Dizziness

Why you might be having a dizzy pregnancy

During your 1st trimester, the system that circulates blood around your body grows quickly to allow for the blood supply your baby needs. This means your blood flow starts to work overtime and by your 2nd trimester, the pressure on your blood vessels can make you feel dizzy and quite unwell.

There can also be other reasons for feeling dizzy during pregnancy:

• If you go a while without eating, your blood sugar level can plummet, making you feel a bit giddy – a speedy snack should give you the boost you need.
• Pregnancy can also be pretty hot work and overheating can give you a fainting feeling. A blast of fresh air and a cool drink should do the trick.
• Naturally low blood pressure may also cause you to feel dizzy.

Tips on avoiding dizziness during pregnancy

As your bump gets bigger, your sense of gravity will shift, so just start taking things a bit slower, follow our tips and you won’t get into so much of a spin!

• Don't get up too quickly from your bed or chair.
• Go easy on hot baths – don't get overheated.
• If you have to stand for any length of time, try clenching your bum muscles for a bit or wriggling your toes, to keep your circulation going.
• Try sniffing some strong, menthol oil.
• Don’t go hungry, otherwise your blood sugar levels could drop.
• Get your blood pressure checked by your midwife or doctor.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

When to seek medical advice

If you find you keep feeling faint and experience dizziness during pregnancy (especially if you also get blurred vision, palpitations, nausea, or headaches), don't hesitate to get in touch with your midwife straightaway. It's always best to get that kind of thing properly checked out for peace of mind.