What causes shortness of breath during late pregnancy?

Pregnancy is the happiest moment in a woman's life. The feeling of carrying your own baby is very happy. At this time, family members also take care of and love them in every way. So what should a woman do if she experiences chest tightness and shortness of breath in the later stages of pregnancy?

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This is related to the increase in blood volume and uterine enlargement after pregnancy.

1. Blood volume increases from the 6th week of pregnancy, reaching a peak at the 32nd-34th week of pregnancy, an increase of about 35%, an average increase of 1500ml, and maintains this level until delivery. The increase in blood volume increases the cardiac burden of pregnant women.

2. The chest of pregnant women changes in the early stages of pregnancy, which is manifested by widening of the transverse diameter of the chest, increasing of the circumference, rising of the diaphragm, and increased amplitude of diaphragm activity during breathing. In the second trimester of pregnancy, the increase in lung ventilation is greater than the oxygen consumption, and the pregnant woman experiences hyperventilation, which helps provide the oxygen needed by the pregnant woman and fetus. In the later stages of pregnancy, as the uterus enlarges, the activity of the abdominal muscles decreases, and pregnant women mainly breathe through the chest, and gas exchange remains unchanged.

In the later stages of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus causes the diaphragm to rise, and the space for the lungs to move during breathing becomes smaller, making breathing more difficult than before pregnancy. You will feel difficulty breathing after lying down, and slightly elevating your head while sleeping can alleviate the symptoms.

If a woman experiences chest tightness and shortness of breath in the late stages of pregnancy, it is generally directly related to the enlargement of the uterus and the fetus. At this time, mothers need to control their emotions and not be too impatient because we will be unborn soon. We should maintain a good mood, actively do some exercises, and wait for the baby to come.