Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Oh Wendy, can I ever relate to this one.  I ended up being hospitalized
    twice in my first pregnancy, and carried a pocket inhaler with the
    second.  My wheezing kept me sleeping bolt upright on the couch more
    than one night, and sleeping routinely on 3 pillows so many other
    nights.  The one problem I ran into is that my internist would pretty
    much back away from prescribing medications for my wheezing, he would
    confer with my OB, fortunately they both had privileges at the same
    hospital, and got worked well with each other, but for the most part it
    was my OB who called the shots on my wheezing.
    
    I might add that the only time I exhibit asthmatic symptoms is when I'm
    pregnant, and it goes away almost the minute I deliver.  They had
    actually thought I had developed pneumonia, by symptoms, when I delivered 
    AJ, but that couldn't be taken into consideration since he was in distress
    and my epidural wasn't holding.  They had to take the risk and deliver him
    with a general.
    
    Frequently, my asthma related symptoms were triggered by a sort of
    reflux, because the baby would push up on my diapham I would wake up
    choking, and came close to aspiration several times.  
    
    Good luck, for me the symptoms didn't get any worse as the pregnancy
    progressed.
    Lyn

    The recliner is an excellent idea, Wendy -- I didn't have asthma
    while I was pregnant with my first, but I did have difficulty
    breathing because I carried the baby very high, so she really
    pressed up against my lungs.  I slept in the recliner for most of
    the last four months. 
    
    It also helped my back and my stomach (I suffered severe nausea
    that time).
    
    --bonnie

    As I mentioned previously, I too had breathing trouble during the 
    pregnancy -- mostly due to a great amount of congestion in lungs and
    throat. I needed 3 pillows to sleep, and often started choking, then
    heaving, then good-bye dinner. Its something that immediately
    diminished to a managable level after delivery. Much of these reactions
    are obviously connected to allergies or asthma that you may experience
    under normal conditions, but are sometimes "enhanced" by pregnancy.....
    
    Monica
    

I didn't have asthma, but about the 5th month, I had some trouble breathing and
shooting rib pains.  Sleeping was difficult.

Sitting up very straight and sleeping on my back got me thru it (I was small
enough at 5 months to sleep on my back).  It only lasted a month, but I was
miserable.

Maybe it'll be temporary for you too...

    I know that I am beginning to have trouble breathing, especially when I
    have to talk for extended periods of time or when I get very warm.  It
    seems as though I begin to gasp at times.  I'm now in my 7th month.
    
    Otherwise, thankfully I've been fine.
    
    Kath

    I just remember one thing my doctor always stressed when breathing was
    difficult, try to sleep on your left side.  Something about you heart
    worked more efficently in this position, and also something about
    laying that way decreased fluid retention.  Take it FWIW.
    
    Lyn

Lying on the left side is something I am *very* familiar with - I did it for 
5 weeks.  It reduces blood pressure because the Aorta leaves the heart on the
leftish side (but not at a right angle), and so doesn't have to push the blood 
as hard.

I don't know if it helps fluid retention.  I suspect it doesn't but is usually
thought to because lying on the left and drinking lots of water (to reduce 
fluid) are both prescribed for pre-eclampsia.

    Re. .0 -- You have my sympathy!  I know exactly what you're going
    through.  BTW, are you short?  Shorter women often have a bit more
    difficulty with this because the growing uterus pushes things up a bit
    sooner in the pregnancy, causing breathing difficulty.  I am 5'3", and
    I had a real tough time with all three of my pregnancies breathing,
    lying down, sleeping.  It usually started around six months.  When
    lying down, the weight of my growing tummy just pushed everything up,
    and made it extremely difficult to sleep.  I can't tell you the number
    of nights I spent downstairs in the living room, propped up on the sofa
    trying to sleep in an upright position.
    
    With my first pregnancy, a twin pregnancy, I had such difficulty with
    breathing and coughing I ended up seeing a pulmonary specialist to see
    if I had asthma, which I hadn't had prior to the pregnancy.  He gave me
    a prescription for an inhaler, but that's about all he could do.
    
    Interestingly enough, the coughing reappeared with my second pregnancy,
    as well as my third.  The breathing wasn't near as bad, but I would get
    some pretty severe coughing attacks.  I happened to mention it to a
    labor nurse in the hospital (not my doctor anymore, he couldn't explain
    the reason for it).  The labor nurse told me that your body goes
    through some pretty major changes during pregnancy in terms of its
    autoimmune system, that which fights off disease.  The pregnant woman
    often "tones down" its autoimmune system in order not to reject the
    fetus.  But this also caused me to develop an asthma like cough.  As
    soon as the baby was born, and I mean within the same day, it was gone!
    
