34 Weeks Pregnant – Shortness of breath

Being 34 weeks pregnant means you are about one month away from full term pregnancy. Your baby should weight around 5.4 pounds now. If you notice you are short of breaths more often, worry not! This is possibly due to the tremendous physical strains of the size of your baby. The enlarged uterus at this stage of pregnancy will put more pressure on your diaphragm. Take deep slow breaths when you feel that you are having difficulties breathing. You can adopt the counting method of taking six sets of slow breathing. I.e., breathing slowly, count from 1 to 10, and repeat for six times. When you are experiencing shortness of breath, it is important NEVER to lie down with your back facing down. Lying down in this position compresses your lungs, rib cage in addition to the already huge pressure on your diaphragm. You should sit up straight and try to keep your shoulders back. Do slide in a few cushions for added comfort. For pregnant mothers with a history of asthma and other medical conditions, please consult your doctor if you develop the symptoms accompanying the shortness of breath during pregnancy. If you are experiencing problems sleeping, it would help a lot if you adopt a sleep on your side position. This position is extremely helpful as the weight of your belly is supported by lying on your side.