Dizziness or feeling faint
is a normal symptom during pregnancy. It is more common in the first trimester,
but it may also be prevalent throughout your pregnancy.
What causes dizziness during
pregnancy?
The main cause of dizziness
in pregnancy is due to the rising hormones that cause your blood vessels to
relax and widen. This helps increase the blood flow to your baby, but it slows
the return of the blood in the veins to you. This causes your blood pressure to
be lower than usual, which can reduce the blood flow to your brain, temporarily
causing dizziness.
Dizziness is also caused by
low blood sugar levels that may occur as your body adapts to changes in your
metabolism. Women who are anemic or who have varicose veins may be more
susceptible to dizziness than others.
During the second trimester,
diziness may be caused because your growing uterus puts pressure on blood
vessels.
Dizziness may also occur
later in your pregnancy if you lie on your back, allowing the weight of the
baby to press on your vena cava (a large vein that carries blood from your
lower body to your heart).
What remedies exist to
prevent dizziness during pregnancy?
There are a number of things
you can do to reduce the amount of dizziness you may experience. Here are some
helpful suggestions to reduce dizziness during pregnancy:
- Avoid standing for long periods. If you must stand, make sure that you keep your feet moving to help increase circulation
- Get up slowly from either sitting or lying down (This is very important when you are getting out of the bath)
- Eat regularly. Avoid long periods between meals; it is better to snack throughout the day
- Avoid hot baths or showers
- Avoid lying on your back once you reach the middle of your second trimester
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing to avoid restricting circulation
What do I do if I feel faint
during pregnancy?
There are a few things you
can do to help relieve the feeling that you are going to faint. It is common to
faint during pregnancy, so be cautious. Here are some helpful suggestions:
Avoid getting up quickly
from sitting or lying down positions. This is a common reason for dizziness,
lightheadedness and fainting.
If you feel faint, try the
following things:
- sit or lie down and lower your head
- take deep breaths
- loosen any tight clothing
- open windows and move towards circulating air
- eat foods rich in iron
When to contact your health
care provider because of Dizziness during pregnancy:
- You should contact your health care provider immediately if your dizziness is accompanied by vaginal bleeding and/or pain in your abdomen. This could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, a low-lying placenta, or placental abruption.
- You should also contact your health care provider immediately if you have persistent dizziness or dizziness accompanied by blurred vision, headaches, or palpitations; this may be a symptom of severe anemia or some other illness that could have a negative effect on your pregnancy.