioning. Therefore, shortness of breath in the first trimester should be perceived as a manifestation of health problems that are in no way related to pregnancy.

Feeling short of breath in the second trimester

Most often, shortness of breath when walking and at rest worries women during the second trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that:

the fetus begins to gain weight and requires more space, which causes the uterus to expand and put pressure on the organs;
the strongest pressure is on the diaphragm, as a result of which the expectant mother feels symptoms of shortness of breath;
Add to this alcohol and cigarettes - they also contribute and worsen the well-being of the pregnant woman.

What to do to get rid of shortness of breath

To minimize the risk of shortness of breath during pregnancy, you should follow several rules.

First, reduce the load. Intense exercise may not be appropriate for your situation. Let your body relax, and then the feeling of suffocation will bother you less often. Secondly, try to say goodbye to bad habits: This is especially true for smoking (both active and passive). Your body already has enough stress - don’t try to finish it off with cigarettes. Thirdly, do breathing exercises. When you experience shortness of breath during pregnancy, do not panic under any circumstances, as this will only make the situation worse. Be calm and take slow, deep breaths in and out just enough to fully saturate with oxygen.

We also recommend that you buy loose clothing: clothes that are too tight can make breathing difficult. We also advise you to regularly ventilate the room, especially in the summer, because it’s easier to breathe in the fresh air. And the last thing we can advise you is to consult a doctor. Shortness of breath during early pregnancy, which occurs regularly, is not the norm. If you want to bear a healthy baby and stay healthy yourself, do not neglect the help of doctors.

A condition in which it is difficult to breathe during pregnancy is usually temporary and not dangerous for the expectant mother and her baby. We are talking about physiological shortness of breath in pregnant women, which can appear at any stage.

However, lack of air during pregnancy can also manifest itself in conditions such as lack of blood, disruptions in the cardiovascular system and other problems. Therefore, the expectant mother must inform the doctor at the antenatal clinic about any shortness of breath that has occurred.

Typically, a woman complains that it is difficult to breathe during pregnancy due to long walking, climbing stairs and physical work. This is a completely normal condition that is caused by increased physical activity and can happen to any healthy person. But if a woman notices that she has difficulty breathing even while resting, a doctor’s consultation is necessary. Next, we will consider pathological causes that require medical supervision.

Why is there not enough air in the early stages?

Breathing problems can plague a woman from the first months of pregnancy. They usually appear at 6-7 weeks.

The reasons explaining why it is difficult to breathe in the early stages of pregnancy are:

expressed;
hormonal changes;
heart and vascular diseases;
anemia;
stress and neuroses of pregnant women;
pathologies of the respiratory system.

These factors usually lead to insufficient oxygen saturation of the body. Shortness of breath, which develops over time, is not as noticeable and dangerous as a sudden lack of air.

If physiological shortness of breath in pregnant women is considered a natural process, then pathological causes require mandatory elimination at the stage of pregnancy planning.

Why is there not enough air in late pregnancy?

If a woman finds it harder to breathe during pregnancy in her second pregnancy, this can be explained by both physiological and pathological reasons.

Breathing problems in the second half of pregnancy can develop due to the following factors:

an increase in the volume of the uterus, and the associated excess pressure on internal organs, such as the lungs and diaphragm;
lack of hemoglobin in the blood;
chronic pathologies of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory organs;
colds and viral infections;
incorrectly chosen position in sleep;
lack of magnesium in the body;

Cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies worsen the well-being of the expectant mother. Against this background, oxygen enters her body in insufficient quantities, and therefore hypoxia develops (oxygen starvation of the fetus). This condition is dangerous because it can cause premature onset of labor, developmental and growth retardation, and even intrauterine death of the child.

Is it normal to have difficulty breathing during pregnancy?

With the onset of pregnancy, the functioning of the female body changes under the influence of hormones. This is necessary to support the life of the mother and fetus. Due to hormonal changes, increased metabolism, toxicosis and rapid growth of embryonic tissue, a woman may notice that she has difficulty breathing from the first weeks of pregnancy.

Shortness of breath in this case is physiological, since it is aimed at meeting the increased needs of the body. If by the second trimester you are already breathing normally, this means that the body has been able to adapt to the new position.

