Dizziness and Fainting During Pregnancy

"Why do I feel faint?"
The cause of feeling faint is due to the pooling of blood in your legs and the blood not being able to return to your head. This occurs in two situations: lying on your back or standing for long periods of time.

When you lie on your back, the pregnant uterus stops the blood from reaching your head by placing pressure on the veins from your legs. If you do feel faint, immediately lie down on your left side. This will remove the weight of the uterus off the veins and the blood will return. You will immediately feel stronger and the feeling of fainting will pass.

Standing for long periods will pool blood in your legs and decrease the amount of blood reaching your head. Standing still for any period of time can make you feel faint so change your position and move your legs to help push the blood back to your head. If this does not help, lay on your left side immediately. You will feel better in just a few minutes by doing this.

"How can I relieve my faintness and dizziness?"
Strategies for relieving faintness and dizziness during pregnancy:

• Do not raise up quickly. If you get up too fast, the blood in your body will pool in your feet and legs.



• Try not to jump out of bed.



• Get plenty to drink. Sometimes mild dehydration can cause a person to be light-headed.



• Try to keep cool. Being overheated can contribute to these symptoms. If you are feeling uncomfortably warm, step into a cool room, get a cool drink or take a cool shower.