What to do if a pregnant woman is short of breath

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body will undergo many changes. These changes will become more serious as the pregnancy progresses. A common phenomenon throughout the pregnancy is shortness of breath. Since everyone's physical constitution is different, the severity of shortness of breath will also vary. When the shortness of breath is serious, you need to think of some ways to relieve it.

1. Practice deep breathing

When a pregnant woman is short of breath, she can try to take deep breaths to inhale more fresh air to supply the oxygen needed by various organs. The specific method is: choose a place with fresh air and do it 2-3 times a day. When you take a deep breath, expand your abdomen first and then your chest. When you reach your limit, hold your breath for a few seconds and gradually exhale. When exhaling, first contract your chest, then your abdomen, and try to expel as much gas as possible from your lungs. Repeat the inhalation and exhalation for 3-5 minutes each time.

2. Adjust your body position

When pregnant women feel chest tightness and shortness of breath, they should keep their upper body straight and their shoulders back. The purpose of this is to expand the lungs as much as possible, especially when sitting, the chest should be expanded as much as possible, which can help inhale more oxygen. You can sleep on your left side at night, or use an extra pillow to elevate your head, which can relieve asthma and chest tightness.

3. Caress your breasts

When a pregnant woman experiences asthma, she should first try to calm down and rest in bed. She can gently stroke her chest, relax her breathing, and then drink a cup of warm water. Shortness of breath often causes the woman to open her mouth to breathe air, so the tracheal mucosa is easily dry. You can use a cup of hot water to let the pregnant woman inhale hot steam to moisten the airway mucosa.

4. Oxygen

If a pregnant woman suffers from frequent and severe asthma problems, she should have an oxygen machine at home to increase oxygen inhalation during an attack and go to the hospital for oxygen inhalation if necessary. Moreover, if a pregnant woman experiences obvious shortness of breath and difficulty breathing when she is still or doing light activities, she needs to go for a physical examination to see if the shortness of breath is caused by heart disease.

Pregnant women who are short of breath should pay attention to daily conditioning

1. Supplement electrolytes and vitamin B6

In the early stages of pregnancy, expectant mothers are prone to severe morning sickness. At this time, they should properly supplement electrolyte fluids to avoid dehydration. Sometimes they can also consume vitamin B6 to slightly relieve these discomforts. Of course, you also need enough rest to allow your heart to adjust and reduce breathing difficulties.

2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet

Provide your baby with all the necessary nutrients, and at the same time, avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy. Avoid eating too many foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar, as these foods can add weight and make your breathlessness worse. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water throughout the day and cutting back on caffeine and other beverages that cause you to urinate more frequently.