    So, I would imagine if you have asthma anyway, you may suffer from it
    more while pregnant.  Ah, the joys of pregnancy!
    

    	I know that my immune system must be messed up as this is the
    second time in three months that I have gotten bronchitis. I have a
    history of asthma but usually all it needed was one hit of an inhaler
    and then I would be fine. Very rarely would I have to take medication
    on an hourly basis.

    	Not so now, walking, sometimes even talking can make me out of
    breath. I wake up several times a night wheezing and needing the
    inhaler to get back to sleep. Hearing that these symptoms get better
    after the pregnancy is wonderful news. By the way, I'm 5'6" and
    everyone tells me that I am carrying small but high (seems like a
    contradiction in terms). Now that the weather has gotten warmer, I'm
    hoping to get some more distance walking in to "build up my lungs".

    	Last night, I went out and got a lounge chair and sat in it for
    about 4 hours with my arms above my head (watching the movie about the
    babies that were switched at birth, I told my husband to bring a
    permanent marker to the hospital and as soon as our baby was born so
    that he could write our name on it ;-)), for the first time in a long
    time I had some real relief and I was able to get through the night
    with a lot less coughing. (I decided to try the bed once more before I
    tried to sleep in the chair). It was so comfortable both for breathing
    and for my lower back (another story) that I have told Marc to consider
    it a permanent piece of furniture in the living room until the baby is
    born.

    	I'm hoping that when this bout of bronchitis finishes that some of
    the breathing will get easier but it's nice to know that the reclining
    chair seemed to help so much should the symptoms continue.

    			Wendy

    I was diagnosed with asthma last year.  I was having difficulties
    breathing to the point I went to the emergency room.  The first time I
    was given inhalers and the second time I had to have a "Treatment." 
    This is medicine (ventolin I believe) with oxyzen, for those that don't
    know.  I only used my inhalers as I needed them not all 3 three times
    a day.
    
    Now, I am pregnant with my second child.  I am finding I have more
    frequent times of difficulty breathing.  I have had to use my inhalers
    a couple of times.  My OB/GYN recommended to me if you can
    differentiate between an asthma attack and the usual pregnancy
    breathing problems, then take the medication for asthma.  It won't work
    on the "prego" breathing problems.
    
    I have only had one night where I could not catch my breath.  I didn't
    use my medication because #1 it was in the middle of the night and I
    was too lazy to get up,  #2 I thought if I relaxed it would work.
    
    All I can say is that you are not alone!!  It is an awful feeling
    feeling like you are going to suffocate.
    
    Good luck.  I hope this helps in some way.

I have asthma too -- the amount of discomfort depends on
the pregnancy.

With my first pregnancy (3 years ago), my asthma (and
allergies) disappeared!  Of course after my daughter
was born, they re-appeared.

I'm 8 months pregnant with my second child, and I've had to
one major and two minor attacks, plus basic low-level
problems breathing.  The attacks seem to hit mostly at night
-- I try relaxation and breathing steam before I use the
inhaler (these are two methods that work well for me when
I'm not pregnant).  I also sleep with my head and chest
elevated (I use a backrest). 

After the sixth month, I noticed far less discomfort (little 
to no wheezing) -- maybe you'll have the same experience!

Lesley

    I don't have asthma, but did have great difficulty breathing in the
    last trimester of my second pregnancy.  I am 5'4", but mostly legs and
    no torso to speak of, so there was not much room for the kid to grow
    in the last few months.  It seemed the only time I could breath
    comfortably was standing up.  Sitting and lying down only helped to
    put pressure on my thoracic cavity and reduce the amount of room for
    my lungs to expand.  I didn't have as much of a problem with the first
    pregnancy because I carried the baby around my middle, side-to-side. 
    However, the second  one I carried all in front and he was bigger too
    (8 pounds vs. 9.5 pounds). 
    
    At least that's the way my ob explained it to me.
    
    
    Donna
    

    Definitely go with the lounge or the recliner.  My father who has
    severe adult onset asthma often sleeps in his recliner when he is
    having a bad time and it really helps.
    
