The Lungs in Pregnancy
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is made up of the organs involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Its main job is to move fresh air (oxygen) into your body and move waste gases (carbon monoxide). out of your body. The system includes:
-
Nose
-
Throat (pharynx)
-
Voice box (larynx)
-
Windpipe (trachea)
-
Lungs, which contain:
-
Airways (bronchi)
-
Smaller airways (bronchioles)
-
Tiny airways (alveoli)
-
The lungs
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs made up of spongy, pinkish-gray tissue. They take up most of the space in the chest (thorax). The lungs are surrounded by a membrane called the pleura. The lungs are divided into sections called lobes.
When you breathe, the air:
-
Enters the body through the nose or the mouth
-
Travels down the throat through the larynx and trachea
-
Goes into the lungs through the bronchi:
-
Then bronchi divide into bronchioles
-
Bronchioles end in the alveoli
-
The gas exchange takes place between the alveoli and nearby blood vessels.
Change during pregnancy
Because of pregnancy hormones and the growing fetus, many changes happen in the respiratory system. Some changes include:
-
Stuffy or runny nose and nosebleeds
-
Chest increases in size
-
Diaphragm, the large flat muscle used in breathing, moves upward toward the chest
-
Increase in the amount of air breathed in and out
-
Decrease in amount of air the lungs can handle
-
Increase in oxygen use
Because of these changes, many pregnant people feel short of breath or have some trouble breathing. Shortness of breath commonly starts during the first or second trimester. The frequency tends to increase during the second trimester and stabilize during the third trimester. If you have a lung condition, such as asthma, before pregnancy, you may need to change treatment to control symptoms and prevent complications.
Online Medical Reviewer: Heather M Trevino BSN RNCMarianne Fraser MSN RN
Date Last Reviewed: 2/1/2024
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Related Conditions
- Chickenpox (Varicella) and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy- How Your Digestion Changes
- Graves Disease in Pregnancy
- Lupus and Pregnancy
- Maternal and Fetal Infections Overview
- Maternal and Fetal Testing Overview
- Medical Genetics: Teratogens
- Migraine Headaches During Pregnancy
- Neurological Conditions and Pregnancy
- Preconception Care
- Pregnancy and Medical Conditions
- Risk Factors for Pregnancy
- Sickle Cell Disease and Pregnancy
- Thyroid Conditions
- 5 Pregnancy Myths
- Asthma and Pregnancy
- Avoid Getting Stuck with Constipation
- Be Wary of These Three Items
- Bleeding During Early Pregnancy
- Ease Nausea with Natural Remedies
- Ease the Aches of Pregnancy with Exercise
- For the Sake of Your Baby, Skip the Alcohol
- For Twins or More: What to Consider in Your Third Trimester
- Gentle Approach Can Beat Pregnancy-Related Hair Loss
- Having Multiples? Take Extra Care in the First Trimester
- Healthy Habits Are Extra Important During Pregnancy
- Home Page - Pregnancy and Childbirth
- How are Low Birthweight and Smoking Related?
- How to Avoid Heartburn During Pregnancy
- How to Handle Dizziness During Pregnancy
- How to Keep Gestational Diabetes at Bay
- Keeping Up with the 9-to-5
- Lifting the Burden of Pregnancy Depression
- Manage Issues in the Workplace
- Managing Gestational Diabetes
- Managing Your Diabetes During Pregnancy
- Medicine and Pregnancy Don't Always Mix
- Planning a Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Oral Health
- Pregnancy and Skin Changes
- Pregnancy: Common Questions
- Pregnancy Rhinitis: Relief for Ongoing Nasal Congestion Is Possible
- Pregnancy Safety for You and Your Little One
- Pregnant? Why You Should Know About Lead
- Risks to Pregnancy
- Safe Sleep During Pregnancy
- Steps to Reduce the Pressure on Your Legs
- Take Precautions When You Travel
- Take to the Water for Exercise
- The Lungs in Pregnancy
- The Pregnant Mother
- Topic Index - Pregnancy and Childbirth
- What Dad Can Expect When You’re Expecting
- Healthy Pregnancy Quiz
- Tubal Ligation
- We're Pregnant—Tips for the Expectant Dad