Dizziness During Pregnancy

1. Change in blood circulation. Now that there is a little person living inside of you that is dependent you for everything, there is an increased blood flow to the baby. This causes changes in circulation and, sometimes, low blood pressure.

2. Stress. Whether it be physical stress, emotional stress, or both, pregnancy is a time of change that can definitely bring on added stress.

3. Not eating enough. It may be that you just have not eaten enough, or often enough.

4. Inadequate sleep. Whether it be frequent urination during the night or your growing belly getting in the way, pregnancy is often a time of inadequate sleep.

5. Lying on your back. Yes, even resting can make you dizzy if you do it the “wrong” way! This can put too much pressure on your vein that supplies blood to the heart.

6. Dehydrated. Not getting enough fluids can also cause pregnancy dizziness.

7. Anemia. The low red blood cell count can cause pregnancy dizziness or lightheadedness.

Tips for preventing or stopping dizziness during pregnancy:

• Do not skip meals, and add a snack between meals if necessary.

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

• Don’t get up too fast when lying or sitting down.

• Take time to de-stress with a walk, relaxing music, etc.

• Lie on your side, especially during second or third trimesters.

• Eat plenty of iron-rich foods to avoid anemia.

• If you are not sleeping well at night, try to get short naps during the day.

• Eat balanced meals that contain both carbohydrate and protein.

Dizziness during pregnancy is very common, but no one likes it! Practice good nutrition during pregnancy, get as much rest as possible, and don’t feel guilty for make a little extra time for relaxation.