In the third trimester, shortness of breath returns again as the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm and lungs. A woman may experience difficulties with breathing up to , after which the fetus descends into the pelvis and the excessive pressure on the respiratory organs stops. During this period, the expectant mother may notice that she can breathe much easier.

When should you sound the alarm?

Shortness of breath during pregnancy is more often a variant of the norm than a pathology. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of her.

- tachycardia more than 110 beats per minute;
breathing is frequent and heavy;
faintness, ringing in the ears;
chest pain when inhaling;
blue lips;
pale skin;
panic attacks;
increase in body temperature, .

These symptoms may be a sign of the development of emergency conditions, for example, pneumonia, respiratory and heart failure, bronchial asthma, pulmonary embolism.

For the expectant mother and the unborn baby, they are dangerous due to various complications, so when they appear, it is recommended to call an ambulance.

Which doctor should I contact?

If a woman has a history of chronic diseases that may affect her respiratory function during pregnancy (for example, heart and vascular disease), consultation with a pulmonologist is necessary.

In serious situations, a chest x-ray is performed to make a diagnosis. In this case, it is irrational to fear exposure of the fetus, since timely diagnosis and selection of treatment tactics are much more important than the potential risk.

Pregnant women who have experienced breathing problems initially and do not have a history of serious illnesses should visit an obstetrician-gynecologist at the antenatal clinic unscheduled.

Even if the cause of this condition is insignificant, it will not be superfluous to play it safe and find out why it is difficult to breathe during pregnancy. A specialist will be able to determine the cause of the pathology and give the necessary treatment and preventive recommendations.

What to do?

Physiological causes of breathing problems do not have a negative impact on health.

They do not require special treatment, but you can follow a few tips to eliminate breathing difficulties:

Reducing physical activity.
Frequent walks outdoors.
Ventilation of the room.
Sleep on your left side, never on your back or stomach.
Elimination of overeating and abuse of high-calorie foods.
Lack of worries, negative emotions, stress. Any surge of adrenaline can cause breathing problems.

If, despite the measures taken, you still have difficulty breathing during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor. The main sign of trouble is shortness of breath that occurs during rest. This condition may indicate the presence of serious diseases in a woman’s body.

In this case, the specialist conducts a diagnostic examination, which begins with a general blood test. If hemoglobin levels in the blood are reduced, the expectant mother is prescribed a complex of vitamins and minerals enriched with magnesium.

Every pregnant woman complains of shortness of breath, to one degree or another. In obstetrics, it is considered a physiological phenomenon: normal and transient. How to learn to prevent shortness of breath, and what available methods can relieve an attack.

Why is this happening?

Almost all pregnant women experience shortness of air and difficulty breathing, even during short periods. Some people cannot stay in stuffy rooms for a minute; they love cold air and spend the night half-sitting. Shortness of breath begins when walking, climbing stairs, doing normal housework, and with the slightest excitement.

Shortness of breath in pregnant women can be caused by a physiological reason. To maintain the vital functions of the mother and fetus, the woman’s body is rebuilt, and the volume of circulating blood becomes larger. The cardiovascular system learns to work in an enhanced mode, hormonal levels change, and metabolic processes are activated. It becomes increasingly difficult for a woman to take a deep breath.

Shortness of breath is often accompanied by palpitations and slight dizziness. Early in pregnancy Shortness of breath can be caused by chronic diseases, poor lifestyle, psycho-emotional experiences and bad habits. Even ordinary tight bras or synthetic clothing can cause a feeling of tightness in the chest and lack of air, especially if the onset of pregnancy occurs in the summer.

The inability to take a deep breath while feeling well is not dangerous. But if such symptoms occur at rest and are accompanied by dizziness, fainting, it is better to consult a doctor. Perhaps the reason is the onset of anemia, hormonal imbalance or deficiency of minerals and vitamins.

By the second trimester Every third pregnant woman suffers from shortness of breath. This is due to several factors:

the fetus has already grown enough and needs more space, so the bottom of the uterus, rising upward, presses on the diaphragm and lungs (the more it presses, the greater the shortness of breath);
increased volume of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios).

Most often, such symptoms develop in short women with large fetuses.

A woman will experience difficulty taking deep breaths until about 38 weeks. Afterwards, closer to childbirth, the stomach drops and breathing becomes much easier.

