If you are feeling faint or have already fainted during pregnancy, you should try to relate what happened moments before to try to identify the cause so that it can be ruled out. Generally, the woman wakes up within a few moments and there is no major cause for concern, but it is important to let the doctor know what happened so that he can investigate the cause.
Fainting during pregnancy generally occurs when the blood pressure becomes too low or there is hypoglycemia because the woman has not eaten for more than 3 hours. But pregnant women can also faint or feel like they are going to faint when standing up too quickly or in case of severe pain, convulsions, anemia, use of alcohol or medication, excessive physical activity or in case of cardiovascular or neurological problems.
What to do if you faint during pregnancy
If you are feeling faint, try sitting with your head tilted forward or lying on your side, breathing slowly and deeply as this improves the feeling of weakness and fainting.
Although fainting itself is temporary, falling can cause great discomfort and can even harm the baby. Therefore, if you feel weak and faint, ask someone nearby to help you, to avoid falling to the ground.
Fainting is normal and more common at the beginning of pregnancy because this is when the placenta is being formed and the woman’s body has not yet been able to produce all the blood that her body, the placenta and the baby need. However, this should not be a feeling that happens every day and so, if this is the case, talk to your doctor.
How to avoid low blood pressure during pregnancy
It is recommended to adopt some simple but important strategies, such as:
- Avoid sitting or lying down for a long time;
- Avoid sudden changes in position, such as getting up too quickly;
- Do not go more than 3 days without eating anything;
- Avoid very hot or stuffy places, with little air circulation;
- If you feel weak, lie down with your legs elevated to help blood flow to the brain, preventing fainting.
When the woman recovers from fainting, she can drink juice or yogurt to increase her blood pressure and feel better.
