I am not sure. I don't recall Gidget breathing hard when she nursed. Is that the only time you notice her breathing is different? I guess I am just a little concerned because like I said before, my Gidget had a stillborn a week after she gave birth to Fluffy & Rusty and she started panting. At first I had thought it was the heat, until I picked her up to comfort her and felt the little babies claw scratch my arm. Hopefully, someone with more recent knowledge will jump in here soon and be of more help than me. Meanwhile, keep an eye on her. If she looks like she is having any distress I would take her and babies to the vet.