Is dizziness common during pregnancy?

Many women will experience lightheadedness during pregnancy.  This often occurs as early as four weeks into pregnancy.  While common and often not a cause for concern, it is important for a woman to try to discover what is causing the dizziness.

Dizziness may be caused by low blood sugar.  This will most often occur when you haven't eaten very recently.  Many pregnant women find that scheduling more small meals throughout the day helps them stay energetic and will sustain steady blood-sugar levels.

Low blood pressure can also cause dizziness.  Pregnancy causes blood to pool in your legs, making less blood available to the brain.  Thus, when you rise from a laying or sitting position you may feel dizzy or faint.  This can also cause vision problems in a pregnant woman.  If you have low blood pressure, your physician can usually recommend treatments that should alleviate these symptoms.

If you feel a dizzy spell coming on, the best thing to do is sit down.  This is primarily for safety, to keep yourself from falling.  Fresh air can also help this feeling, as can eating a small snack or drinking some water.  You may just need to slow down, and take your time transitioning from sitting or laying to standing.

Persistent dizziness or dizziness accompanied by blurred vision and headaches or palpitations can be a symptom of severe anemia or other serious illness that could affect your pregnancy.  Contact your doctor immediately. Dizziness can also be due to allergies, hyperventilation, or other causes that have nothing to do with pregnancy.

Each pregnancy, expectant mother, and unborn child is different. Your pregnancy may not progress the same as the information found here. The information here is based on the average pregnancy. It's not meant to be a replacement for any advice your may receive from your doctor. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy, we advise you to contact your doctor.

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