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Anyone with experience of fainting during pregnancy?

9 replies

ash6605 · 09/11/2009 19:12

Sorry in advance,this is a bit long winded! I am 25wks pregnant with dc3. I put a thread on the other day about me fainting regularly and having pins and needles and dizzy spells.All replies told me to go to hospital,which I had confirmed by my midwife so went straight to A&E. After describing my symptoms they immediately suspected pre eclampsia although my urine was fine.I was then transferred to Cardiac care where I spent 2 days on a heart monitor,having regular BM and blood pressure checks.
The ward I was on was hurrendous,the care I got was poor and after 48 hours of them still not knowing what was wrong with me I discharged myself.
I don't know why I was never put on a maternity ward where they are used to dealing with pregnancy related problems and now I feel no further ahead and that I'm going to spend the rest of my pregnancy with these symptoms. Has anyone else had similar problems and did they ever find out a reason for it? TIA

OP posts:

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flybynight · 09/11/2009 19:24

I have fainted in all my pregnancies (currently dc4) but I have never had it checked out as it doesn't happen that often (couple of times in each pregnancy). I'm sorry, I know this isn't much use to you. I think in my case it has always been spookily low blood pressure.

And I'm sorry you had such a crap time in hospital. It must have been very stressful for you.

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TheRedQueen · 09/11/2009 19:45

Sorry to hear you have had a bad stay in hospital.

I fainted several times between about weeks 24 and 30 of my pregnancy with DD. Officially it was connected to my (naturally) low blood pressure dropping through the floor. However, I also noticed that I was particularly susceptible if the weather was such that there was a high pressure front or if it was very humid. What helped keep it in check was ensuring I ate really well and took my time and did not rush about (easier said than done though when you already have other kids!).

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ThePhantomPlopper · 09/11/2009 19:57

Sorry you had such a crap time in hospital. How awful.

I fainted with my 1st from 12 weeks onwards, DH was deployed and I was on my own, my neighbour called an ambulance after one episode and I was admitted to a psychiatric ward because I was crying! I eventually got it sorted, it was a mixture of my very low blood pressure and anaemia.

I fainted once with my 2nd, but that was because DH showed me the staples and weeping wound on his arm after an operation.

So far so good with DC3.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon!

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BonjourIvresse · 09/11/2009 20:16

I had very low bp at about 20 weeks, i would faint if I stood still for more than about 1 minute. There's not much you can do apart from drink lots and rest so that your body makes more blood.

In the end of my pg i did have pre-eclampsia though, so i wonder if my bosy was just fucked the whole way through.

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WickedWitchSouthWest · 09/11/2009 21:37

Hiya

Sorry you had such a horrible hospital stay

I'm 6 wks with dc2 and my fainting and dizzy spells have started already. Saw the mw for early bird clinic last week and my blood pressure is ridiculously low - 100 over 55. It wasn't this bad til I was 18 wks with dd. And THAT was after running up the stairs becuase I was late for my appointment!

The advice my mw gave me was the same as above - keep hydrated and don't stay in one place for too long! When getting out of bed come up to sitting and adjust first before standing. Gentle exercise is hugely beneficial too. Make sure you don't become anaemic and keep your blood sugar up.

It's another way your body tells you to slow down and take care of yourself, although how you're supposed to do that with other dc to run around after is anyone's guess!

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blondieminx · 10/11/2009 11:18

Ash can you ring the antenatal care department at your hospital, explain what happened and ask if they'd take a look at you to see if they can diagnose the reason for your symptoms? It sounds like A&E didn't do a very good job at all - as you say, it's strange that they didn't send you for checks at the antenatal/maternity ward where all the specialists are! Poor you .

What did they say your BP was (or have they made any notes in your hand held notes which show this?)?

I have low BP (was very fainty-feeling through the first half of this pg but it seems to have stabilised now and my BP is at last ticking up to within the normal range) and my MW said to

Make sure you drink plenty of water
eat plenty of iron rich foods
keep taking the pregnacare etc
get up SLOWLY and take lots of deep breaths as you do so!

Hope you get some answers soon.

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hazeyjane · 10/11/2009 13:13

I too had low bp and fainted/felt faint in pregnancy.

Drink lots of fluids

don't stand up too quickly

extra iron can be good (I found Spatone good, as didn't constipate)

Don't have baths too hot

if you start feeling in any way dizzy, light headed sit down and try and eat something and drink some water.

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Kingsroadie · 10/11/2009 17:40

I fainted at about 26 weeks due to a bad UTI. I assume they have tested for that but just to throw another possible into the mix for you!

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ash6605 · 10/11/2009 21:20

Thanks for all replies.
To try and answer everyones questions/suggestions-in hospital my Bp was around 100/50 so fairly low although all the doctors I saw said it wasn't low enough to account for the collapsing and certainly wouldn't explain the pins and needles.

just to explain a little more about my bad spells-it starts off where I get pins and needles in my legs and they start to feel numb then I go dizzy and lightheaded,this feeling can last for up to half an hour before it eventually passes or I faint. It happens mostly when I'm sitting rather than standing(well the numbness and dizziness does but its on standing when I actually faint)and the last few times it's happened during lunch.I have one other problem,sciatica,so I had put it down to the baby lying on nerves/blood vessels.

BLONDIEMINX-I initially rang antenatal ward before I rang my mw and they refused to see me saying that I needed to get to A&E.after my mw said the same thats when I decided to go to hospital.

My iron levels were fine,I take Pregnacare,my bloods and urine fine and my fluid intake is,if anything on the high side so although I appreciate everyones suggestions its not that causing the problems. They did my bp when I was sitting and then I had to quickly stand up to see if it changed a lot and it didnt so they don't think standing up too quickly is the problem either.

I think,like BonjourIvresse my body is just fucked too