• Occasionally you may feel
dizzy spells and your
head
spinning. This is because
your cardiovascular and nervous systems
are not able to match up with the
changes taking place in your body
during pregnancy or you may be having
low BP.
• You feel
faint
when your brain is not able to get
enough blood supply. Skipping a single
meal will cause your blood sugar level
to drop and this will cause you to
feel weak and light-headed. Next thing
you know, you have hit the ground.
Fainting enables blood to reach your
brain with greater immediacy. It is
not the ideal solution but definitely
effective. That is not to say that
you should wait to fall when you feel
dizzy.
• Avoid the fall by lying down
or sitting still with your head in
your hands. You will feel better after
10 minutes. Go easy on yourself for
a while until you feel normal again.
If fainting spells seem to be a frequent
thing with you there are ways you
can minimize its incidence. It is
not a pleasant experience and certainly
not a safe one.
Causes
for dizzy spells and head spins during
pregnancy and what you can do about
it:
•
When you stand up
suddenly or if you sit or stand for
long periods Get up slowly
from your seat or bed; don't rush.
Blood takes time to return to your
heart from your legs and hence the
decrease in BP levels will cause you
to feel faint
•
When you lie on your
back Make it a habit to lie
down on your left side to prevent
blood from pooling in your lower limbs;
lying down on your back slows down
blood flow from the vena cava to your
heart
•
Standing for too long
If you have to, tighten and relax
your leg and buttock muscles which
will help in blood circulation; wear
support stockings to aid circulation
• Avoid hot, crowded places
Stay away from stuffy, smoky environments
such as pubs
•
Not eating enough
Don't skip meals or eat poorly; you
will end up with low blood sugar and
feel dizzy. Snack between meals.
•
Anemia If
you are suffering from anemia, fewer
red blood cells are carrying oxygen
to the brain and rest of the organs
•
Overheated environments
Avoid spending time in hot rooms or
taking hot showers or baths; this
will cause your blood vessels to dilate
and lower your BP. Stick to warm baths
or showers
•
Avoid the 'spells'
No matter what is causing the spins,
stop what you are doing and lie down,
preferably on your left side. If you
are not able to lie down due to circumstances,
sit down with your head between your
knees. When you are ready to stand
up after lying down, do so slowly
and sit for a while. Then slowly rise
to standing position.
•
Dehydration
Stay well hydrated by drinking more
fluids, more if you are exercising
or in hot weather
•
Poor ventilation
Keep your rooms well-ventilated; switch
on the fan to help keep your environment
cool
•
Hyperventilation
Rigorous activities or stress can
cause you to feel faint, especially
when you have to take quick and shallow
breaths
Pregnancy keeps you warmer than usual
anyway; hot and stuffy places therefore
are places you would want to avoid.
When medical
attention may be required:
If fainting spells are common occurrences
with you, inform your doctor. It can
be anemia and you certainly need extra
iron to combat this. If you feel pain
in your back or abdomen along with
the dizziness then you could be having
UTI.
