Why am I feeling dizzy?
Dizziness is a common feature of pregnancy. Between half and three quarters of pregnant women feel dizzy to some degree. The reason for your dizzy spells varies depending on how far into your pregnancy you are.Dizziness in the first trimester
Early in your first trimester, you may feel dizzy and have bouts of nausea as your blood flow works to catch up with your rapidly expanding circulatory system. This happens because the pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the walls of your blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to fall. This can make you more likely to feel dizzy from as early as eight weeks. Your body is usually able to adjust to these changes, but you may sometimes feel dizzy and light-headed.
Dizziness in the second and third trimester
In the second trimester, your growing womb (uterus) can put pressure on blood vessels. This can make you feel dizzy. Lying flat on your back can also cause dizziness in the later stages of pregnancy.
It's very common to feel dizzy occasionally during your pregnancy. This can be for a number of reasons:
- If you stand up too quickly your blood doesn't have enough time to reach your brain. This is also called postural hypotension.
- If you lie down for too long. About one in 10 pregnant women experiences this because of low blood pressure.
- If you haven't eaten for a while and your blood sugar is low, especially in the late afternoon.
- If you are anaemic or suffer from varicose veins.
- If you are dehydrated or anxious.
- Excessive exercise or anxiety can sometimes cause you to hyperventilate and feel faint, especially if you're feeling tired or not well.
- If you're overheated
What can I do to relieve my dizziness?
That will depend on what's made you dizzy. It's a good idea to start by sitting or lying down. This will help your dizziness subside, and also stop you falling over.Here are some more tips to help you deal with dizziness.
- If you're in a stuffy kitchen, office, bus or a crowded train, try and get some fresh air.
- If you haven't eaten for an hour or two, a quick snack will help boost your blood sugar levels. It's a good idea to always have a healthy snack or two with you. Working mums-to-be can keep a few healthy snacks at their workplace.
- Try drinking water or fresh fruit juice. (In general, keep yourself well hydrated by drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. If you find it difficult to drink that much water, try drinking coconut water, lime juice or chaach.)
- Eat lots of iron rich foodsto make sure you don't become anaemic.
- Simply slow down, for instance by getting up slowly and smoothly, instead of leaping up from a chair or out of bed.
- Avoid going out in the sun during the hottest part of the day. If you have to go out, always carry an umbrella or a hat if you prefer one.
- If you start to feel lightheaded or dizzy while exercising, stop and rest for a while.
- If you feel dizzy when you get too hot, dress in layers so you can shed clothes as necessary
In some cases, you can't do anything except sit or lie down (on your side) and wait it out. Waves of dizziness can - and probably will -affect you at any time during your pregnancy.
Are these waves of dizziness dangerous?
Very rarely. Don't take light-headedness lightly though, even though it's common. Your greatest danger is of fainting. If you do feel faint:- lie down on your left side
- or sit with your head between your knees
These positions will increase the blood flow to your brain, which should relieve the fainting sensation.
When should I check with my doctor about my dizzy spells?
You should see your doctor if you faint, if you are often dizzy or if you have dizziness as well as:- pain in your pelvic area or belly
- shortness of breath
- blurred vision
- palpitations
- headaches
- vomiting
Persistent dizziness or dizziness accompanied by blurred vision and headaches or palpitations can be a symptom of severe anaemia or other serious illness that could affect your pregnancy. In rare cases, dizziness accompanied by severe lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, especially early on in pregnancy, may indicate an ectopic pregnancy . In such cases, contact your doctor immediately.
Dizziness can also be caused by something that's nothing to do with your pregnancy, such as allergies or panic attacks. It can also be because you're breathing too fast or too deeply (hyperventilation). That's why if you have any concerns, you shouldn't hesitate to get help. But keep in mind that feeling dizzy - from heat, hunger, nausea, or getting up too fast - is often just part of being pregnant.
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