Causes of Dizziness during Pregnancy

Dizziness during Pregnancy

Most women experience dizziness during pregnancy. However, there is a scientific explanation to that phenomenon. During that state, your body is experiencing a lot of significant cardiovascular changes. Your body is currently undergoing a type of self-initiating adaptive changes through your nervous system and cardiovascular system in order for your body to function properly most especially in maintaining enough supply of blood to the numerous vital organs of your body. If your body failed to adapt these changes, you will experience dizziness or fainting.

One significant change that you will experience during your pregnancy is a rapid increase of your heart rate. An increase in the rate of your heart beat is due to the increase of circulating blood volume of your body which is approximately 45% higher of your total blood supply. Your body also experiences dilatation of the blood vessels to accommodate a huge blood volume that circulates on your body. However, dilatation of the blood vessels will result to low blood pressure. This is a bit normal but this is also one of the reasons why you are experiencing dizziness during pregnancy.

Dealing with Dizziness during Pregnancy

Dizziness during pregnancy is usually experienced by any pregnant woman from the start of the second trimester. Fortunately, medical experts have recognized several ways on how you can deal with dizziness during pregnancy. You need to lie down when you suddenly feel dizzy. This will prevent you from suffering injuries due to fall. You also need to refrain or rather stop doing activities such as driving or operating machinery.

Furthermore, change of action and positioning might also increase your risk of experiencing lightheadedness or fainting. You need to move slowly.  You should never change your position quickly especially from lying to standing position. Dizziness during pregnancy is also caused by orthostatic hypotension. This will happen if you will do a quick shift of position. There is a pooling of blood down to your lower extremities.

Sleeping Position and Dizziness during Pregnancy

You need to keep in mind that blood may also pool just around your feet when you stand for prolonged periods. You should walk short periods and refrain from standing long periods. You need to observe a light exercise to improve your blood circulation and to avoid pooling of blood down to your lower extremities. With this, you can avoid experiencing dizziness during pregnancy.

You should also take note about your sleeping positions. This will also affect your blood circulation. During your 2nd and 3rd trimester, it is advisable for you to observe a side lying position during sleep. Lying on your back is not advisable because this will exert too much pressure on your inferior vena cava, thus slowing the blood circulation to your baby. This is the main reason why you need to observe a left side lying position during sleep. Furthermore, vasovagal syncope might also let you experience dizziness during pregnancy. This condition is a result of straining activities such as coughing, anxiety, or pain. Keep in mind always that there might be normal things happening during pregnancy but there are still danger signs that you should always be alert of and one of this might be abnormal dizziness during pregnancy.




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