Normally, a woman’s breathing rate is 16-20 respiratory cycles per minute. During pregnancy, the need for oxygen increases by a third, so the frequency increases to 22-25 cycles.

How to prevent shortness of breath?

You will most likely not be able to completely get rid of breathing difficulties. But if you follow a few simple rules, it can be prevented and controlled:

Dose any kind of physical activity. They should be adequate and not cause palpitations. If shortness of breath occurs, just rest.
It is advisable to completely avoid caffeinated drinks. They increase blood pressure and excite the nervous system.
Do not be near smokers. With passive smoking, harmful substances quickly enter the bloodstream, and the cardiovascular system of the woman and the unborn baby suffers from a lack of oxygen.
Sleep in a cool, well-ventilated room with air humidity of 50-70%.
On hot summer days, take walks only in the evenings, after sunset.
Avoid stuffy, poorly ventilated areas. Avoid visiting places with large crowds of people.
Take a cool shower several times a day.
Don't overeat. During pregnancy, only fractional meals are suitable: frequent, small portions. Ideal: 5-6 times a day. A light breakfast is required.
Maintain drinking regime.
Avoid contact with perfume products that smell like aerosols.
Monitor weight gain. The extra pounds gained can be risk factors not only for shortness of breath, but also for hypertension, preeclampsia, and oxygen starvation of the fetus.
Don't worry, don't get upset about anything. Even the slightest experience can trigger an attack of shortness of breath.

If a woman is regularly seen by a doctor, her tests are normal, then difficulty breathing does not threaten the unborn baby in any way, but creates only temporary discomfort for the woman herself. We need to be patient. Two to three weeks before giving birth, your stomach will drop and breathing will become easier.

What to do?

If an attack of shortness of breath begins, it is better to lie down. If this is not possible, then you should sit comfortably and ask the people nearby to open the window.

Sitting in a comfortable position, relax and take as deep a breath as possible for three seconds. Try to exhale so that all the air comes out of your lungs.

If during the day most of the time a woman sits or lies down, she needs to periodically get up and do a light warm-up, combining it with a set of breathing exercises:

Take a comfortable position. Place one palm on your stomach, the other on your chest. Inhale slowly through your nose until you feel the air in your stomach. Hold for 3 seconds, exhale through your mouth. Make sure that the stomach rises and the chest remains motionless.
Take a comfortable position and breathe “like a dog” for 1-2 minutes: 1-2 inhalations and exhalations per second (inhalation is quiet, exhalation is noisy). This exercise will not only help with shortness of breath, but also relieve pain during childbirth.

When performing breathing exercises, you should not hold your breath for a long time. The maximum duration of classes is half an hour a day.

In consultation with the doctor managing the pregnancy, you can use the following to prevent attacks:

aromatherapy;
sitz baths with essential oils;
valerian, motherwort (from the second half of pregnancy);
soothing teas with mint, lemon balm, hawthorn, chamomile (from the second half of pregnancy);
oxygen cocktails.

Breathing exercises for expectant mothers (video)

The video discusses a set of exercises to prevent shortness of breath. These exercises will have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Signs of serious complications

The main symptom that should alert a woman is shortness of breath at rest.

What are the signs that you should urgently seek medical help:

Exercises do not help, breathing remains difficult. There are bouts of severe coughing.
The attack is accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness, ringing in the ears and flashing spots before the eyes.
The heart “jumps out” of the chest, tachycardia (heart rate more than 100 per minute).
Lack of air is accompanied by sharp pain in the chest when inhaling, radiating to the arm.
Pale skin and mucous membranes, blue lips and fingers.
Fever.
Girdle pain in the lower back.
Panic attack, extreme excitement.

With such symptoms, diseases that require emergency medical care develop: pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, acute respiratory, cardiovascular and renal failure, anemia.

Such cases are extremely rare. Basically, breathing problems, especially in the third trimester, are a physiological and natural phenomenon. But if a woman cannot cope with the problem and alleviate her condition on her own, it is better to consult a doctor.

Dyspnea is a disturbance in the frequency and depth of breathing, accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Normally, a woman makes about 16–18 breathing movements per minute; if she has shortness of breath, she has to breathe more often, and the expectant mother takes more than 18 breaths in the same time.

