March 29, 2010
Top Reasons Why Pregnant Women Faint
At some point during her pregnancy, a patient might complain of dizziness or “fainting.” However, the challenge is to determine if this is an isolated incident or does the patient need additional tests?
True fainting (or syncope) means that there has been a temporary loss of consciousness and the patient is no longer standing. This usually occurs when there is a temporary decrease in the blood flow to the brain. The most common reason patients faint is because of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially during the first trimester. However, hypoglycemia does not explain all reasons for fainting.
During pregnancy, the blood vessels are opened wide (dilated) which sometimes decreases the amount of blood flowing within the chambers of the heart. It therefore beats slower. A slow heart beat (aka bradycardia) produces symptoms of dizziness or fainting. However, there are also serious conditions that also cause fainting and it’s important to know the difference. Listed below are examples of fainting that require additional tests:
- Fainting associated with a loss consciousness that lasts for greater than 15 minutes
- Fainting associated with loss of urine
- Fainting preceded by shortness of breath, light-headedness, chest pain and a fast heartbeat
- Fainting associated with significant disorientation, weakness of limbs, numbness and abnormal movements
Items 1, 2 and 4 require a neurology consultation to rule out a seizure disorder or a space-occupying tumor. Item 3 requires a cardiologist (heart specialists) to look for heart problems or, on rare occasions, a blood clot in the lungs. These are extremely rare conditions that most pregnant women will never experience.
Most pregnant women can avoid fainting episodes by drinking lots of fluids, avoid prolonged periods of standing, get up SLOWLY if sitting down for long periods of times and wear stockings that improve circulation. Thankfully, unless fainting has been associated with a serious condition, there will be no harm to the baby.
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divadan said,
April 10, 2012 at 4:02 am
I am Five months pregnant and have been suffering with nausea and dizziness while working. It gets really hot where I work. My doctor says dizziness is not caused by pregnancy I should see a family doctor. Is he lying or just doesnt know what hes talkn about? Would appreciate anyones feedback might need to switch doctors.
drlindagalloway said,
April 11, 2012 at 10:45 am
Thanks for your comment. Let me begin by saying that legally, I can’t give medical opinions but can provide educational information. Your comment makes me sad because many of my colleagues do not like at the “whole” patient, just the part that fits their specialty. Nausea at 5 months needs to be addressed. Do you eat fried foods or foods that contain a lot of fat grams? Gallbladder disease which is increasing during pregnancy is something to rule out. Dizziness might indicate low iron levels and needs to be explored. Trust your instincts. If your physician is not giving you the attention you require, a second opinion from another physician or midwife might be a good idea. Thanks for your comment and hope you will “like” me on Facebook. Have a healthy pregnancy!
CHIDIEBERE said,
April 26, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Your work on pregnancy satisfies me.
drlindagalloway said,
April 26, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words. Hope you’ll become a follower and also “Like” me on Facebook. It would be very helpful. Best regards.
divadan said,
May 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm
#3 Happens to me frequetly at work. I am currently seeing a cardiologist for this and wearing a 24 hr holter heart monitor. Should I be put on bed rest. This has been going on since I was 2 months and I am currently 6months.
Lynell Kallman said,
May 23, 2012 at 10:17 am
Myy daughter is 5 months pregnant and is passing out sometimes in the mornings about 45 to an hour after she eats. She is typcially sitting down when it happens. States she gets this feeling of having over eaten and feels her stomach is too full. Again it has usually been 45 minutes to an hour after she has eaten and she has NOT overeaten. She has a history of low blood sugar so has been testing her blood sugar but blood sugar appears to be fine. A bit low but nothing too alarming. Dr has tested for anemia and it shows normal for a healthy pregnant woman. Dr is not sure what is going on but she is getting scared and so am I. Any thoughts of what else she should be looking at? Really trust her doctor and he admits he is stumped by it. Just wondered what thoughts you might have about what to look at next.
drlindagalloway said,
May 23, 2012 at 10:55 am
Unofficially I would refer her to a maternal medicine specialist and also do an EKG of her heart. How long does she “pass out?” Is she unconscious? Does she lose urine when she passes out? Possible diagnosis could be a heart arrhythmia, a new onset seizure disorder or is it a gallbladder issue? A maternal fetal medicine referral (high risk specialist) would be recommended, especially since her primary OB is “stumped.” Hope this helps. Would appreciate you “liking” me on Facebook and buying a copy of The Smart Mother’s Guide to a Better Pregnancy available on my website http://www.smartmothersguide.com You’ll find more helpful tips. Best of luck with the pregnancy.
Lynell Kallman said,
May 23, 2012 at 12:03 pm
She just gets very faint and can’t respond. She knows it is happening and can feel it coming on. She is always sitting when it happens and can’t see but can vaguely hear what is being said. Just can’t respond to anything. Only lasts a short time (a minute or less) but then she does not feel well the rest of the day. She does not lose urine when it happens but it is getting increasingly worse and more often. I had her call her doctor again today. We certainly understand that your advice is unofficial but we will continue to pursue this with what you said in mind and follow her doctors recommendations. Thank you so much for giving us a direction to look into. I did like you on Facebook and we will continue to follow you. Will also purchase the book you wrote. Thanks again for your help with this. You are doing a great thing here!
drlindagalloway said,
May 23, 2012 at 4:42 pm
I would definitely obtain a maternal fetal medicine referral for her. It might also be something neurological. Does it happen after eating certain types of foods, i.e. fried foods or all types of food?
Lynell Kallman said,
May 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm
It is ALWAYS in the morning after breakfast. She eats a high protein cereal that she just switched to when her dr suggested she needed to eat more protein but it was happening before the switch to this Kashi high protein cereal. It is just getting worse over time. She is going to go right away for a 3 hour blood sugar study that we have now moved forward from the original date it was scheduled. She is 23 weeks along. We do have a history of heart problems within our family that concerns me but her doctor wants to rule out this blood sugar thing completely before we look at all the other things you suggested. I copied and pasted your ideas to his office and he found it very helpful. Thank you so much for consulting with us about this. We are wonderful to take the time, effort and show such interest. Just want my daughter and her baby to be okay and it does certainly make a mother worry! Thank you again!
drlindagalloway said,
May 24, 2012 at 1:11 am
It’s my pleasure. Sometimes milk doesn’t agree with pregnant patients, especially if they drink whole milk. I agree with your doc’s management. A 3-hr test is a good idea. Please keep me posted on how your daughter’s doing.
Raj said,
May 28, 2012 at 12:43 am
Hi Linda , my wife is in first trimester , she had abortion 4 times before , our baby is 6 weeks 6 days as of today , we are staying in region of humid climate , I go to office in morning and return back in evening , she don’t have anyone to take her care in meantime , we want this child , we are even consulting doctor but place where I stay we don’t find good knowledgeable doctor to support us.
She was feeling stomach ache few days before but now it’s ok , now she is feeling fainting from last two days. Due to stomach ache I stopped her high fibre food thinking it can be due to food poisoning or due to water. We even made sonography and saw that baby heart is beating. Please let me know considering all her history told now that what should be her diet henceforth and what all precautions should I take.