Deal with Dizziness

Pregnancy is a time when the body undergoes drastic changes .Dizziness is usual in pregnant women during the first six months of pregnancy. The feeling is typically described as if one would faint or pass out. This may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Women in pregnancy may experience no such symptoms or overpowering dizziness throughout pregnancy.

The first trimester which is the first three months is associated with mood swings, breast tenderness nipple sensitivity, lower abdominal menses like feeling, increased urination, excessive salivation, nausea, change in taste and feeling feverish. These are normal changes and one should not be concerned about. Lack of appetite, not eating food at timely intervals and dehydration contributes to dizziness.

During this trimester, it is important to educate women that they have to eat small amounts at frequent intervals and enhance their fluid intake. Water is not very palatable to pregnant women at this time .Women must be told to sip or use a straw and drink small amounts rather than huge bolus when vomiting can get triggered. Fluids can also be taken in the form of milk, milk shakes, buttermilk, juices and lassi.

The physiological changes in pregnancy include release of hormones called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and progesterone .HCG is responsible for the vomiting, nausea and dizziness. The progesterone relaxes the smooth muscles around the blood vessels and thereby the blood pressures drop because of opening up of the blood vessels.

When pregnant women stand for long hours and fluid intake is low, due to the low blood pressures, blood does not flow to the brain and women feel dizzy. Generally dizziness is preceded by a brief period of aura that one is likely to faint. Quickly the woman should seize this opportunity to secure herself in a safe position so that she does not sustain a fall or land up with a head injury.

Ideally in such situations it is advised that women lie down with the legs elevated about 30to 40 degrees to the trunk by keeping pillows under the leg. It I as advised that women who have such tendencies do not go to overcrowded places and stand for long time especially in front of cooking gas while cooking.

It is suggested if their work demands standing for long hours, they could place a small stool where they are standing and keep each foot alternately every hour and change positions which will activate the calf muscle pump to pump blood to the heart and can reduce chances of dizziness.

Some women face problems with sleep. The quality of sleep is not very satisfying. Increased frequency of urination, bloated feeling and baby movements deprive some women of their sleep. Sleep debt and exhaustion can also contribute towards dizziness.

It is essential that pregnant women ensure at least eight hours of sleep at night. Early dinner, avoiding fatty food stuffs during dinner, refraining from liquid intake after 8pm, small walk post dinner can help women to get better quality sleep.

By:Dr Gayathri Kamath

The writer is a Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecologist Fortis Hospital