Facts about Dizziness during Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes a tumultuous change in a woman’s body; resulting in many symptoms such as nausea, water retention and even dizziness. During pregnancy, feeling lightheaded can mean different things at different times.
Being pregnant means vast transformations must take place, as one body must now provide sustenance for two lives. Major adjustments must occur to make this possible. Hormones play a vital role throughout a woman’s life, and pregnancy is no exception. An increase in the hormonal levels occurs throughout the pregnancy to encourage the woman’s blood vessels to expand. By doing so, blood flow is able to be increased so as to provide an adequate supply to the baby. Because of the additional demand for the blood supply, a longer period of time is required for the blood to return to the woman. This creates a roller coaster effect on the cardiovascular system which wreaks havoc with the pregnant woman’s blood pressure.
In early pregnancy, a woman’s blood pressure decreases as blood is pumped to the developing fetus. It reaches its lowest point around mid pregnancy. Because the woman’s body is designed to undertake pregnancy and the additional demands on the body, these conditions do not usually cause any problems. Occasionally, the cardiovascular system and the nervous system are not able to keep up with the continual fluctuations, resulting in the woman feeling lightheaded.
Frequent causes for dizziness.
Certain circumstances tend to create greater possibilities for dizziness during pregnancy:
- Standing from a sitting position too quickly causes blood to pool in the lower extremities away from the heart, and if the body is not able to counteract quickly, the woman’s blood pressure drops dramatically.
- The saying of “eating for two” is true; an inadequate diet or insufficient fluids can contribute to the condition of low blood sugar as well as dehydration. Both of these can cause feelings of lightheadedness.
- A common condition during pregnancy is anemia due to iron deficiency. Taking prenatal vitamins vigilantly can help to avoid developing anemia, which is attributed toward dizziness.
- Lying on your back, especially during mid to late pregnancy, can restrict blood flow of the vena cava vein which traverses from the lower body to the heart. Decreased blood flow lends to lower blood pressure, which produces that lightheaded feeling.
- Wearing tight, restrictive clothing further inhibits blood flow by compressing circulation.
Ways to prevent dizziness.
Preventing feelings of dizziness is much easier than treating them. While taking preventative measures may not avoid dizziness, it will certainly reduce the opportunity for occurrences.
- Do not stand for long periods of time, or stand quickly.
- Lie on your side to enhance optimal blood flow.
- Consume regular, nutritious meals every day; add snacks in between meals.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Take prenatal vitamins faithfully
- When bathing, avoid using hot water; instead, choose temperatures slightly above body temperatures.
- Wear clothing that is non-restrictive to allow the best circulation.
Other causes for dizziness during pregnancy.
Sometimes the dizziness experienced is due to another preexisting condition, and should be brought to the attention of your obstetrician. Managing diabetes during pregnancy, for example, can present certain challenges. Low blood sugar can result in lightheadedness and, if not controlled, could complicate the birth of the baby. It is important to realize that occasional dizziness is normal; frequent dizziness, especially when accompanied by severe headaches, bleeding, numbness or vision problems, is not normal and must be reported to the obstetrician immediately.
Pregnancy is a wonderful, mysterious process; one that brings many changes to a woman’s body. Certain changes can cause dizziness during pregnancy, and is likely no cause for alarm. It is always wise to keep your obstetrician advised of any changes you encounter during pregnancy.