Shortness of breath may worsen, for example, with intense physical activity, anxiety, in a stuffy room, lying on your back or due to tight clothing. It can arise for a variety of reasons. However, during pregnancy, shortness of breath is most often not associated with any disease. It appears due to changes in the respiratory system while expecting a baby and usually decreases 2–4 weeks before birth. This happens because the baby’s head descends into the pelvis, the woman’s stomach moves lower, the pressure on the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities) decreases, and it becomes easier for the expectant mother to breathe.

Why does it become difficult to breathe during pregnancy?

In the upper parts of the respiratory system (nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi) changes occur in the mucous membrane - it becomes swollen, easily injured, and its cells secrete a lot of mucus. All this is a consequence of the increased secretion of estrogen hormones. As a result, nasal congestion often occurs and breathing is impaired. Changes in the configuration of the chest and the position of the diaphragm while expecting a baby begin to occur early and become more pronounced as pregnancy progresses. The growing uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, which, in turn, rises up, pressing on the lower parts of the lungs. And the body reacts to such constraining circumstances by changing breathing. At the same time, it becomes superficial and rapid.

The hormone progesterone, which is intensively produced in the body of a pregnant woman, also affects the frequency and depth of breathing. An increase in its level causes activation of the respiratory center in the brain, which “gives the command” that you need to breathe more often. As a result of shallow and frequent breathing, more oxygen begins to enter the body - the expectant mother is constantly in a state of hyperventilation, and the amount of carbon dioxide, on the contrary, decreases. A lot of oxygen - it seems that this is good. But here a problem arises: in such a situation, the blood is saturated with oxygen and is less willing to give it to the tissues. As a result, organs, including the brain, do not receive enough oxygen, and expectant mothers may experience headaches, dizziness, feelings of fear, anxiety, yawning, drowsiness, increased fatigue, discomfort in the heart, even nausea and abdominal pain.

An increase in the amount of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy increases the sensitivity of adrenergic receptors, which are located mainly in the heart and blood vessels. This causes the heart rate to increase. Accordingly, the more blood passes through the heart, the more oxygen it requires, and the expectant mother begins to breathe more often.

Increased breathing during pregnancy is also affected by an increase in the volume of circulating blood in a pregnant woman. After all, an additional, third circle of blood circulation appears between her and the baby. This happens already from the first trimester of pregnancy. Now the load on the heart increases - it has to pump more blood and it contracts more often, and the respiratory system reacts to such changes by increasing the breathing rate.

In expectant mothers, the appearance of shortness of breath is also associated with increased oxygen metabolism (muscles especially require a lot of oxygen during their work), which is explained by accelerated redox processes in tissues.

Shortness of breath during pregnancy: is treatment necessary?

All processes of restructuring the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, including increased ventilation, are designed to ensure effective delivery of oxygen to the baby. Therefore, periodically occurring shortness of breath is not a disease and does not require treatment as such, and after childbirth, the expectant mother’s body will independently return to its previous state, and breathing difficulties will go away on their own. However, both excessive hyperventilation and insufficient hyperventilation can lead to disruption (reduction) of blood flow in the placenta and disruption of the course of pregnancy and the development of the baby. Thus, although shortness of breath while expecting a baby, as a rule, is not associated with any disease, all complaints during this period must be reported to your obstetrician-gynecologist.

Not an ounce of caffeine!
The expectant mother should avoid caffeine in any form, as it can cause shortness of breath due to its effect on the cardiovascular system. The fact is that caffeine stimulates the activity of special adrenergic receptors, which increase the contraction of the heart, increases blood pressure, and excites the central nervous system, causing the body to need more oxygen. Products containing high amounts of caffeine include coffee, black and green tea, cocoa, chocolate, and Coca-Cola.

In addition, there are times when it is not worth postponing a visit to the doctor and you need to urgently seek advice. This must be done if shortness of breath in a pregnant woman constantly bothers her or appears at rest, is accompanied by fainting, fever, cough, pain, interruptions in the heart, and also if the lips and skin turn blue. These signs may be a manifestation of any disease of the heart (for example, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure), lungs (inflammatory diseases of the lungs and bronchi, asthma, pulmonary embolism, etc.) or anemia. Then the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment for the expectant mother to eliminate these problems.

