Why do women easily faint while pregnant?

Medical Video: Dizziness and Fainting During Pregnancy: When to Worry | Parents

Maybe you often see pregnant women fainting. Fainting during pregnancy may be caused by pregnant women exhausted, overheated, and so on. But, actually fainting during pregnancy is normal or not? What causes pregnant women to faint often? Want to know the answer? See the explanation below.

Is it normal to faint during pregnancy?

Fainting during pregnancy is normal. This is because various changes occur in pregnant women. Your cardiovascular system (heart) has many changes, such as a faster heart rate and an increase in blood in the body by 30-50%. Your blood vessels are enlarged, so your blood pressure will gradually decrease temporarily.

Your body can adjust to all these changes. Thus, blood flow throughout the body (especially the brain) is maintained. However, sometimes the body cannot adjust quickly to certain conditions. As a result, you will feel dizzy and can make you faint during pregnancy.

What causes pregnant women to faint?

Fainting can occur when your brain does not receive enough blood and oxygen. Some conditions that can cause you to feel dizzy and want to faint are:

Stand up from sitting too fast. When you sit, your blood gathers a lot in your feet. So, if you stand up immediately, blood flow from your legs back to the heart can not be channeled quickly because of changes that are too fast. At this time, blood pressure can decrease, so you feel you want to faint. This can also occur when you stand too long because the blood gathers in the legs.
Vasovagal syncope. This condition can occur when you often cough, urinate frequently, or defecate. This can cause a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, so you will feel dizzy and want to faint.
Lack of eating and drinking. When you eat less, your blood sugar decreases and you can experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This situation makes you feel dizzy and want to faint. Lack of drinking or dehydration can also cause this.
Anemia. Anemia during pregnancy makes it easier for you to feel dizzy and faint. This is because anemia can make your body's cells not get enough oxygen.
Overheating When overheating, your blood vessels widen so that blood pressure decreases. This makes you feel dizzy and want to faint. Hot showers can also cause this.
Hyperventilation (excessive breathing). Hyperventilation can occur when you do excessive exercise and anxiety. Even though exercise is good for your health and pregnancy, excessive exercise can be dangerous. We recommend that you know your limits when exercising.

What should be done if you feel like fainting during pregnancy?

Even though fainting during pregnancy is normal, you still have to be careful. Some ways you can prevent fainting during pregnancy are:

Move from your seat or bed slowly. If you sleep, you should sit first, then stand slowly. Avoid sudden movements.
If you stand too long and can't move or sit, you should shake your legs to increase blood flow. It's better to avoid standing too long. Find a seat if you feel tired standing.
Manage your diet well to maintain your blood sugar levels. Lack of food intake can cause hypoglycemia, which makes it easier for you to faint during pregnancy. Bring some snacks wherever you go, so you can eat them whenever you are hungry.
Many foods consume high iron sources.
Drink plenty to maintain hydration.
Avoid hot, crowded and stuffy places so you don't feel hot. Also limit the frequency of hot showers.
Wear clothes that are comfortable and not too tight.
Avoid lying on your back. If you feel dizzy when lying down, you should lie to your side. Place a pillow high in your head.

When you want to feel faint, you can do the following as an effort to prevent it: