fainting is the norm?!

soyoumeanitsgrowinginme · January 2015

I am 11 weeks 3 days with my first, yesterday while I was at work I just was not feeling normal. I got really hot was seeing green and my ears were ringing so loud, bam passed out and woke up confused a minute or two later. I went to the hospital right away and the doctor says it is normal for pregnant women to faint and that my bloodwork, ekg, urine, and baby's heart were all very good. He also said doctors are studying but there is still no real answer to why pregnant women's blood pressure has such durastic changes causing faints to happen. Seriously, that was scary! Any one else have something like this happen? Does this make me susptiable to faint my entire pregnancy?

Kimk1616 · January 2015

I don't have any experience with this but it must have been very scary for you. Glad everything checked out okay and hoping it doesn't happen again!

Lois172000 · January 2015

I feel this way often but luckily have not zonked out.
I find if I don't eat frequently I'm drained.

mosdub · January 2015

Eek, that is scary! Glad you and baby are okay.

I found this at MayoClinic:

"Dizziness

Pregnancy causes your blood vessels to dilate and your blood pressure to drop, which might leave you lightheaded or dizzy. To prevent mild, occasional dizziness, avoid prolonged standing. Rise slowly after lying or sitting down. If you start to feel dizzy while you're driving, pull over. If you're standing when dizziness hits, lie down on your left side.

Seek prompt care if the dizziness is severe and occurs with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. This could indicate an ectopic pregnancy — a condition in which the fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. To prevent life-threatening complications, the ectopic tissue must be removed."

I also tend to get light-headed, though I haven't passed out yet. Pre-pregnancy it was attributed to low iron levels and/or low blood sugar. Next time you see green/spots and hear ringing try to sit down with your head in between your legs in order to recover, or, as MayoClinic says, lay on your left side...though at work sitting with your head down might be less embarrassing than laying on the floor.

JumpAroundBucky · January 2015

I haven't passed out (yet), but I get so freaking dizzy really easily. I've been in a position to sit down every time it's happened. For some reason it's worse this pregnancy than last. So sorry it happened to you- how scary!

jenneebees · January 2015

I passed out when I was 6 weeks. Luckily I work in the hospital so I was right where I needed to be. I follwed up with my doctor and OB. Both said it can happen just get to the floor if you feel it coming on. Most important thing is to not get hurt while fainting. Other than that make sure you are drinking a lot of water, eating snacks or small meals throughout the day. Also take your time going from laying down- sitting- standing. Hope your feeling better!

jennspit · January 2015

Wow that's so scary. It happened to me at work the other day. I blew my nose in the bathroom got ringing in my ears and tunnel vision. I had to sit on the bathroom floor with my head between my knees. So gross. I'm glad you're feeling better. ;;)

kjandericka · January 2015

I haven't actually passed out but I have felt dizzy many times, mostly after standing up quickly or walking up the stairs. Stairs seriously kick my butt. I can walk for miles but one flight of stairs, especially when carrying a load or two of laundry, makes me feel like I ran a marathon. It's pathetic.

Jenkayb · January 2015

I think it has to do with all the blood circulating to more areas or something? But yeah that's super scary. Glad everything is okay.

Heavenwhip · January 2015

I have felt faint a couple times with this pregnancy, never with my first though. One thing I have learned is when you go from sitting to standing, do so slowly, it helps. That's about all the advice i can give. Also, glad to hear everything is Ok with you.

piperpenguin · January 2015

This happened to me to me this morning! I was using the kitchen blender and out of nowhere everything around me started going black and I was very lightheaded. I ended up sitting on the floor and eventually felt well enough to get up. I got really hot and sweaty. Didn't fully faint. It was terrifying. I did some research and it says this can happen while pregnant. I hope it doesn't happen again! I had blood work done yesterday and am wondering why my hemoglobin is.. I was borderline anemic prior to the pregnancy and am wondering if that is playing into this as well.

Edited to say I am 11 weeks today

dilutedsanity0 · January 2015

I know that dizziness is very common but I don't think actually losing consciousness is. Not saying that it is a BAD thing, that possibly indicates something wrong, but I don't think it's as common as just feeling dizzy.
I used to pass out all of the time due to a condition I have. My advice? Learn the symptoms and triggers fast and always sit down as quickly as possible at the hint of a fall. Looking silly sitting on the floor of the grocery store isn't as bad as bashing your face open on a shelf. Trust me.

rmml1331 · January 2015

I had a friend who passed out constantly from 4 months on. She went through a ton of testing, etc but no one could figure out what was going on. Eventually it happened when she was driving to work one day so sh was finally told not to drive. Ultimately she had a perfectly healthy baby, but I know it freaked her out.

sandrabrooke · January 2015

I've felt faint a couple times, and try to make sure I can sit down for a bit. Once on public transit I felt so dizzy I sat down in the disabled area (since it was the only area). Someone then was like "your not pregnant or disabled!!!!". Really awkward. So as soon as another seat opened up, I moved. No one that actually was disabled ever needed that seat.