    Meg

    
    Wendy...I jsut got back yesterday after being out for 3 weeks, with the
    flu, strep throat, and bronchial asthma. (not fun!)   And my doctors
    (OB/GYN and Family doc) put me on Theochron (a form of Theodore) for my
    asthma..  My inhaler just wasn't cutting it, and it was getting nasty.
    (sleeping upright, LOUD wheezing, couldn't breath etc).  I was *very*
    worried about this becuase I had always thought you couldn't have ANY 
    drugs while preggo....but my OB reassured me last week that they (maybe
    just his office, but...) treat asthma in pregnancy just as they would
    regularly, because the threat of no oxygen getting to the baby, is more
    dangerous, than they small amount of time it should take to get the
    asthma under control with the medication. I only need about 5 days
    worth before it was under control. He also said he has treated women
    with very bad asthma that needed steroids, and the babies have come out
    fine.
    
    Not sure if this will help...but its what I just went through. 
    (PS...I have had asthma all my life, so this is not new since
    pregnancy)
    
    Chris
    
    

    It's best to avoid medications as much as you can while pregnant,
    but that doesn't mean you should avoid needed medical treatment. 
    Especially on a condition like asthma or gestational diabetes that
    can affect the baby's safety.  
    
    It may mean more tests, more careful monitoring, or other action
    to make sure the baby flourishes, but the odds are very high that
    the outcome will be successful and you'll soon be holding your
    wonderful baby.  
    
    --bonnie

    Did anyone have difficulty breathing while pregnant ?  I am in my 26th
    week and have a hard time breathing.  Of course my cold and allergies 
    are not helping much but even when I am feeling fine I still have a 
    hard time getting a full breath, I feel like I have to gasp for air.
    Sometimes I feel like the baby  might not be getting enough oxygen.
    Could the baby possibly be in such a position to cause this ?  
    

    Talk to your OB to be sure, but its probably just the baby pressing
    against your diaphragm.  Be sure to monitor your posture - sit and
    stand up straight, don't slump over (I know it's hard with all that
    weight up front).  Also, when you lay down to rest, try staying on your
    left side - it will relieve that big artery of the weight of your
    uterus and give the baby more oxygen.  When you lay on your right, the
    uterus sits right on top of a major artery and reduces a lot of the
    blood and oxygen flow.
    
    Good luck,
    Cathy

    RE: 16
    
    I had problems breathing with my daughter.  I am short 5.1 and have a
    very short torso.  My daughter used to get her feet up under my ribs and
    lungs and push frequently.  This hurt badly, plus made it hard to
    breath.  One piece of advice my OB gave me was to
    get on my hands and knees and put my head down and butt up in the air. 
    Sometimes this helped to move her to a more comfortable position. The
    only problem with this was most of the time she decided to kick me
    during work hours. You can't exactly drop to your hands and knees in an
    office building. 
    
    Angie

    re: baby not getting oxygen
    
    I believe the baby is getting oxygen from your blood not your
    lungs...so the only one who is suffering is you...(unfortunately)
    
    I've heard about lying on your left side....hope it doesn't get
    any worse....good luck....Kristen

Don't worry about the baby getting oxygen.  Even though your breaths may be 
more shallow than usual now, your lungs become highly efficient while you're 
pregnant.  You're both getting plenty.

W-

    	The other thing to monitor is whether or not you are wheezing. I've
    heard many cases (include me) in which asthma is aggravated by
    pregnancy. Sometimes, people have not had asthma until pregnancy. If
    the breathing difficulty is at all asthma related, position may not
    help at all and you may have to take medication for it.

    	I seem to have periods of breathing difficulty. Initially (when I
    started this note) I was on much asthma medication and could only be
    comfortable sitting in a lounge chair that was fairly upright.

    	I no longer take the medication and still feel most comfortable in
    the lounge chair but am having difficulty getting out of it these days
    and know that my time in it is limited.

    	Wendy who has heard one too many stories of women getting stuck in
             chairs

    Over the weekend I've been experiencing this somewhat unusual pain. 
    I'm just over 25 weeks now, and the baby seems really lively. Since 
    Saturday morning I have been experiencing a pain like a "stitch" one
    might get in one's side due to gas. Its over the top of my abdomen,
    and seems to reach up until the top of my left shoulder. It makes
    taking a deep breath quite painful, and moving as well.  My husband
    and I are under the impression that the baby is growing up into the
    upper abdomen, but I didn't expect the discomfort of this to be 
    exhibited this way.
                       
