Normal Respiration

Some shortness of breath, especially late in pregnancy, is normal. Many women get a little short of breath when they are 32 or 36 weeks of gestation. What do you think causes this? As the baby gets bigger, it squeezes the lungs so there is less room for the lung to expand. Breathing may get easier when the baby drops lower in the belly shortly before labour begins.

Warning Signs

If shortness of breath is making a pregnant woman uncomfortable, this is a warning symptom especially if she has other signs of illness. Shortness of breath can also be caused by:

Anemia.
Heart problems.
Tuberculosis.
Asthma.
Lung infection.
A blood clot in the lung.
Allergies.

Remember

If you do not know what is causing the fast pulse rate (above 100 beats per minute), refer the woman to the nearest health center.
If a pregnant woman has trouble breathing all of the time, or severe trouble even once, or if you think she may have any of the illnesses listed, refer her to a health center immediately.