Do you get dizzy in early pregnancy?

(April 1, 2011)

When women get dizzy in early pregnancy it usually causes them to panic. However, this is one of the most common occurrences in any pregnancy and there could be a number of factors contributing to this. In early pregnancy, your body is preparing to support a new life growing inside of you and there are various changes that affect almost all systems within the body. Dizziness during pregnancy in most cases is because of the increased quantity of blood being pumped through the body. Some of the other factors that can make you feel dizzy in early pregnancy include anemia, hyperventilation, vasovagal syncope, rise in body temperature, dehydration and sudden movements like rising up too fast from a sitting position. Anemia is a very common occurrence in almost 90% of pregnant women. The main cause of anemia is deficiency of iron in the blood. In this condition, there is a lack of hemoglobin which is responsible for carrying oxygen to the brain and other organs in the body. This deficiency can often cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy. It is therefore vital for pregnant women to have a diet rich in iron everyday and also take prenatal vitamins which can help them overcome this deficiency. Leafy vegetables, beans, cereals and red meats are good sources of iron and should be included in the daily diet.

Hyperventilation is another factor that can lead you to feel dizzy in early pregnancy and is a result of anxiety, fear or excessive physical activities like exercising. Exercising during pregnancy is good for the health of the mother and the baby but overdoing it can lead to hyperventilation and make you feel dizzy. In some cases women are too anxious about things like labor and childbirth and this excess anxiety can also cause them to hyperventilate. Some pregnant women even tend to feel dizzy during bowel movements, while coughing or urinating and this is known as vasovagal syncope. This can put pressure on the circulatory system and lower the blood pressure thereby causing dizziness. Spending too much time in a hot bath can make the blood vessels dilate, lower the blood pressure and make you feel lightheaded. Dehydration is another reason for feeling dizzy in early pregnancy. Lack of adequate water intake can cause dehydration and may also be bad for the health of the developing fetus. Dizziness is a common symptom in most pregnancies and can be avoided by taking care.

Submitted by N on April 1, 2011 at 12:02

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