    Yes, I plan to call the doc today about it.  Anybody ever experience
    this?
    
    Monica
    

    Monica, could it be your gall bladder acting up.  What you've described
    is classic symptoms.  Many women have a flair up during pregnancy
    simply due to the increased consumption of milk.
    
    On the other hand it may just be the position of the baby, we can only
    hope!
    
    
    
    Lyn

    Thanks for the suggestion, Lyn, but: say it ain't so!
    It makes sense, since I would imagine I would be in high risk
    for gallbladder trouble, since this is a very common problem
    on BOTH sides of my family, and I have been consuming a LOT more
    daily products than I usually do, but never experienced this before.
    
    Well, I will check with the doctor....
    
    Monica
    

    i had the same problem with milk consumption during pregnancy. i had
    the same pain that shot up into my shoulder. one night we were in
    a restaurant and i remember the pain being so bad i really couldn't
    eat...it was a day that i had had alot of milk.

    
    I remember having something that sounds like what you are having too,
    and if I remember correctly, my doctor mentioned something about the 
    gallbladder too.
    
    good luck, hope it gets better (mine disappeared before I knew it)
    Chris
    
    

    Well, went to see the doctor (what a day! I was SUCH a grouch 
    because of this endless discomfort) and she basically was 
    perplexed. (Wrong side for the gallbladder, folks - pain's on the 
    LEFT side ) 
    She had sent me down the hall to donate more blood and urine, and
    said BEDREST. She's scheduling an ultrasound at the hospital for
    a few days hence to look at all my innards as well as check on
    baby. 
    I discovered that having doctors POKE you in those places hurts
    too!
    
    Monica

    Had an ultrasound yesterday, doc phoned me up this afternoon
    to check up on me (pain's diminished a lot, but cannot lay on
    my right side without that pain in my left) told me....
    I do indeed have GALLSTONES.
    (You folk are pretty good...!)
    So, I generally took it easy this week (felt a little guilty for
    not helping my buddies at work) got a lot of naps in, and will
    probably be back on Monday.
    My mother basically said "Good. At least we know what it is. This
    you can live with. Welcome to the family" 8-) 8-)
    
    Monica
    
    

    Monica,
    
    I had the same problem at around 22 weeks.  I never found out what it
    was but it sounds like gallstones to me.  I had a pain in my side like
    I had run too much and it hurt to take in a deep breath.  I also had no
    appetite which was strange.  The pain went away after a couple days.  
    I haven't had any problems since.
    
    It is really nice to get an actual diagnosis.  I much prefer to know
    what it is.  Hope you are feeling better.
    
    Karin

    Yes I feel better; I occasionally get twinges and find its difficult
    to sort out the gallstone pain from the stretching ligament pain! 8-)
    I still have some trouble lying on my right side (so I have my
    back to my husband each night -- we tried switching sides but spent 
    the entire night waking up when we'd bump into one another!)
    
    Now of course I am stuck with the interesting dietary problem of:
      what do I eat that is good for me and baby but;
      a/ does not give me a migraine
      b/ does not give me heartburn
      c/ does not aggrevate my gallbladder.
    
    In the end I have just given up and kinda give it a rough guess....
    
    Monica
    (so much for a curry dish and  a glass of wine!)
    
    

    I have a slightly different problem. I am at 24 weeks with my second. I
    cannot eat more than 1/3 of my normal meal at a sitting. If I eat even a 
    tad bit more I feel very uncomfortable - lying down or sitting or walking.
    I now eat a little bit every 2 hours (tough to do at work) and eat dinner
    by 6:30pm so that the food digests before I go to bed , or else heartburn 
    and gas make me uncomfortable. 
    
    I thought it was easier to stretch the second time around but I am feeling
    more discomfort from the stretching than for my first.
    
    How do /did you handle the eating problem?
    
    Shaila

    Hi Shaila,
    
    I'm happy to hear you are expecting again, but sorry you are
    uncomfortable.
    
    I carried high, and had trouble eating enough.  I relied a lot on
    enriched milk shakes.  The fluid went down easier than solids.  In the
    blender I put yogurt, fruit, wheat germ, and so forth.  I also ate
    snacks frequently.  
    
    If one is lactose-intolerant, you can use soy milk instead of dairy. 
    The health food stores sell a variety of soy milk products which are
    very tasty.
    
    Laura