Most women feel dizzy during pregnancy and this is only because there are various hormonal changes affecting the body. The heart rate tends to go up and this happens because the heart is now pumping more blood every minute in order to increase blood flow to the growing uterus and the placenta. Most women experience low blood pressure especially in the initial months of their pregnancy and this could be one of the main reasons for dizziness during pregnancy. There are also many other factors that can cause this feeling of lightheadedness, one of them being standing up too fast when you are pregnant.
When you are sitting, blood tends to accumulate in the lower half of your body, mainly the legs and feet. If you stand up quickly, there is very little time for this blood to reach the heart and this causes a sudden lowering of the blood pressure. As a result, you feel woozy and can even faint. This can also happen when a person is not pregnant. Therefore it is advisable to avoid such quick movements and get up slowly instead. If you have been standing for a long time, it is important to keep moving your legs from time to time to facilitate blood circulation.
Sleeping on your back for a long time, especially in the second and third trimesters of the pregnancy can also make you feel dizzy. This happens because the growing uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava and can lower the blood circulation in your legs. As a result the blood pressure drops causing you to feel lightheaded. This is the reason why pregnant women are advised to lie on their sides as opposed to the back especially in the latter half of the pregnancy when the belly is quite big. You can also end up feeling dizzy during pregnancy if you fail to eat enough food and drink adequate amounts of water. When you don’t eat for a long time, your blood sugar levels decrease and can make you feel dizzy. On the other hand, if you do not have enough water through the day it can lead to dehydration which is neither good for you nor for your baby. During pregnancy it is important to have smaller meals and snacks through the day to maintain your blood sugar levels. However, if the dizziness persists, you should consult a doctor immediately.
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