Shortness of breath during pregnancy: how to help yourself?

If breathing discomfort is associated with nasal congestion, then you can help yourself, for example, by well ventilating the room before going to bed or opening a window to provide fresh air. It is important to try to switch your attention to something else (for example, leaf through a magazine), raise the pillow higher, and do not lie on one side for a long time, so as not to increase blood flow to one side or another, which contributes to swelling of the nasal mucosa and difficulty breathing. It is not advisable to use vasoconstrictor drops, as they contain a medicinal substance that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and negatively affect the growing baby. But if nasal congestion becomes completely unbearable, drops can still be used occasionally, giving preference to children's drops, since they contain a lower concentration of the active substance.

To alleviate shortness of breath, it is advisable to take a position that will relieve pressure on the diaphragm. For example, sit down, get on all fours, or lie on your side.

If the expectant mother lies on her back, then compression of the inferior vena cava by the enlarged uterus may also be accompanied by increased shortness of breath, dizziness and even fainting. To prevent such unpleasant consequences, it is not recommended to lie on your back, especially in the second half of pregnancy. It is advisable to sleep on your side or with your head raised high (you can put several pillows under your head).

Avoid wearing tight clothing, especially those with a belt or those that are fastened tightly across the chest.

It should be performed at such a pace that it does not cause shortness of breath. But if it does occur, then in order to restore breathing, you need to get comfortable and put your left hand on your chest and your right hand on your stomach. Inhale on “one-two-three”, exhale on “four” (while your shoulders and neck should be as relaxed as possible). Raising your arms above your head while taking several deep breaths and exhalations can also help (the idea that pregnant women should not raise their arms up is a myth).

“Lung exercises” – singing – will help reduce shortness of breath during pregnancy. Therefore, expectant mothers can safely sing their favorite songs, and breathing will become easier!

Important
In order not to provoke the appearance of shortness of breath, it is advisable not to convey it, especially before bedtime! Eating a large amount of food leads to fullness of the stomach, compression and elevation of the diaphragm, which causes shortness of breath.

While waiting for the baby, in order not to provoke shortness of breath, you need to protect yourself from passive smoking. Nicotine and carbon monoxide contained in tobacco smoke, entering the blood, disrupt the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and organs of the mother and baby, cause spasm of blood vessels, the body responds to this by increasing pressure and increasing heart rate, which then causes increased breathing and shortness of breath.

Using lemon balm essential oil (for example, in an aroma lamp) will help you relax and restore your breathing during pregnancy; you can also drink herbal tea based on motherwort or valerian.

It is necessary to take vitamin and mineral complexes for pregnant women containing iron. It is also necessary to eat enough meat products rich in iron (beef, tongue, liver) to prevent the development of anemia in pregnancy, which contributes to shortness of breath. Indeed, with an insufficient level of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin that delivers oxygen to the tissues decreases, so the brain “gives a signal” to the respiratory center to send impulses to the lungs more often and, accordingly, the frequency of respiratory movements increases.

Don't forget about the lungs. In addition to additionally providing the mother and baby with oxygen, the respiratory system will also be trained. Yoga for pregnant women helps expectant mothers to properly control their breathing, learn to relax and calm down. In addition, by doing yoga, it is easier to endure childbirth in the future and use breathing techniques to relieve pain during contractions and pushing.

While expecting a baby, a mother should avoid stressful situations that lead to an increased release of adrenaline (and the sensitivity of receptors to it during pregnancy is already high) and an increase in both breathing and heart rate.

A relaxing massage of the head, neck and shoulders helps relieve tension and normalize breathing during pregnancy. You can do it yourself, or it is better to involve, for example, your husband in this activity. This will make your relaxation more complete. These can be light stroking movements from top to bottom, along the flow of blood in the vessels (if done from bottom to top, this will help increase pressure). Light circular movements are also suitable (especially on the scalp), as if we were drawing a spiral on the skin; it is advisable to massage from the center of the head to the periphery.

If all these measures do not help and shortness of breath during pregnancy continues to bother you, you should consult with the doctor monitoring your pregnancy. He will understand the causes of this condition, tell you how to alleviate it, and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.