Contractions literally taking my breath away?! Is this normal?

[tairakittie]

So ive notice it happen a couple times at night, but I was taking a nap earlier and woke up unable to breath very well, my chest was really tight and I was having a contraction... I was already laying on my left side, so I just laid there... I tried to stretch out but I couldnt move much because of the pain... thankfully that only lasted about a minute... but it was so hard to breath and I felt like I was being choked. Same thing happened when I was driving on my way to dinner... I felt the contraction, but it wasnt painful... then my chest got really tight and so did my throat... I tried deep breathing but its hard when you feel like your being choked. It hasnt really happened since then (around 5 pm) but it really worries me! I go to the hospital for an NST on Monday, but thats three days away... is this something I should worry about?!

I know im having contractions, probably considered braxton hicks because there is no pattern and they arent really painful most of the time, but jeez... waking up out of breath, tight chest, and a choking sensation CANT be normal... =(

[Fit_Momma_Of_2]

That started happening to me when I was 32wks up until I delivered. My midwife said it was due to the pressure my baby was putting in me.

[tairakittie]

Well... that sucks. I hope I go soon then... I hate waking up not being able to breath!

Quoting Fit_Momma_Of_2:

That started happening to me when I was 32wks up until I delivered. My midwife said it was due to the pressure my baby was putting in me.

[celticreverie]

could be prodromal labor. I had that from around 38 weeks on.. not fun. Like labor but just stops. It's your body preparing you for the real thing :)

[tairakittie]

Ugh... I had contractions for at least 24 hours straight... no pattern, but painful... then they  just stopped yesterday around 4pm, I had one or two last night... then I woke up to that one at 2pm not painful, but chokey and tight chesty, then ive had a couple more nonpainful ones... and 1 or 2 painful ones... this sucks! I never went into labor with DD, my water broke and I was induced... so this is all new and im pretty sure I dont like it lol... I hope he comes soon... I dont want to deal with this for 12 more days!!

Quoting celticreverie:

could be prodromal labor. I had that from around 38 weeks on.. not fun. Like labor but just stops. It's your body preparing you for the real thing :)

[ShutterBug4Life]

I would call your ob doc and talk to whoever is the after hours help. Or call the er, there has to be some one there who could answer your question. But definitely talk to a professional, that is scary! I have asthma and can't even imagine being breathless that often and not talking to some one. Stay safe and good luck in labor when he does decide to make his debut!

[celticreverie]

I took a lot of baths during those last couple of weeks!

Prodromal labor does suck but my actual labor was only 2 hours and 48 minutes so all the prelabor prepared my body and made the birth go a lot smoother!

Quoting tairakittie:

Ugh... I had contractions for at least 24 hours straight... no pattern, but painful... then they  just stopped yesterday around 4pm, I had one or two last night... then I woke up to that one at 2pm not painful, but chokey and tight chesty, then ive had a couple more nonpainful ones... and 1 or 2 painful ones... this sucks! I never went into labor with DD, my water broke and I was induced... so this is all new and im pretty sure I dont like it lol... I hope he comes soon... I dont want to deal with this for 12 more days!!

Quoting celticreverie:

could be prodromal labor. I had that from around 38 weeks on.. not fun. Like labor but just stops. It's your body preparing you for the real thing :)

[tairakittie]

trust me... it scared the crap out of me to wake up unable to breath... I was still half asleep and had no clue what was going on... If it happens again im going to go to the ER...

Quoting ShutterBug4Life:

I would call your ob doc and talk to whoever is the after hours help. Or call the er, there has to be some one there who could answer your question. But definitely talk to a professional, that is scary! I have asthma and can't even imagine being breathless that often and not talking to some one. Stay safe and good luck in labor when he does decide to make his debut!

[VaNavyMom2b2009]

 I had the same with my son but not my daughter. It was my son laying on my diaphram basically. I would get days where I literally would sturggle for air. I could not fully lay down for a month on our couch since it felt like someone was choking me when doing so...I basically sat up in the recliner and the couch. Its just the weight of the child laying on you- putting pressure.

[Shortfuse007]

I'm 6 months along now, and I have to tell ya, if this baby stretches out I'm gasping for air. I never had that problem with my first girl, but this one..goodness!

I also had contractions with my first from the weekend before Thanksgiving (about 34 weeks) right to the day I was induced, 4 days before Christmas. Everywhere I went, people would ask if I was in labor because I would have to stop and breathe through the contractions. My labor with dd #1 was 9 hours start to finish.

[tairakittie]

My mom told me to sleep in my recliner... I really dont want to... but yeah... this never happened with my DD but im having a boy this time and he is already bigger than DD was a birth and he is laying on, kicking, punching, tugging.... everything!

Quoting VaNavyMom2b2009:

 I had the same with my son but not my daughter. It was my son laying on my diaphram basically. I would get days where I literally would sturggle for air. I could not fully lay down for a month on our couch since it felt like someone was choking me when doing so...I basically sat up in the recliner and the couch. Its just the weight of the child laying on you- putting pressure.