AshleyM0125 · January 2015

I passed out a few times with my first pregnancy (2 times during ultrasounds) and once so far with this one. Essentially my blood pressure dropped randomly. During my ultrasounds, though, it was because I was flat on my back for too long. I was around 30 weeks the first time (it was the 3d ultrasound) and I was 40 weeks the second time. It is incredibly scary and other than just making sure I always have something only stomach, there really isn't anything I can do. The major danger is in falling, so if you are feeling that way sit or lay down immediately. It can be awkward or inconvenient but it isn't worth the risk of falling!

mrspiatt · January 2015

My blood pressure drops even when I'm not pregnant and I have fainting spells. My cardiologist gave me a hip that helps with prolonged standing. If you're standing for too long and start to feel faint, you can force yourself up on your tip toes, by doing their a few times it gets your blood pumping and helps to raise your blood pressure. You can also do it while sitting, just put the pressure as if you were going up on your tip toes. Also, sometimes having gatoraid will help. The sodium and electrolytes have been a great help for me while pregnant.

Edit: typo

lc&jw · January 2015

mommabakes said:

I get light headed really frequently, luckily, I know the feeling by now and can sit down before I pass out. I make sure to eat relatively frequent meals which helps me. Plus drinking a LOT of water.

I've had the same experience. I find it happens most often if I'm standing in one place for too long. If I'm walking or moving around, it's not so much of an issue. My doctor said it had something to do with higher progesterone levels during pregnancy causing blood pressure to drop. I guess if you're standing in one place, the blood can start to pool in your feet.

The few experiences I've had where I fainted have been super scary, so I'm very sensitive to the symptoms now and take action immediately- usually sitting and eating something.

panaricana · January 2015

I get light headed really frequently, luckily, I know the feeling by now and can sit down before I pass out. I make sure to eat relatively frequent meals which helps me. Plus drinking a LOT of water.

All this. Happened way early with this one, but I know the sensation enough to prepare (sit, lift legs, etc). I have low blood pressure even when not pregnant. Pregnancy just makes it dip pretty low. Sometimes I even see spots :-/ So it goes. Eventually, after baby, things go back to (closer to) normal.

brittdye1983 · January 2015

I have passed out twice. Once at 7 weeks and again at 11 weeks last week . Both times I was told by the Dr that it is fairly common during pregnancy. It's very scary when it happens but I'm learning to not panic.

joneka · January 2015

kjandericka said:

I haven't actually passed out but I have felt dizzy many times, mostly after standing up quickly or walking up the stairs. Stairs seriously kick my butt. I can walk for miles but one flight of stairs, especially when carrying a load or two of laundry, makes me feel like I ran a marathon. It's pathetic.

Im glad that Im not alone...I was too embarrassed to say anything and felt like a woos! I get so dizzy with the stairs. I live in a two story house with all the bedroom up...now I wish at least one bedroom was downstairs...I was totally against it a year ago when I bought it ;-/

shalenaj · January 2015

This happened to me a lot in my first pregnancy I was fainting all the time in the shower and out and about and it turned out I had gestational diabetes it may not be what's happening to you but this had happened to me

wildermom · January 2015

Haven't had any issues with this pregnancy but I did pass out a few time with DS. Both times in a store (thankfully DH was with me). It is terrifying!

But yes, it's "normal". Try to always keep something in your stomach. Snacks and frequent meals really do help!

Lois172000 · January 2015

shalenaj said:
This happened to me a lot in my first pregnancy I was fainting all the time in the shower and out and about and it turned out I had gestational diabetes it may not be what's happening to you but this had happened to me

I tend to get light headed in the shower as well. Try turning the temp down some. I noticed a difference. May help you too.

svenskalamb13 · January 2015

With DS I was about 17 weeks in line to board a plane with my mom and sister, it was around 5 in the morning. I rested my head on my moms shoulder like I do when Im tired. Bam, passed out. No reason to it. A couple seconds later, I woke up and was like I'm fine, I'm okay and got up. Then not too much longer after that I passed out again, almost right before I was gonna show the lady my ticket. They ended up pulling me to the side and unfortunately I missed my flight, but we got on another plane going generally the same direction.

caitie713 · January 2015

I fainted in Church with my first pregnancy, it only happened once throughout the whole pregnancy though. It is however completely normal, so just pay attention to the signs your body is giving you. I knew it was coming, but didn't want to draw attention to myself by sitting down. Haha! Fainting caused a big crowd.

1stbambino · January 2015

I was home alone and taking a shower when i got super dizzy. It scared the sh*t out of me. I had to stop mid shower, get out, and lay down. So glad I didn't actually pass out. I would have lost it.

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