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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety During 24 Weeks Of Pregnancy

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Posted on Fri, 2 Jan 2015
Question: Hi there, forgive me if this is a silly question but I am 24 weeks pregnant with twins and have been suffering from anxiety. One thing I am anxious about is the fact that I have had to hold my breath several times lately to avoid breathing in cigarette smoke etc whilst walking down the street, to the point where I have felt quite breathless upon breathing again. I am concerned that this may have caused harm to the babies (i.e. brain damage). I understand that for this to happen, you would have to be oxygen deprived for a long time, but I would appreciate if someone could explain to me how long you would need to hold your breath/be oxygen deprived for in order for any harm to come to the babies (and the mechanism by which they would be safe if it's not dangerous). Obviously I don't make a habit of holding my breath, but sometimes it seems like the lesser of two evils!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
use a mask...explained

Detailed Answer:
hello,
If you wish to avoid passive smoking then the best and easiest way to do it is to wear a doctor's mask and walk in streets. Holding your breath for few seconds wouldnt deprive your fetus of oxygen as they would absorb it from your blood and you wont feel asphyxiated unless the blood carbondioxide levels are more than 45mm Hg. the drawback of holding breath is that is increases the intra-abdominal pressure which can cause pressure over the uterus , so should be avoided .

Please use a mask while traveling outside and feel safe.
reagrds,
dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sameer Kumar (3 minutes later)
Thank you - how long would it take to cause brain damage though?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
5min

Detailed Answer:
There is no such cut off limit based on minutes but if you are oxygen deprived for more than 5 minutes , it can cause an effect on brain.
regards
Dr.Sameer
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sameer Kumar

OB and GYN Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 1782 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety During 24 Weeks Of Pregnancy

Brief Answer: use a mask...explained Detailed Answer: hello, If you wish to avoid passive smoking then the best and easiest way to do it is to wear a doctor's mask and walk in streets. Holding your breath for few seconds wouldnt deprive your fetus of oxygen as they would absorb it from your blood and you wont feel asphyxiated unless the blood carbondioxide levels are more than 45mm Hg. the drawback of holding breath is that is increases the intra-abdominal pressure which can cause pressure over the uterus , so should be avoided . Please use a mask while traveling outside and feel safe. reagrds, dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX