• 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.