Shortness of breath at 6 weeks? Or is there another cause?
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Anonymous
| I've been feeling short of breath throughout the day. When I go up the stairs, I definitely feel it, but I can also feel it when I'm sedentary. I'm about 6.5 weeks, so I'm trying to figure out of this may be contributed to pregnancy, or another factor. I have been going through a very high stress situation for the past month and have anxiety issues, so I figure it could be that as well. Pulse ox shows that I'm getting enough oxygen. Anyone else experience this in early pregnancy? |
Anonymous
| Sounds like anxiety. You can start getting shortness of breath in the second trimester as baby starts crowding your organs and lungs, but 6.5 weeks, no. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks. This isn't my first rodeo so I should've guessed  Probably still the anxiety talking! *Sigh*
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Anonymous
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I think this is because of increased levels of hormones, maybe progesterone, causing you to breathe more frequently and heavier to increase blood oxygen levels. Everything is gearing up to grow your baby.
There are actually anecdotes of high level athletes winning marathons and other events in early pregnancy as their bodies increased blood flow and oxygenation. Kerry Walsh Jennings won a gold medal in volleyball when she was early in the first trimester with her third baby. Of course she won gold medals when she wasn't pregnant too. Good luck and congrats! |
Anonymous
| Please let your doctor know as the estrogen surge can also make you vulnerable to blood clots in your lungs (pulmonary emboli), especially if your heart also races. Additionally, please get tested for COVID; pregnancy is a risk factor for more severe sequalae. |
Anonymous
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I had this! It was actually my very first pregnancy symptom, at 5 weeks. I actually had to take Xanax two days in a row before I took a positive pregnancy test (ugh, whoops). Apparently it’s very normal and it went away after about a week! You’re good
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