It is common to experience dizziness during pregnancy, and this can make you feel like the room is swirling or make you feel shaky or weak. It would be best if you talked about dizziness and other symptoms you experience with your medical doctor. Occasionally, you might need immediate medical attention.
Read further to know more about the possible reasons for dizziness during pregnancy and things you can do to manage this symptom.
Dizziness during early pregnancy
Different elements could contribute to dizziness during the first trimester, and they may include:
Altering hormones and reducing blood pressure
Once you become pregnant, your hormone levels shift to help enhance blood flow in your body, allowing the baby to develop in utero. Boosted blood flow can prompt your blood pressure to alter. When blood pressure decline during pregnancy, it is known as low blood pressure or hypotension.
Low blood pressure can also result in you feeling dizzy, particularly when you move from sitting or lying down to standing. Your doctor will examine your blood pressure at your prenatal appointments to regulate your blood pressure.
Generally, lower blood pressure isn’t a reason to worry, and it will go back to its normal levels after pregnancy.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Dizziness may occur if you have severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. This is known as hyperemesis gravidarum, and it happens early during pregnancy due to your changing hormone levels. If you have this problem, you might be incapable of holding down food or water, and this could result in dizziness and weight loss.
To treat this ailment, your consultant may:
- Suggest a specific diet
- Have you hospitalized so that you can acquire additional fluids and be monitored
- Prescribe a medication
You might feel relief from this condition in your second trimester or encounter symptoms amid your pregnancy period.
Ectopic pregnancy
Dizziness can arise from an ectopic pregnancy. This emerges when a fertilized egg embeds itself in your reproductive system on the surface of the uterus. Sometimes, it infiltrates your fallopian tubes.
When this ailment arises, the pregnancy is not viable. You could feel dizziness as well as pain in your stomach and vaginal bleeding. Your doctor will have to conduct treatment or prescribe a medication to eliminate the fertilized egg.
Dizziness in the second trimester
Pressure on your uterus
You might feel dizzy if the pressure from your developing uterus presses on your blood vessels. This can happen during the second or third trimester and is more widespread when the baby is huge.
Lying on your back can also result in dizziness. This is because lying down on your back during pregnancy can influence your broadening uterus to obstruct blood flow from your lower extremities to your heart.
This can result in dizziness as well as other distressing symptoms. Ensure to lay on your side to prevent this blockage from happening.
Gestational diabetes
You might experience dizziness because of gestational diabetes if your blood sugar becomes too low. Gestational diabetes arises when your hormones influence the way your body generates insulin.
Your consultant will possibly suggest examining you for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy. If you’re diagnosed with the ailment, you will have to regulate your blood sugar and hold onto a rigorous diet and workout plan.
Dizziness, together with other symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, and headaches, may reveal that your blood sugar is low. You will need to consume a snack like a portion of fruit or some pieces of hard candy to increase it. Check your sugar levels after several minutes to ensure they’re in the typical range.
Dizziness during the third trimester
Several reasons for dizziness in the first and second trimesters can prompt the same symptom later during your pregnancy. It is significant that you visit your doctor regularly and throughout the third trimester to regulate potentially risky conditions that can result in dizziness.
Watch out for signs of feeling faint to avoid falling, particularly in your third trimester. Get up slowly and reach out for support to prevent lightheadedness, and ensure that you sit as often as you can to avoid extended periods of standing.
Dizziness during pregnancy
There are a few conditions that could prompt dizziness at any period in your pregnancy. These conditions are not linked to a particular trimester.
Anemia
A pregnant woman could have a lesser number of healthy red blood cells from pregnancy, which could cause anemia. This can happen when you do not have sufficient iron and folic acid in your body. Additionally, anemia might prompt you to feel exhausted, become pale, or feel short of breath.
You could get anemia at any moment during pregnancy. If you do, your doctor can carry blood tests during your pregnancy to assess your iron levels and control the condition. They might suggest iron or folic acid supplements.
Dehydration
Dehydration can arise at any time in your pregnancy. You might experience it during the first trimester if you are vomiting or nauseous. You might encounter dehydration later during pregnancy as a result of your body needing more water.
You should consume at least 8 – 10 glasses of water daily during the early stage of pregnancy, and increase that quantity as you include additional calories to your diet. This should also be done in your second and third trimesters as it would boost your water intake by 300 milliliters trusted source a day.
Regulating dizziness during pregnancy
There are various means of avoiding or reducing dizziness during pregnancy:
- Restrict extended periods of standing
- Ensure to keep moving when you are on your feet to improve circulation
- Take your time to get up from lying down or sitting
- Avert lying on your back during the second and third trimester
- Consume healthy food often to prevent low blood sugar
- Drink a lot of water to avert dehydration
- Put on breathable, comfortable clothes
- Take supplements and prescriptions as suggested by your doctor to deal with conditions that prompt dizziness
When you should look for help
Make sure that your OB-GYN is aware of any dizziness you feel during pregnancy. That way, your doctor can carry the necessary steps to analyze the conditions inducing the symptom. If the dizziness is abrupt or severe, or if you suffer other symptoms attributed to dizziness, visit your doctor for medical assistance immediately.
Below are the following symptoms:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe swelling
- Stomach ache
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Severe headaches
- Visibility complication
- Difficulty breathing
Dizziness is a popular sign of pregnancy, and several conditions can provoke it. Allow your doctor to be aware if you feel dizzy. They can carry any required examinations and monitor you to ensure that you and your baby are healthy.
Your healthcare provider can also assist you in discovering ways to lessen the symptom, depending on the primary factor. Preventing extended periods of standing or lying on your side and ensuring your body is nourished with healthy foods and a lot of water might lessen the periods of dizziness.
Reference;
- Dizziness – mayoclinic
- Second-trimester pregnancy: what to expect – mayoclinc
